Ōtira Viaduct Lookout

Ōtira Viaduct Lookout is a roadside viewpoint at Deaths Corner, above the Ōtira Gorge on SH73. It looks down on the viaduct as it crosses the river beneath steep forested slopes and a broad scree face. This is a quick pull-off rather than a walk: stop for the gorge and a close look at one of the route’s most striking pieces of engineering.

The viaduct curves across the valley, with the riverbed far below and the mountains closing in around it. Include the gorge beneath the bridge in a photo; the river and steep slopes show the height and scale better than the bridge alone.

The roughly 440-metre viaduct replaced a hazardous section of the old gorge road. Construction began in January 1998 and finished in November 1999. One worker died during the project. The bridge was built to carry SH73 past unstable ground that had made this part of the route dangerous.

Look toward the steep slope beside the viaduct. The former road zigzagged across this unstable slip, on unstable ground and exposed to snowmelt. Its old line helps explain why engineers carried the highway high over the gorge instead.

Kea are a real possibility around the lookout, and visitors report seeing them at the railing and near parked cars. They can make this brief stop memorable even before you take in the bridge; sightings are never guaranteed.

The turnoff is directly off SH73, with a short, steep drive up to the viewpoint. Parking is small and can feel tight, so allow room to manoeuvre. The stop is much less rewarding in fog or low cloud, which can hide the viaduct and gorge; if visibility is poor, come back when it clears.