It travels west down Massey Street, changing to Whatawhata Road after a six-leg roundabout in the suburb of Dinsdale.

After exiting Hamilton, and reaching the town of Whatawhata it shares a brief concurrency of the north–south SH 39 and crosses the Waipā River.

It then continues west over the summit to the Waitetuna valley, through Te Uku and over tributaries of the Whaingaroa Harbour until reaching Raglan.

In June 2021 the Raglan end was shortened by 1.09 km (0.68 mi), to a point near Greenslade Rd,[2] so as to allow more development around the road and a lower speed limit.

[33] Conversion to a road began in 1878[34] and the first stage coach ran in March 1880,[35] though the bridge over the Waipa wasn't started until late in 1880.