Songdoc

Deciding whether to drive or fly from Wellington to Havelock North. How long will it really take? The website I looked at says 2:55 -- but I'm not trusting it because some of the other times it listed seemed too short.

Also ... is it scenic drive?

Thanks!

Bushranger

AA map says nearly 5 hrs to Napier which is about half an hour or so further on.
So 4-4.5 hrs is more believable if a little generous to allow for windy narrow road over range close to Wellington if using SH2, possibility of traffic/roadworks delays.

Nice drive though once away from Wellington Traffic.

Alternative would be SH1 to Palamerston North and then cut across, drive not so scenic but not too bad, not much further but less expectation of delays and so possibly about same time.
AA map btw gives 6.5 Welly to Roto which is fairly generous too but 2:55 is optimistic at best with no allowance for delays.

Songdoc

Thanks so much for the info, Bushranger. Much appreciated.

I'll fly

Is anybody aware of a website with accurate NZ driving times?

Bushranger

If you were singing and need of a doc Sd, you could well get a recommendation for AA and with plentiful wine regions, rightly so.
AA in this case something more - http://www.aatravel.co.nz/about-newzealand/ , use the distances and times link on left and then you can also look up maps from the top tab to get driving directions, there being a host of other good info too that one normally expects of an Auto Association site.

Truly, you'll be missing out on one of the delights of NZ in not doing some driving, especially in more sparsely populated regions for though the roads are a far cry from Interstate nature, you're closer to nature and with minimal traffic to distract you from the pleasure.

So it takes 4 hours to get to Havelock, including having a cuppa at say Masterton or along the road somewhere, that'll equal or be less than time you take getting to airport and allowing for check in, the flight and getting luggage and then drive back from likely Napier [not sure if Hastings has a service] or someone doing double that twice for when you fly on again.

Bushranger

Actually, when you use their maps/directions bit for Wellington to HN, they do show SH1 and 290 km./3h30m, still not too bad a drive, some coasta scenery for a bit here and there but missing out on the range wilderness.

If you're looking for the quick easier drive, take SH1/SH2
And if something more closer to nature, it'd be SH2 all the way for me.
http://maps.aa.co.nz/directions/Well...63419.33678483

Enjoy

Melnq8

Songdoc -

I've found this distance calculator to be be pretty accurate and I use it when planning my trips to NZ:

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/td-calculator.php

It states the drive from Havelock North to Wellington is 307 km, 3:50. No idea though, as it's been ages since I visited the NI.

Songdoc

Thank you so much for the AA website. That seems much more accurate.

Not sure if I'll drive. I'll be putting out a lot of energy working in Havelock North and then working within a couple of hours of arriving in Auckland. Your point is well taken about having to drive to the airport; return rental car; arrive early; and check luggage, etc ... if I fly. But I can sleep on the plane. It's tougher to do that while driving ;-)

Later in the trip when I have (2) five-day periods between gigs I'll get to do lots of driving in Northland and the Nelson/Abel Tasman areas.

annw

Hope it goes well. I flew into Napier so can't help you with the driving. I found the local airports in NZ very easy going.

Songdoc

I agree with the comment about the airports being easy. Coming from the US I was SHOCKED that there's NO security for domestic flights within NZ. I kept waiting for where I'd have to take off my shoes and have my carry-on bags X-rayed .... and it never happened.

alexbeijen

Hey Songdoc - I hope it never happens here, that security stuff! I would recommend you take State Highway 2 from Wellington to Hawkes Bay, driving via the Wairarapa. It might take a tiny bit longer, but less traffic and more scenic. My driving time Well- Hastings that way is 4 hrs 10 mins

Cheers Alex

Songdoc

Thanks for all the input. I was still on the fence about whether to fly or drive ... until I went back to the Air NZ website and learned that while I'd been deciding, the cheap seats sold out -- and the flights would be an additional $100.

So that pushed me off the fence ;-) I'll definitely take the advice to take State Hwy 2.

One more question ... should I anticipate serious rush hour traffic in and around Wellington? I'll have to drive from Wellington CBD to Lower Hutt between 7 and 8 am one morning. I'm also wondering whether we should wait past rush hour before leaving Wellington en route to Hawkes Bay.

Thanks again!

Bushranger

You'll have typical commuter traffic between 7-9 am. but most traffic will be towards Wellington.

As for leaving for Hawkes Bay, again even if doing it in afternoon with more outgoing traffic it'll diminish once past Lwr. Hutt and if giving yourself plenty of day time for it and thinking of an AM departure, again traffic out is relatively light compared to that in and in any case Wellington and NZ traffic in comparison to what you would be used to from US is going to be bugger all.

As I've said previously, most likely cause of any delay will be if any roadworks are occurring or you happen to luck out and get stuck behind some commercial vans/trucks grinding their way up the windy part of SH2 as there's limited overtaking possibilities.

Songdoc

"most traffic will be towards Wellington"

Of course, that makes sense. But it didn't occur to me

I hope to leave Wellington around 8 am when I drive to Hawkes Bay so I'll have plenty of time to explore and stop along the way -- and see a bit of the Hawkes Bay area when I get there. The following day, I'll be working all morning and will only have a chance to sight-see in the afternoon -- and the next morning, I'll be flying out to Auckland. So I do want to get an early start when I leave Wellington.

Thanks again!