State Highway 1 Desert Road is closed until 7pm tomorrow while scheduled repair work is underway.
The Transport Agency said motorists should use SH46, 47, 4 and 49 via Tongariro National Park.
It said the detour adds about 40 minutes to the journey.
Another 36-hour closure to finish the repairs is planned for late April.
SH1 DESERT ROAD - NOW CLOSED
— NZTA Waikato/BoP (@NZTAWaiBoP) March 25, 2018
Scheduled repairs to SH1 mean the Desert Rd is now closed & will remain closed until 7pm tomorrow, 27 March. Please use the detour route provided: https://t.co/h8WLKyWIes ^TP pic.twitter.com/2yCTyp4HX6
