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Surf Highway 45, South Taranaki
Photo: Dave Young · CC BY 2.0 · cropped

Drives Taranaki, New Zealand Taranaki and Whanganui

Surf Highway 45

SH 45, South Road, Surf Highway · Ōmata → Hāwera

Leisurely57 mi1 hr 30 min1,500 ft climbHigh point ≈ 400 ftOne way
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The drive

Surf Highway 45 is the coast road round the foot of Taranaki Maunga, linking New Plymouth in the north with Hāwera in the south. This drive takes the long middle of it, from Ōmata south and then east to Hāwera, with the mountain rising on the left for most of the way and the Tasman Sea close on the other side.

The name comes from the surf. Stent Road, Kumara Patch, Fitzroy Beach, Mangahume and Arawhata Road are all well known to New Zealand surfers, and small villages along the way have cafés. Ōpunake, the main town on this stretch, has a beach patrolled by lifeguards over summer.

The curves are gentle and the road is an ordinary two-lane highway, so the drive is more about pace and scenery than driving challenge. The Cape Egmont Lighthouse, which Taranaki tourism says first shone in 1881, is a side trip off the highway.

Along the way

  1. Ōmata
  2. Ōpunake
  3. Hāwera
Elevation
1,500 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 400 ft
ŌmataHāwera
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
ŌmataHāwera
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Beaches along the way, including Ōpunake, are patrolled by lifeguards over summer.
  • Check NZTA Journeys for roadworks before you go.

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 Surf Highway 45 take from Ōmata to Hāwera?

Surf Highway 45 from Ōmata to Hāwera is 92 km (57 mi) and takes about 1 hr 30 min.

Why is it called Surf Highway 45?

State Highway 45 passes some of New Zealand's best-known surf breaks, including Stent Road, Kumara Patch, Fitzroy Beach, Mangahume and Arawhata Road.

How long is the whole of Surf Highway 45?

Taranaki tourism describes the whole of Surf Highway 45 as about 105 km, from New Plymouth to Hāwera. This drive covers the part from Ōmata to Hāwera.

Can you see Mount Taranaki from Surf Highway 45?

Yes. The road runs around the foot of Taranaki Maunga and the mountain is in view for much of the drive when the cloud is clear.

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 Taranaki, New Zealand ›

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

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Map of Surf Highway 45, from Ōmata to Hāwera