11-02-2020, 07:10 AM
Unlike UK there is not a huge choice of alternative routes; sometimes none. I have driven Auckland to near Wellington several times a year for 50 years, mostly in seriously old cars (although not slow). For a surprising proportion of the time traffic away from cities is very light; but motorists are not very tolerant of obstructing slow vehicles. 40 /50 ton truck outfits have 90 kph speed limit and cruise at 95-100 on the typical car speedo, so main road travel in a slow vehicle can be daunting. Even when traffic is light, at 30 kph and more lower than the flow vehicles catch up repeatedly. There is now often room to allow traffic past but bouncing along the berm in a Seven with overtaking vehicles close to the door handles is not relaxing.
I have explored all alternative routes, including some with grass in the middle, and strongly recommend many. Traffic is much less and more tolerant. On main roads tend to develop a push on mentality And the main routes have been rendered very bland. The berms are mowed! With slower vehicles the time penalty is much less. Detours to beach settlements etc make for more interest.
Satnav is fine for complex junctions but motorists seldom appreciate just where they are relative to the countryside. There are not the myriad nearby signposted villages as in UK so off the main route location can be puzzling. The AA provide a set of maps with country road names and these are very helpful for figuring where you are.
Unsealed roads are not now common. (just as likely in Devon!) If corrugated by heavy holiday traffic or recently heavily remetalled are a severe trial in a Seven but often fine.
With a crack free crank and rear axles feel more confident far from home in an old car than an electronic riddled/ computer controlled modern.
But unless your car is of established reliability, a cheap rental very practicable and far less tiring. And don’t have to worry about persons fiddling with etc.
I have explored all alternative routes, including some with grass in the middle, and strongly recommend many. Traffic is much less and more tolerant. On main roads tend to develop a push on mentality And the main routes have been rendered very bland. The berms are mowed! With slower vehicles the time penalty is much less. Detours to beach settlements etc make for more interest.
Satnav is fine for complex junctions but motorists seldom appreciate just where they are relative to the countryside. There are not the myriad nearby signposted villages as in UK so off the main route location can be puzzling. The AA provide a set of maps with country road names and these are very helpful for figuring where you are.
Unsealed roads are not now common. (just as likely in Devon!) If corrugated by heavy holiday traffic or recently heavily remetalled are a severe trial in a Seven but often fine.
With a crack free crank and rear axles feel more confident far from home in an old car than an electronic riddled/ computer controlled modern.
But unless your car is of established reliability, a cheap rental very practicable and far less tiring. And don’t have to worry about persons fiddling with etc.