Holiday: Day 9 – Petrol and Paihia!

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6.05am: Morning all! Well, we’ve now travelled on planes and trains (as well as boats and buses), and so, today, we try to complete the set – and hire a car. At least they drive on the ‘proper’ side of the road here, and it’ll be interesting to experience New Zealand roads and their road-users at close quarters! 😉

It’s a very grey day out there (and I’m not talking politically!) so maybe it’s an ideal time to be bidding farewell to Auckland. 🤔

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Day 9 – Where are we?
(Thursday, 7th November)

Today’s destination? We’re heading for the town of Paihia – our northernmost point on this holiday. Paihia is a seaside town, part of NZ’s ‘Bay of Islands’. Suntans aside, culturally speaking, it is arguably the most significant location in all of New Zealand as it is home to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds – the site of the founding of modern New Zealand! 👍👍. We plan to visit there tomorrow.

10.25am: But first we had to pick up our hire car! So, after a quick nibble in the Cafe near to the Hotel in Auckland – the Empire Tavern – it was off to Avis just down the road.

11.01am: We arrived ahead of schedule and having been advised that if we did, and if we took the car earlier than 12 noon, they’d charge us another day’s hire – they didn’t! 👏.

Of course, there were no EVs in sight, so we hired one that takes something called ‘petrol’. It was an almost brand-new Kia Stonic Auto with just 133 kilometres on the clock.

11.11am: With both phones configured for data and on charge; Waze configured for our destination and showing traffic congestion and everything neatly in the boot, we were off! 😉👍

TODAY’S TRIVIA: Out here, ‘keeping your distance’ is recommended using the ’12 second rule’

2.30pm: It was a hassle-free journey, once we’d got out of Auckland. We arrived in the town of Paihia after a massive three-hour (ish) drive – around 228km (150 miles). Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands and with fewer than 2000 inhabitants.

It was our first experience of driving in New Zealand (and there are plenty more opportunities still to come!) and it all went pretty well. For those of you who might consider the same, here’s a summary of our inaugural journey…

Driving in New Zealand – The SH1 North to Paihia

Road Name: SH1 (North)
Condition: Very smooth in most parts. A bit lumpy on some of the single-carriageway sections. We didn’t experience a single pothole across the whole journey, but some of the tarmac was a bit rough in places
Lanes: Sometimes single, sometimes dual (with passing lanes), occasionally four lanes
Terrain: Long stretches of very straight sections but with VERY hilly parts both up and down
Scenery: Forests, Trees, Cows, Sheep, Occasional Cafés and Liquor Stores plus Industrial buildings
Filling Stations: Probably about 6 in total
Roadworks: Occasional
Driver Courtesy: Everyone seemed to obey the speed limit and no-one was in a hurry
Speed Limits: 40kph all the way up to the National Speed Limit (110kph)
Police/Speed cameras: Two police cars/no speed cameras (that we saw! 😲)
Total distance: 228 kilometres

TODAY’S TRIVIA: Although here, they drive on the British side of the road, they use km/h for all speed signs

A Quick Look at Paihia

The weather had certainly improved since we left Auckland – it was now at least 3-5 degrees warmer at a healthy 25℃. We’re going to take a closer look around the town tomorrow and may even take the Ferry to nearby Russell, famous for being the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. For now though, just a few shots of the Harbour… ☀️☀️

2.46pm: After a quick nibble, we dropped into the local Woolworth’s to stock-up on food for the next three days. We then took the short drive to our home until Sunday…

3.44pm: Here we are at our next Apartment – a rather grand affair overlooking the town. It’s called Sanctuary Palms and sported a bath about the size of Corby. We’re here for three nights, and Sanctuary Palms has all that we need, including the now-familiar dishwasher and washing machine (I am still jet-lagged and must remember to get them round the right way!) 😁

Tomorrow, we’re visiting the famous (and very nearby) Waitangi Treaty Grounds. 👍

Sleep well, everyone!💤💤