WLG -> AKL Drive

[Driftit 2078]

1 hour ago, Olaf said:

This!! Yep, I'd much rather drive the Paraparas to get to Auckland than the Rimutakas and then relatively boring until after Masterton parts of Wairarapa.

(only using quote post above as it pushes over to next page)

At best that's a 9hr trip. Without stopping. And then you actually have nowhere to stop anyway.

[Olaf 3317]

“Nowhere to stop”?  Our forefathers would be turning in their graves.  Take a packed lunch!!
 

I seem to recall “something under nine hours” for last couple of trips, though must be mistaken, officer.

[Driftit 2078]

11 minutes ago, Olaf said:

“Nowhere to stop”?  Our forefathers would be turning in their graves.  Take a packed lunch!!
 

I seem to recall “something under nine hours” for last couple of trips, though must be mistaken, officer.

I think it is my bias towards the East Coast.  East>West.   I very rarely enjoy driving any of the routes we have suggested to be honest.  Maybe 2-3 in 10 drives you will get minimal traffic, no road works, good weather and the Pie cabinet at the gas station will have the pie you want.  At least they have good fuel all the way through now.  Remember the days when you could only get 98 octane in Auckland, Taupo and then stretch it out to Upper Hutt.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

Good point, you need to factor in the quality of the bakery / cafe for your stopping point.

Been a long while now but Turangi bakery was excellent (@FIAT131R for the tip) and The Old Copper Kettle In Taumaranui was always good.

[huff3r 347]

If going through the Desert Rd make your lunch stop Cafe Express in Waiouru. Probably the best pizza I've ever had, and every soldier tends to go back every time they end up spending any time in Waiberia for training.

[martyyyn 102]

I do this drive several times a year and there is nothing you can say to convince me to drive SH1 through Taihape, Waiouru, Turangi, Taupo, etc. It's just truck after truck, campervan after campervan.

Get away from it all and do SH1 to Bulls, SH3 to Whanganui, SH4 through National Park to Te Kuiti, SH3 to Otorohanga, SH39 to Ngaruawahia and then rejoin SH1 at Taupiri. I've even done SH23 outside Hamilton and the back roads to Pukekoke which are a brilliant drive but you may not want to do that in a wagon.

It's only minutes difference to SH1 all the way and I can only recall once being stuck behind any kind of traffic in the last dozen trips.

[qube 3570]

On 9/21/2020 at 8:27 PM, kiwi535 said:

i vote for the sh2 option,if i was in a 5 series this is what i would do

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Carterton/Kimbolton/Waiouru/Whakamaru/Te+Awamutu/@-39.6176874,173.103981,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40d0aa7bf21045:0x500ef6143a29906!2m2!1d175.5234367!2d-41.0292088!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d41da6d4b06492b:0x500ef6143a2d580!2m2!1d175.7772892!2d-40.0521342!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6a6028ea9675a1:0x500ef6143a2b280!2m2!1d175.6684686!2d-39.4785006!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6c70f11a5ff31b:0x500ef6143a2f290!2m2!1d175.7968837!2d-38.4192133!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ce73b69e079a9:0x500ef6143a30af0!2m2!1d175.3257982!2d-38.0101364!3e0

have you got a park in Thorndon? You could leave your car here,on the side of the road but off the road,i could play taxi or we are very near a bus route.

im flying in sat morning and picking up the car from airport. staying the night at "Dwellington" (lol) and then making the trip back up to auckland first thing sunday

 

edit: this route looks like the way at this stage.

SH2 from wellington to woodville,

through saddle road past the wind farm,

through ashhurst and colyton road to 54

then keep going along 54 or the backroad as you suggested

to waiouru and possible stop for a pizza snack, along desert road (i havent done this before so I would like to go through here rather than national park which ive driven multiple times in the past for skifield trips)

then 32 to whakamaru then to te awamutu along backroads

to hamilton stop for dinner then just take it easy long SH1 back to AKL

 

edit;

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Carterton/Kimbolton/Waiouru/Whakamaru/Te+Awamutu/Hamilton/Takanini,+Auckland/@-39.9405226,174.7217644,7.75z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40d0aa7bf21045:0x500ef6143a29906!2m2!1d175.5234367!2d-41.0292088!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d41da6d4b06492b:0x500ef6143a2d580!2m2!1d175.7772892!2d-40.0521342!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6a6028ea9675a1:0x500ef6143a2b280!2m2!1d175.6684686!2d-39.4785006!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6c70f11a5ff31b:0x500ef6143a2f290!2m2!1d175.7968837!2d-38.4192133!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ce73b69e079a9:0x500ef6143a30af0!2m2!1d175.3257982!2d-38.0101364!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6d227487a63621:0x500ef6143a29903!2m2!1d175.2596865!2d-37.7890804!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d0d532b010342c9:0x500ef6143a307e0!2m2!1d174.9250057!2d-37.0416244!3e0

 

 

Edited September 22, 2020 by qube

[qube 3570]

actually might just go for this route to make the trip a bit quicker.

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Levin/Sanson/Whanganui/Taumarunui/Te+Kuiti/Hamilton/Takanini,+Auckland/@-37.8554651,175.1361103,8.71z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40f3627c967d4d:0x500ef6143a2d9d0!2m2!1d175.2881973!2d-40.6225233!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d4047e2f6d3e7f7:0x500ef6143a30270!2m2!1d175.4242892!2d-40.2201392!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ab8747e76634b:0x500ef6143a39932!2m2!1d175.0518812!2d-39.9327884!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6b46ddb5a7240b:0x500ef6143a309c0!2m2!1d175.2551703!2d-38.8838381!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6cba0247660d1b:0x500ef6143a30bb0!2m2!1d175.1623618!2d-38.3327179!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6d227487a63621:0x500ef6143a29903!2m2!1d175.2596865!2d-37.7890804!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d0d532b010342c9:0x500ef6143a307e0!2m2!1d174.9250057!2d-37.0416244!3e0?fbclid=IwAR2-aEM7sP_AIRpBDMX0lvQroYG9-Bo16eVHVMto7hdv6uY4vomPi7e7Hjc

[Driftit 2078]

There is near nothing to see on that route. But it is quicker than SH2.

[Olaf 3317]

7 hours ago, qube said:

im flying in sat morning and picking up the car from airport. staying the night at "Dwellington" (lol) and then making the trip back up to auckland first thing sunday

any more of that talk and your visa will be revoked before you reach WLG, you'll be confined to the Bombay Hills Border, mate! ?

[coop 261]

18 hours ago, qube said:

actually might just go for this route to make the trip a bit quicker.

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Levin/Sanson/Whanganui/Taumarunui/Te+Kuiti/Hamilton/Takanini,+Auckland/@-37.8554651,175.1361103,8.71z/data=!4m50!4m49!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40f3627c967d4d:0x500ef6143a2d9d0!2m2!1d175.2881973!2d-40.6225233!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d4047e2f6d3e7f7:0x500ef6143a30270!2m2!1d175.4242892!2d-40.2201392!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ab8747e76634b:0x500ef6143a39932!2m2!1d175.0518812!2d-39.9327884!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6b46ddb5a7240b:0x500ef6143a309c0!2m2!1d175.2551703!2d-38.8838381!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6cba0247660d1b:0x500ef6143a30bb0!2m2!1d175.1623618!2d-38.3327179!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6d227487a63621:0x500ef6143a29903!2m2!1d175.2596865!2d-37.7890804!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d0d532b010342c9:0x500ef6143a307e0!2m2!1d174.9250057!2d-37.0416244!3e0?fbclid=IwAR2-aEM7sP_AIRpBDMX0lvQroYG9-Bo16eVHVMto7hdv6uY4vomPi7e7Hjc

It will be quicker to go through Turangi - whakamaru then on to Te Awamutu than SH4/3. Limited passing opportunities on SH4 and being a Sunday it will be busy. 
Western lakes (sh32) to Whakamaru has bugger all traffic and even less from Whakamaru to Te Awamutu. Just be careful around Waipapa dam, some corners are tight. 
 

As for Wellington parking. Avoid Wilson’s at all costs and the CBD in general. You might find free parking at the upper end of Tinakori Rd by Botanical Garden. If I were staying in Wellington I’d be going Airbnb in one of the suburbs. 

Edited September 23, 2020 by coop

[qube 3570]

Collected the car

[Navin 180]

Nice! Thought the coupe on trademe looked familiar

[qube 3570]

Too many wants and not enough garage space 

[Breaker 980]

On 9/21/2020 at 8:27 PM, kiwi535 said:

i vote for the sh2 option,if i was in a 5 series this is what i would do

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Carterton/Kimbolton/Waiouru/Whakamaru/Te+Awamutu/@-39.6176874,173.103981,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40d0aa7bf21045:0x500ef6143a29906!2m2!1d175.5234367!2d-41.0292088!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d41da6d4b06492b:0x500ef6143a2d580!2m2!1d175.7772892!2d-40.0521342!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6a6028ea9675a1:0x500ef6143a2b280!2m2!1d175.6684686!2d-39.4785006!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6c70f11a5ff31b:0x500ef6143a2f290!2m2!1d175.7968837!2d-38.4192133!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ce73b69e079a9:0x500ef6143a30af0!2m2!1d175.3257982!2d-38.0101364!3e0

have you got a park in Thorndon? You could leave your car here,on the side of the road but off the road,i could play taxi or we are very near a bus route.

Taken this a few times, bugger all traffic, great roads ?

[kiwi535 538]

1 hour ago, Breaker said:

Taken this a few times, bugger all traffic, great roads ?

thats for me is the whole point...nothing to see...quicker this way...misses the point of road trip entirely. 

[lidistick 70]

On 9/21/2020 at 8:27 PM, kiwi535 said:

i vote for the sh2 option,if i was in a 5 series this is what i would do

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/dir/Wellington,+New+Zealand/Carterton/Kimbolton/Waiouru/Whakamaru/Te+Awamutu/@-39.6176874,173.103981,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d38b1fc49e974cb:0xa00ef63a213b470!2m2!1d174.7731458!2d-41.2768778!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d40d0aa7bf21045:0x500ef6143a29906!2m2!1d175.5234367!2d-41.0292088!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d41da6d4b06492b:0x500ef6143a2d580!2m2!1d175.7772892!2d-40.0521342!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6a6028ea9675a1:0x500ef6143a2b280!2m2!1d175.6684686!2d-39.4785006!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6c70f11a5ff31b:0x500ef6143a2f290!2m2!1d175.7968837!2d-38.4192133!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6ce73b69e079a9:0x500ef6143a30af0!2m2!1d175.3257982!2d-38.0101364!3e0

have you got a park in Thorndon? You could leave your car here,on the side of the road but off the road,i could play taxi or we are very near a bus route.

This. And from Te Awamutu take the back roads to Whatawhata and to Ngaruawahia. If you are really keen, Highway 22 is a must drive. 

[qube 3570]

made it back to AKL nice and quick. glad we went the way we did because the weather was a shocker so there was plenty of rain and wind and couldnt see much anyway. made really good time too. about 7 hours or so driving for just under 700kms. there were quite a few areas of rocks that slid down the cliff onto the roads etc but overall very easy.

I will definitely do the other route another time!

[KwS 2425]

Yeah, not a good weekend to be down this way. Glad you made it back ok.

[Driftit 2078]

On 9/27/2020 at 9:04 PM, qube said:

made it back to AKL nice and quick. glad we went the way we did because the weather was a shocker so there was plenty of rain and wind and couldnt see much anyway. made really good time too. about 7 hours or so driving for just under 700kms. there were quite a few areas of rocks that slid down the cliff onto the roads etc but overall very easy.

I will definitely do the other route another time!

Actually weather was fine over in the Wairarapa ?.

[qube 3570]

haha no doubt im going to come down this way again. will drive thru the wairarapa next time

on a side note, the wagon performed beautifully along the trip. I am very very pleasantly surprised with the E61 platform. Ive only ever driven a PFL E60 530i sedan long time ago. it was very nice and stable, handled the bumps on the roads really well.

Got it home hooked up the scanner and low and behold, bunch of fault codes that look like a lot to do with a bad battery or maybe it hasnt been coded to the car.

the fun begins..