New Zealand (North Island) Road Trip

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please return to your seat as we prepare our final descent into New Zealand,” with the broadcast made by cabin crew . Finally, the moment has arrived! I have heard so much about the natural beauty of New Zealand but have yet to see it with my own eyes.

As I beep through the aircraft window, all I could see was golf course grasses. Green, followed by greeneries and still green with occasionally white colour spotted among the green. As the aircraft approach lower, I realized: “Yes, I am indeed in New Zealand where cows and sheep are known to be more than the human population. The white colour was sheep who seem to be frozen under the supposed Spring weather although temperature was at 9 degree Celsius.

(View of New Zealand taken from above aircraft)

“Welcome to NEW ZEALAND!” the first greeting I heard coming from an immigration officer who later stamped my entry date on my passport. This is the moment I have been waiting for after taking 2 months to prepare my self-drive itinerary.

(Busy @ work, checking on Laptop for next stop information)

It was going to be a crazy 14 Days New Zealand driving adventure as I prepare my campervan and headed to Auckland- Capital of the Sails.

(Our home and transport mode for the next few days)

Auckland got its name as the capital of the sails as you would have already guessed it simply because there were so many sail boats parking at its ever beautiful harbor. And soon before I know it, I was told Auckland of all the cities is the place where does not have a true representation of the fun loving adventure and scenic beauty of New Zealand.

(Sail boats spotted and many more . . . )

Loving the sunshine, sun-tanning among the beautiful gardens in the city. A much needed sun tan as weather was hovering in the range of 8 degree Celsius, thou I just arrived from a tropical country.

(Auckland Garden)

After witnessing people jumping off from Auckland Tower and “donating” money to the casino, we officially embarked on our road trip together with the road maps that I had collected. Of course, I need the help of a GPS (Global Positioning System) for directions to play safe. However, 2 hours of driving away from Auckland, the GPS had failed me. Without panic, maps came to my rescue and of course with the clear directions of road sign in New Zealand, I could say no driver can ever get lost in this part of the world. We had set a rule to have a pit stop every 2 hours of driving. Here we are, stopping at one of our pit stop enjoying the freshest milk one ever get.

(At one of the pit stop, drinking milk before moving on)

Sticking to our created itinerary, we know the importance to push on for another 460km in order to reach our designated accommodation before night fall.

The most important rule which I had set in self-drive is no night driving at all. Firstly, it is dangerous. Secondly, obviously as nightfall, it will even be add to the risk of inviting robbery. Thirdly, as foreigners we wouldn’t able to see the sign board or know we have reached our destination should we missed it.

(Below is a pic of our exploration along the way, unplanned route) It is nice to get lost sometimes on a road trip. You never know what you will discover.

Another essential point is to change drivers each time fatigue sets in. And a key note is to allow driver to rest, recharge and ensure have the energy to push on for the next part of the journey. The role of the co-driver (sitting beside the driver) is to look out for directions, talk to the driver, play music and even to the extent of slapping the driver if he/she dose off (Hope you will not have this opportunity to do so thou!)

(Much needed rest at the back of the campervan)

Categories: Oceania Region