State Highway 2 (SH 2) runs north–south through eastern parts of the North Island of New Zealand from the outskirts of Auckland to Wellington.

It heads east, crossing the Hauraki Plains before running the length of the Karangahake Gorge, a break in the hills between the Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Ranges.

After Ōpōtiki it turns inland, ascending southeast along the valley of the Waioeka River, then winding up to the 725-metre (2,380 ft) Traffords Hill summit.

Close to the mouth of the Waihua River it heads briefly inland, passing the Mohaka Forest and Lake Tūtira before rejoining the coast not far from the junction with SH 5 at Bay View.

It continues to head inland from Pakipaki, initially southwest to Waipukurau, then briefly west to follow tributaries of the Tukituki River upstream.

Close to Norsewood enters the Tararua District and turns south-west, a direction it maintains for much of the remainder of its journey, crossing undulating country that forms the upper catchment of the Manawatu River.

SH 2 continues south along the Mangatainoka and Makakahi rivers through Pahiatua and Eketāhuna, crossing into the Wairarapa valley via the Mount Bruce saddle.

SH 2 follows the Wairarapa valley through the towns of Masterton, Carterton and Greytown to Featherston.

Grade-separated intersections improve safety for traffic wanting to cross or join the highway.

The Tauranga Eastern Link, a tolled motorway almost 23 km from Te Maunga Junction to Paengaroa officially opened on 30 July 2015.

It formed the southern part of the Wellington Urban Motorway when SH 1 finished at the Aotea Quay off-ramp.

The quietest section of road is at the Parihohonu Bridge, north of Otoko in the Gisborne District, measured in 2019 to have an AADT of 1,188 vehicles per day.