What's morning traffic usually like on the big motorway in Auckland, NZ?

Question

I am considering a move to Auckland, and my workplace would be at the Northern end of the city. I might live south of the city though, somewhere in the country, maybe the Coromandel peninsula.

What's it like to cross Auckland on the big motorway at, say, 8 in the morning?

I've heard the city is infamous for its jams, but are they also on the main artery?

Answer 1

My family and I have lived here for a few months now (see leaderboard).  We walk everywhere.

Answer 2

It's not that bad.

Answer 3

sheep, sheep... as far as the eye can see.

Answer 4

Sounds like you haven't had too many serious answers yet. I lived in New Zealand for 10 years, just moved back to the US.

While I was there, lived in Auckland for 2 years and travelled there for work many times.

General rule of thumb is if you work on the North Shore (of Akld), live on the North Shore.  Traffic is VERY bad in Akld, population has outstripped the infrastructure growth.

If you were to live in say Ellerslie and work in CBD, then it could be as little as 20 minutes on SH1 (the main road that runs through Auckland, and up and down the whole country).

It really depends, but for the most part, yes Auckland is a little bit like LA, obviously not nearly as big, but you don't have the enormously wide, multi-lane motorways as you do in the US.

There are about 4 lanes each way for the most part in Auckland, then thins back out at points further south and north.

You would never want to live in the Coromandel and commute to Auckland, you're talking at least 2-3 hours, probably more. NZ is a small country, but it still takes a good 9-10 hours to drive from Wellington to Auckland, given the twisty and windy nature of the roads through the North Island.

Answer 5

drug traffic?