Otira Viaduct Lookout
New Zealand
Also known as Death's Corner, the Otira Viaduct Lookout is an amazing spot to see the National Park in all its glory. This bridge is the only reason that driving through Arthur’s Pass is possible today. At 440 metres long, it is a true feat of engineering. The lookout is a great spot for a photo framing viaduct and the surrounding landscape. Keep your eyes peeled at this stop! With a bit of luck, you might even see a wee Cheeky Kea - New Zealand’s sneaky alpine parrot!
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Otira Viaduct Lookout
Welcome to the Otira Viaduct Lookout, an awe-inspiring convergence of cutting-edge civil engineering and violently majestic alpine geography. You are currently standing deep within the Otira Gorge, a crucial artery on the Great…
Listen in the app2The Viaduct Approach
Let us examine the approach to the viaduct. Notice the incredibly steep grades of the highway leading up to this point. …
Listen in the app3The Rock Shelter Architecture
Observe the massive, concrete canopy structure built over the road just down from the lookout. This is the Otira Gorge Rock Shelter, a uniquely necessary architectural response to the mountain's constant state of decay. …
Listen in the app4The Ghost of the Zigzag Road
Look carefully at the terrain just beyond the modern viaduct structure. Etched into the side of the steep hill, you can still discern the faint, terrifying markings of where the old road—the infamous zigzag—used to run. …
Listen in the app5The Glacial Valley Floor
Step to the edge of the lookout and peer straight down into the abyss of the gorge. Far below, the river snakes through the rocky floor. …
Listen in the app6Alpine Waterfalls
Direct your gaze to the steep cliffs surrounding the viaduct. You will notice numerous waterfalls cascading down the rock faces, appearing like delicate silver ribbons against the dark stone. …
Listen in the app7The Realm of the Kea
While standing at the lookout, it is highly likely you will encounter the resident Kea, the world's only alpine parrot. These large, olive-green birds with brilliant flashes of orange under their wings are fiercely intelligent,…
Listen in the app8Otira Viaduct Lookout
Our observation of the Otira Viaduct and Gorge concludes here. This location perfectly encapsulates the tension between human ambition and geological reality. …
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What is Otira Viaduct Lookout?
Otira Viaduct Lookout is a place in New Zealand with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | -42.9571, 171.5711 |
| Last updated |