Auckland driving question

Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

Dan Stephenson wrote:
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

you'll be fine it's ok but maybe avoid rush hour to start with. I found
even rush hour quiet compared to the UK

When I visited NZ (from Canada), I had similar concerns, although I was
perhaps less comfortable with driving on the left than you seem to be, not
having done it for several years. I picked up the rental car near the
airport upon arrival, but stayed at a hotel close to there so I didn't have
to drive into the main part of the city in the first couple of days if I
didn't want to. My intial plan was to leave touring Auckland until after I
had toured around much of the rest of the country, but I ended up doing a
bit of Auckland sight-seeing before I left town. When I returned to Auckland
about three weeks later, I felt quite comfortable driving in the city
(which, based on my experience, can be a pretty busy place, same as any
major city).

(One thing to be aware of when driving in Auckland, and some other NZ
cities/towns, if you're trying to follow a map, you'll find that many street
names change, for no apparent reason (although I assume there are historical
reasons for it) almost every few blocks! Couldn't resist throwing this
comment in.... )

RQ


"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

No worries, just some places not to go after dark, especially some in
Auckland.

Drivimg there is easy as pie. Give way laws differ slightly to Australia and
teh UK though.

"Give way to your right and those turning right" or easier to give way to
all others.

Ive driven in the US and would drive in NZ any day.

Easy after England & Ireland....no problems at all.
Rental mobs have depots in city and airport.
Airport is a fair way out from city centre.,
The local transport system is quite good.
John H

"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

I agree with everyone else; it's not difficult. Worst habit of Kiwi drivers
in my opinion - they love to tailgate!!! And given the age and general
decrepitude of some vehicles - it's a worry!

Freeways to and from the Auckland International Airport are fast, except in
peak hour!



"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

In article , Scotty
wrote:

"Give way to your right and those turning right" or easier to give way to
all others.

Aye, and my LP guidebook says this is taken to the extreme, such as if
you are coming to a 4-way intersection to turn left, and there another
car opposite turning right, that other car as the right-of-way. This
could take some getting use-to, but thankfully it is probably rare that
the timing is so exact.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

Alright, are there car parks or places along the street, I'd imagine,
in Auckland? I arrive at 6 am, but don't want to start touring all day
right off, so maybe a little bit of Auckland after I get my car hire
and leave in the afternoon, and then pick up some more of Auckland on
my last day. Cool. I really want to visit those volcanoes in
particular. I think volcanoes are awesome.

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

"Dan Stephenson" wrote in message
...
Hi, I'm travelling through NZ in March by rental car. I am flying into
Auckland, and I also want to visit Auckland. My questions is how busy
or dangerous the driving is there, being the largest city in NZ. There
are some cities - you know who you area - where it is practically
suicidal to drive there as a visitor. But I am comfortable with
driving on the left side of the road / ride side of the car (although
I'm American, I've car-toured UK and Ireland already) so I think it
might be OK. An alternative would be to take a bus into the city from
the Airport, and just get the rental car as I leave Auckland to visit
the rest of the country.

Thanks in advance,

--
Dan Stephenson
Photos and movies from US Parks and all over Europe:
http://homepage.mac.com/stepheda

You should have no difficulty - enjoy your trip

On Sun, 18 Dec 2005 16:31:59 GMT, in message
, Dan Stephenson wrote:

Alright, are there car parks or places along the street, I'd imagine,
in Auckland?

There is parking on the street many places.
There are be parking meters and maximum parking times in the
city centre and some other areas.

I arrive at 6 am, but don't want to start touring all day
right off, so maybe a little bit of Auckland after I get my car hire
and leave in the afternoon, and then pick up some more of Auckland on
my last day. Cool. I really want to visit those volcanoes in
particular. I think volcanoes are awesome.


You can drive up (or partway up) some of them, including
Mt Eden (Maungawhau) ........... http://www.nzmaps.co.nz/viewmap.php3?Map=bp19
One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) ... http://www.nzmaps.co.nz/viewmap.php3?Map=br21
Mt. Albert (Owairaka) .......... http://www.nzmaps.co.nz/viewmap.php3?Map=bq15


--
Cheers,
Ralph

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