The Mohaka Viaduct is one of the more spectacular features on the winding and remote SH2 between Napier and Wairoa. There is also a road bridge across the river nearby but no pedestrian access to view the viaduct. There is a rest area down the gravel road south of the geocache where you can get closer to the river. Close to GZ over by the trees is a small plaque which commemorates the engineering achievement in building this railway viaduct.
The cache is a small container tucked into a wooden post on the barrier (not magnetic). Accessible from the side away from the highway. Do not walk onto the main road to reach the cache or view the viaduct.
Mohaka Viaduct Brief History:
The Mohaka Viaduct was built between 1930 and 1937 by the Public Works Department for the New Zealand Railways Department. It is 276.8 metres (908 ft) in length, and at 95 metres (312 ft), is the tallest viaduct in Australasia. The viaduct has been registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category 1 historic place (Register no.4418).
Following severe storm damage between Wairoa and Gisborne, and doubts about financial viability of the line, the northern portion of the railway line from Napier - Gisborne was reviewed as part of KiwiRail's turn-around plan, and was effectively mothballed north of Wairoa in early 2012. Later, on 2 October 2012 KiwiRail announced the mothballing of the entire line from Napier to Gisborne.
The NZ Herald reported on 7 October 2016 that logging trains would recommence in October 2017 with weekend logging trains from Wairoa to the Port of Napier. Trains would run on Saturdays and Sundays using wagons that traveled south of Napier on weekdays.