Driving in New Zealand - driving on the left, speeding & parking fines
Jan 20, 2017, 12:23 am
#92
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Since these highways are important links (not many alternative routes), they are usually reopened very quickly.
To keep an eye on road closures try transit.govt.nz for state highways, or aaroadwatch.co.nz
Jan 20, 2017, 4:06 am
#93
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...rday-afternoon
Edit Update Monday 07:00 23 Jan (NZ time)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...ane-on-tuesday
Arthur's Pass to stay closed until at least Saturday afternoon
MADDISON NORTHCOTT AND JACK FLETCHER
Last updated 21:08, January 20 2017
The road through Arthur's Pass will remain closed until at least Saturday afternoon while workers clear a massive slip blocking the highway.
However, more bad weather is set to delay progress.
Thursday's "bomb low" weather system caused widespread flooding and downed trees across the South Island, closing many roads and disrupting travel.
<snip>
MADDISON NORTHCOTT AND JACK FLETCHER
Last updated 21:08, January 20 2017
The road through Arthur's Pass will remain closed until at least Saturday afternoon while workers clear a massive slip blocking the highway.
However, more bad weather is set to delay progress.
Thursday's "bomb low" weather system caused widespread flooding and downed trees across the South Island, closing many roads and disrupting travel.
<snip>
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/new...ane-on-tuesday
A single lane of the road through Arthur's Pass is expected to reopen on Tuesday.
State Highway 73 between Jacksons and Arthur's Pass was closed after torrential rain caused slips over the road on Thursday.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) representatives initially thought the road would reopen by Saturday afternoon. It was then revised to at least Monday morning, but on Sunday Christchurch Transport Operations Centre team leader Tresca Forrester said more bad weather had affected the clearing of the slips.
<snip>
The Arthur's Pass area has had 413 millimetres of rain since Tuesday evening, including nearly 50mm on Sunday.
The main access route to the West Coast is now over the Lewis Pass, which adds an hour-and-a-half to travel time.
State Highway 73 between Jacksons and Arthur's Pass was closed after torrential rain caused slips over the road on Thursday.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) representatives initially thought the road would reopen by Saturday afternoon. It was then revised to at least Monday morning, but on Sunday Christchurch Transport Operations Centre team leader Tresca Forrester said more bad weather had affected the clearing of the slips.
<snip>
The Arthur's Pass area has had 413 millimetres of rain since Tuesday evening, including nearly 50mm on Sunday.
The main access route to the West Coast is now over the Lewis Pass, which adds an hour-and-a-half to travel time.
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Jan 22, 2017 at 11:12 am Reason: update
Jan 20, 2017, 8:14 pm
#94
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Slips caused by heavy rain caused the temporary closure of Lewis Pass (between Christchurch and Nelson). This is not common but may happen a couple of times a year (can also close by snow a few times each winter).
Since these highways are important links (not many alternative routes), they are usually reopened very quickly.
To keep an eye on road closures try transit.govt.nz for state highways, or aaroadwatch.co.nz
Since these highways are important links (not many alternative routes), they are usually reopened very quickly.
To keep an eye on road closures try transit.govt.nz for state highways, or aaroadwatch.co.nz
Jan 20, 2017, 8:23 pm
#95
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Heavy rain can happen any time on the west coast and the southern alps - these are some of the wettest places on the planet. That said, the worst is in the mountains and not the towns etc where people live/visit.
Feb 3, 2017, 1:30 pm
#97
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Car rental or Taxi/Uber?
Will be my 1st time in Auckland later this month. I arrive day 1 and head to the Skycity Grand hotel. Day 2 I need to visit a customer near the airport and then return to the hotel. Day 3 = go back to airport for departure. I'm thinking taxi/Uber would be my best bet. Would there be any reason to hire a car instead? I would have to pay for a sat nav and hotel parking. I don't want to stay in a hotel near the airport because its my 1st time in NZ and I'd like to see some of it.
By the way, I'm from California, but routinely drive in the UK. I always exceed the speed limit on motorways by a lot! Over the years, I've got three letters in the mail from Hertz on different occasions saying that I've been caught by speed cameras and my information has been forwarded to authorities. Nothing more ever happens. I keep waiting to be refused entry into the country or something.
By the way, I'm from California, but routinely drive in the UK. I always exceed the speed limit on motorways by a lot! Over the years, I've got three letters in the mail from Hertz on different occasions saying that I've been caught by speed cameras and my information has been forwarded to authorities. Nothing more ever happens. I keep waiting to be refused entry into the country or something.
Feb 3, 2017, 1:48 pm
#98
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Will be my 1st time in Auckland later this month. I arrive day 1 and head to the Skycity Grand hotel. Day 2 I need to visit a customer near the airport and then return to the hotel. Day 3 = go back to airport for departure. I'm thinking taxi/Uber would be my best bet. Would there be any reason to hire a car instead?
Skybus from/to the airport is an option if you want to save the company a few cents.
Feb 6, 2017, 11:11 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Just come back from a couple of weeks in New Zealand. We luckily were able to take the Tranzalpine.
Really enjoyed driving in New Zealand (was in the South Island). Single lanes for sure, but pretty easy on the traffic. Just got to be a bit careful and slower around the windy roads, apart from that, found the driving pretty easy going.
Really enjoyed driving in New Zealand (was in the South Island). Single lanes for sure, but pretty easy on the traffic. Just got to be a bit careful and slower around the windy roads, apart from that, found the driving pretty easy going.
Feb 6, 2017, 11:29 pm
#100
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8913...east-six-weeks
Feb 6, 2017, 11:41 pm
#101
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
The Tranzalpine is not running for the next 6 weeks (or more). There was a fire at the weekend that has damaged some wooden bridge supports and other infrastructure.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8913...east-six-weeks
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8913...east-six-weeks
Feb 6, 2017, 11:47 pm
#102
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Mar 15, 2017, 10:19 pm
#103
Join Date: Dec 2001
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This thread has grown from driving in NZ tips to include vehicle rental tips for NZ, so I'll add one of the latter ...
Because tourists typically head south with vehicles in NZ, rental ("hire") cars tend to accumulate in the southern parts of each island. E.g. Wellington for the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown for the South Island.
So you can find very good deals if you happen to being headed northbound and can help companies relocate vehicles. A typical example would be $1 a day rental out of CHC for 3 days with a free tank of gas and 900kms included if you'll drop off the car in Nelson, Blenheim or Picton.
Because tourists typically head south with vehicles in NZ, rental ("hire") cars tend to accumulate in the southern parts of each island. E.g. Wellington for the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown for the South Island.
So you can find very good deals if you happen to being headed northbound and can help companies relocate vehicles. A typical example would be $1 a day rental out of CHC for 3 days with a free tank of gas and 900kms included if you'll drop off the car in Nelson, Blenheim or Picton.
Mar 15, 2017, 10:56 pm
#104
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There was a useful independent thread "Car rental or Taxi/Uber?"
https://www.transfercar.co.nz/
Mar 16, 2017, 4:57 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: NZ*S
Posts: 773
This thread has grown from driving in NZ tips to include vehicle rental tips for NZ, so I'll add one of the latter ...
Because tourists typically head south with vehicles in NZ, rental ("hire") cars tend to accumulate in the southern parts of each island. E.g. Wellington for the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown for the South Island.
So you can find very good deals if you happen to being headed northbound and can help companies relocate vehicles. A typical example would be $1 a day rental out of CHC for 3 days with a free tank of gas and 900kms included if you'll drop off the car in Nelson, Blenheim or Picton.
Because tourists typically head south with vehicles in NZ, rental ("hire") cars tend to accumulate in the southern parts of each island. E.g. Wellington for the North Island and Christchurch and Queenstown for the South Island.
So you can find very good deals if you happen to being headed northbound and can help companies relocate vehicles. A typical example would be $1 a day rental out of CHC for 3 days with a free tank of gas and 900kms included if you'll drop off the car in Nelson, Blenheim or Picton.
Note that it's only two days max for the ZQN-CHC relocation, and three for the others with Avis/Budget.