It runs from Waipukurau, to Masterton in the Wairarapa through Porangahau on the east coast and the Weber and Pongaroa hill country in the Tararua District on the lower eastern side of the North Island.

[7] By the end of May the Minister of Lands had ordered signs banning bullocks from working between Falls creek and Pongaroa stream, between 1 June and 1 November.

[11] In June the Ashburton Guardian said the road to Pongoroa is so bad it takes fourteen bullocks to haul just two tons to the township.

The same geological structure brought complaints from settlers that the ground did not drain properly and counter to its appearance had low fertility.

Heading south-east the highway goes to the coastline at Porangahau through Wanstead and Wallingford where it turns back inland in a SSW direction.

A few kilometres south of Porangahau Route 52 passes a hill with one of the world's longest place names, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.

A Maori word meaning "The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as 'landeater', played his flute to his loved one".