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Rotorua Lakes: Highway 30, Rotorua Lakes, Bay of Plenty
Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Drives Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Taupo, Rotorua and the Central Plateau

Rotorua Lakes: Highway 30

SH 30, Te Ngae Road · Rotorua → Awakeri

Sweeping41 mi1 hr1,800 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,300 ftOne way
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The drive

State Highway 30 leaves Rotorua on Te Ngae Road, heads east along the lakes of the Bay of Plenty hinterland. It follows the southern edges of Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoehu and Lake Rotomā, with bush and water close to the road, then continues through forest and farmland toward the coast.

This drive ends at Awakeri, where SH30 meets SH2. From there the highway carries on north to Whakatāne, which is why the road is usually thought of as the Rotorua to Whakatāne route. The middle of the drive, around the lakes, is where the bends are: the road narrows and curves around the shoreline, and the pace drops to match.

It is a state highway with regular traffic, so it works best as a steady, scenic crossing rather than a road to rush.

Along the way

  1. Rotorua
  2. Awakeri
Elevation
1,800 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,300 ft
RotoruaAwakeri
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
RotoruaAwakeri
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Permanent lower speed limits apply on the lake sections: 80 km/h at Lake Rotoiti and 60 km/h at Lake Rotoehu, set by NZTA in 2023.
  • Check NZTA Journeys for roadworks and slips before leaving, especially after heavy rain.

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 does State Highway 30 from Rotorua to Awakeri take?

The Rotorua to Awakeri drive on SH30 is 66 km (41 mi) and takes about 1 hour.

Which lakes does SH30 pass between Rotorua and Awakeri?

State Highway 30 runs along the southern edge of Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoehu and Lake Rotomā east of Rotorua.

Is there a lower speed limit on State Highway 30 at the lakes?

Yes. Since August 2023 NZTA has set 80 km/h at Lake Rotoiti and 60 km/h at Lake Rotoehu on SH30.

Where does the Rotorua to Awakeri drive end?

It ends at Awakeri, where SH30 meets SH2. SH30 continues from there to Whakatāne.

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.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

All 2 drives in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand ›

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

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Map of Rotorua Lakes: Highway 30, from Rotorua to Awakeri