[shazhad]

Hi

Does anyone have direct experience of the rush hour in either Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch?

Is it comparable to the rush hour in UK major cities?

Does the "nightmare commute" exist in NZ?

Thanks

[gil]

Yes, Auckland.
Yes. Possibly worse than some, better than others.
Yes.

Auckland is notorious for it's rush hour problems. In some areas, unless you're on the road by 6-6.15 a.m., your 30 minute commute turns into 60-90 minutes.
However, it is nowhere near as bad as the M25 in my experience.
Gil

[Georgebulldog]

Wellington rush hour from where we are Churton Park to Tory St takes about 20 minutes by car, there's traffic but it moves & nothing like the UK, getting into Reading to do shopping on a Saturday or any other weekday for that matter, no comparison for us

[BkyMonster]

Christchurch rush hour is really like... a rush half hour. I don't know what UK cities are like but the ChCh rush hour is comparable to a US city of about half the size or less. There's a bit of traffic but things keep moving.

[dusk]

also, although it does have a bit of a poor reputation the bus service in Auckland is not too bad during rush hour - plenty of bus lanes and you can get from some parts of the north shore into the CBD within 15 minutes (and only about half an hour from Albany I believe)

We use the ferry so can't really comment, but outside of rush hour driving around the auckland area is not bad at all

[chocolate cake]

Auckland commuter traffic is the worst I've known, it's certainly not helped by a lack of decent public transport.
I commute by bike and find I can to work as quick as driving, but it's a dangerous occupation, only this morning I needed to swerved to avoid a bin wagon that pulled out of side road without looking, then later was nearly swiped by a driver cuttting me up with one hand on his mobile. The latter is a dreadful problem in NZ, but instead the police concentrate on speeding.

[smudgerand4]

Hi

Does anyone have direct experience of the rush hour in either Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch?

Is it comparable to the rush hour in UK major cities?

Does the "nightmare commute" exist in NZ?

Thanks

Hi there,
I am a professional driver here in Auckland and have had experience of driving in many places, primarily England, and in many other countries too. I can tell you that Auckland, probably the busiest part of New Zealand, does not seem to have a fraction of the problems that you can experience all over the UK. Yes, there is an element of "unexpectedness" on the roads around Auckland but I have not yet had to battle my way anywhere in the same way that I found on British roads; suuposedly some of the best roads in the world! It is also true that the rush hour, generally starting from around 7:30 am ish to around 09:30 in the mornings and from 4:30 - 6pm in the evenings can slow things down a bit.

Outside of these times however is generally pretty smooth flowing. You do get a little of the "madness" and impatience that you will have witnessed in the UK but it is on a much smaller scale. Anyone who really thinks that Auckland provides the worst traffic around really needs to get out more!! I used to live on the New Forest side of Southampton; picturesque, rural etc but catch the roads there at the wrong time and it was completely jammed solid.

There appears to be a lot less "angry" driving as well and I certainly do not feel the same sort of tenseness and the wait for someone to shout, throw up a finger, or the other mentality of another driver simply wanting to smash you off the road - perhaps a feeling that can be experienced on British roads.

There is, quite simply, around a 10th of the cars on the roads out here and the roads themselves are getting better and better with new link roads opening regularly.

Here is to hoping that it will remain that way............ traffic can be a slight irritation at the the wrong time but outside of that its pretty good!

[Janey]

I agree with the last post although I will say you can not predict anyday somedays from Churton Park to the hospital it takes 20 mins others 40 mins if you commute from the Hutt into town thats a different story due to ongoing road works and lights

apologies (Wellington)

[Big Puku]

Yeah Wellington traffic is a bit hit and miss at the moment - both SH1/SH2 out of the city can be a nightmare at peak times!

[dharder]

There appears to be a lot less "angry" driving as well and I certainly do not feel the same sort of tenseness and the wait for someone to shout, throw up a finger, or the other mentality of another driver simply wanting to smash you off the road - perhaps a feeling that can be experienced on British roads.

Really?? Where are you driving? Must amend my way to work. What you are describing is what I have come to expect here daily, and I am amazed at the level of aggression that people display once behind the wheel.

Having said that, while the rush hour may not be as bad as somewhere else,I find it far less predictable. I have taken anything between 25min to over 1h for an 11km trip, at the same time, and really there doesn't seem to be much system to it.

I'm cycling as well now, like chocolate cake, and I find my cycle times much more predictable than the car traffic. But again, I find the level of aggression and inconsiderate driving mind boggling.

Daniela

[smudgerand4]

Really?? Where are you driving? Must amend my way to work. What you are describing is what I have come to expect here daily, and I am amazed at the level of aggression that people display once behind the wheel.

Daniela

Honestly, you should try all the UK roads!! This is "big city" driving in Auckland and I believe that driving here offers a certain amount of unpredictability. There is certainly a thoughtless element but that would be reminiscent of all city AND fringe driving in England. Unfortunately, "City Driving" in the UK has extended well beyond the city and dangerous, discourteous, selfish driving was just part of the norm when I left, ALL DAY and EVERY DAY. It is difficult to compare with the UK but I do drive on the roads professionally and the Rush Hour is over relatively quickly. You simply cannot compare Auckland driving with London which is a 24 hour manic operation.
Later hours in Auckland are really quiet in comparison except on Friday / Saturday nights when things liven up - then you have to watch out for the Boy Racers and those other drivers who have evidently had far too much to drink!! Otherwise - enjoy the city views over the harbour bridge etc and then compare the roads with what you left behind!!

[dharder]

You simply cannot compare Auckland driving with London

I can and I do.

There is no question about the number of cars on the road, London is bigger and more crowded and the traffic slower, etc. I have stood in some (caused by security alerts, but still) traffic jams at 3am on a Sunday morning in London, no doubt you'd be hardpressed to find that here :)

But where the level of aggression and driving ability is concerned, I find Auckland a lot worse.

Daniela

[gil]

The "Where is driving worse, UK or NZ?" question has long polarised opinion on here. Before we came, we were dreading driving here, based on what we had read on this forum. However, our experience has been a pleasant surprise, more in line with what smudgerand4 describes, i.e far less aggressive / rude than UK.

Generally, I find drivers here quite considerate. I drive into the CBD most days, sometimes not if I am off to clients outside CBD/Auckland (e.g. Hamilton, as I did today) and always during rush hour. The unpredictability of traffic volume is irritating and I have come to allow heaps of extra time during those peak periods.

The highway lanes defintely seem narrower here, which made things feel a little more hair-raising in the beginning, but I must have got used to it now, as it doesn't bother me any longer.

Gil

[veronica]

ha ha got to say that coming back to the UK and driving between Witham and Upminster, A12 M25 6 days a week that I can't even begin to compare the traffic in Christchurch with that. Sorry but the majority of Christchurch city doesn't have what can be called a rush hour. It has a slight build up of traffic. going out of the city there are a few roads that get a tad clogged. marshlands Rd to the north, theres often a build up on Deans Ave and riccarton Rd is always a bit sticky. The longest I have ever been in traffic in christchurch is 20 mins stop start and that was a bit of an exception for me over 5 year span.

Can't personally answer for Auckland or wellington, although Daughter in Auckland grumbles about both the traffic and the driving up there. Seems a good reason to be in Christchurch to me.