PAIHIA, BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
After some discussion of transportation options, we've decided that the best and most economical way to see New Zealand is by car, so today we rented one. As fate would have it, we got an old Toyota Corolla, almost exactly like my car at home--except the steering wheel is on the right. And yes, today was my first time driving on the left-hand side of the road, which I was a little unsure about, but once you get the hang of it, it's really not that bad. Mind those roundabouts, though! So far my biggest problem has been turning on the windshield wipers when I mean to signal a turn. I'm not exactly sure why those controls are on opposite sides of the steering wheel over here, but I thank the good lord that the brake and accelerator pedals haven't been reversed as well.
Anyway, from Auckland we drove three and a half hours north to the Bay of Islands, and specifically to the seaside resort town of Paihia. This is the area of the first English settlement in New Zealand, so it's historically significant, but it's also a place with some really picturesque coastal scenery: blue water, rocky shoreline, sandy beaches, and about 150 islands scattered throughout the bay. Paihia also serves as the base for a whole slew of tourist activities: fishing, diving, sailing, kayaking, and anything else water- or beach-related.
After some discussion of transportation options, we've decided that the best and most economical way to see New Zealand is by car, so today we rented one. As fate would have it, we got an old Toyota Corolla, almost exactly like my car at home--except the steering wheel is on the right. And yes, today was my first time driving on the left-hand side of the road, which I was a little unsure about, but once you get the hang of it, it's really not that bad. Mind those roundabouts, though! So far my biggest problem has been turning on the windshield wipers when I mean to signal a turn. I'm not exactly sure why those controls are on opposite sides of the steering wheel over here, but I thank the good lord that the brake and accelerator pedals haven't been reversed as well.
Anyway, from Auckland we drove three and a half hours north to the Bay of Islands, and specifically to the seaside resort town of Paihia. This is the area of the first English settlement in New Zealand, so it's historically significant, but it's also a place with some really picturesque coastal scenery: blue water, rocky shoreline, sandy beaches, and about 150 islands scattered throughout the bay. Paihia also serves as the base for a whole slew of tourist activities: fishing, diving, sailing, kayaking, and anything else water- or beach-related.
posted by John Kuge at 10:19 PM
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