January 29 - February 27, 2025 New Zealand February 19

Today we are heading to the Khakapa Ski Arena, first stopping at the Makatote Viaduct in Erua.

The Makatote Viaduct (Bridge 179) carries the North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMT) over the Makatote River in New Zealand. It is located 335.7 km (208.6 miles) away from Wellington, at the foot of Ruapehu, in northern Manawatū-Whanganui (central North Island), between Erua and Pokaka.

It was constructed between 1905 and 1908 for the Public Works Department (PWD), which handed it over to the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) in 1909.

When it was built, it was the tallest viaduct in New Zealand and is now the third tallest. The taller viaducts are the North Rangitikei Viaduct from 1981 at 81 meters (266 feet) further south on the NIMT and the Mohaka Viaduct from 1937 at 95 meters (312 feet) on the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line.