SH33 (New Zealand)

The SH33 connects the popular resort town of Rotorua with the coastal city of Tauranga, although it reaches neither. It starts at a TOTSO at Tikitere on the shores of Lake Rotorua and continues north, crossing the narrow gap between Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti to reach the lakeside village of Okere Falls. Leaving the shore behind, the route winds north east then north into the forest. There is then a long, sinuous descent through the trees with a couple of short steep sections, but generally easy gradients and curves and several sections of S2+1 passing lanes.

As the gradient eases, the road emerges from the trees into farmland, with tall hedges lining the roadside to protect vineyards and orchards. It is not far, however, to Paengaroa, and soon after the end of the route is reached. This used to be a simple TOTSO fork with SH2. However, in 2013, the junction was substantially changed, and now SH33 and SH2 run parallel for a short distance, before diverging and curving round to meet at a new roundabout some distance to the north of the old fork. This work coincided with the construction of the motorway section of SH2 which continues north into Tauranga.