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Napier–Taupō Road: Highway 5, Hawke's Bay and Taupō
Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Hawke's Bay, New Zealand Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington

Napier–Taupō Road: Highway 5

SH 5 · Napier → Taupō

Leisurely72 mi1 hr 25 min7,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,500 ftOne way
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The drive

State Highway 5 is the direct road between Hawke's Bay and Taupō. This drive starts in the Esk Valley near Napier and climbs through Te Pohue to the Titiokura Saddle, where the Harapaki Wind Farm stands on the ridge. From there the road crosses the Mohaka River and follows the Waipunga River, then runs across high tableland and the pine plantations of Kaingaroa Forest.

The last section crosses the headwaters of the Rangitaiki River and passes Opepe before reaching Taupō on its eastern edge, just south of Mount Tauhara. There are few villages along the way, so the drive is mostly forest, ranges and open country.

The curves are long and steady rather than tight. SH5 is a two-lane single carriageway with at-grade intersections and property accesses, and the Runanga Deviation, opened in 1972, replaced a stretch of narrow unsealed road.

Along the way

  1. Napier (Eskdale)
  2. Taupō
Elevation
7,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,500 ft
NapierTaupō
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
NapierTaupō
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • SH5 is a two-lane single carriageway with at-grade intersections and property accesses.
  • Slips and flooding close it in severe weather; Cyclone Gabrielle closed the road in February 2023 and it reopened in stages through March.
  • Allow plenty of time and check NZTA Journeys before leaving.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check NZTA Journeys: traffic and road conditions.

Questions about this drive

How long is the Napier to Taupō drive on SH5?

State Highway 5 from the Esk Valley near Napier to Taupō is 117 km (73 mi) and takes about 1 hr 25 min.

What is the highest point on the Napier to Taupō road?

SH5 crosses the Titiokura Saddle, where the Harapaki Wind Farm stands. The high point on this drive is about 2,500 feet.

Does the Napier to Taupō road ever close?

Yes. Slips and flooding have closed State Highway 5, notably after Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. NZTA Journeys has the current status.

What does SH5 pass between Napier and Taupō?

It climbs through Te Pohue, crosses the Mohaka River, follows the Waipunga River, passes the Rangitaiki headwaters and Kaingaroa Forest, and reaches Taupō near Mount Tauhara.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

All 3 drives in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand ›

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Napier–Taupō Road: Highway 5, from Napier to Taupō