New Zealand roads become makeshift skate parks after powerful quake

New Zealand’s billions of dollars in damages to road and infrastructure has become a playground for skaters after a massive earthquake turned streets and highways into buckled makeshift ramps and jumps.

Troy Tapara and Billy Mclachlan cycled to Parnassus - 40km south of the quake damaged town of Kaikoura – where they found what was left of the South Island’s roads.

Smooth streets have been split and buckled so severely that they more closely resemble outdoor skate parks than once bustling highways.

The pair also found a broken section of bridge on State Highway 1 which had sunken 1.2 metres following the massive 7.8 magnitude quake and subsequent tremors which lasted almost a week.

"It was definitely the most unique experience of my life," Tapara told the NZ Herald.

"Even to see that state of destruction in person was just surreal but exciting at the same time."

Mclachlan said he was devastated by the sheer scale of the natural disaster.

"In terms of skating the spots it was extremely hard. We didn't take into consideration how rough the ground would be,” he said.

"The overall adventure was one of the best ones we have done on a skateboard."