Auckland Airbnb to Pauanui private car — Anjali's business trip

The Auckland morning was already thick and humid, even before 9 am. February sunshine beaded on the windscreen as I pulled up outside a characterful villa in Parnell. The little Airbnb had a vibrant bougainvillea spilling over its fence, a splash of magenta against the white weatherboards. I always appreciate these smaller places; they feel more lived-in than the big hotel chains. My passenger for the day, Anjali, was stepping out onto the small porch as I parked. She was dressed sharp, a smart navy suit that looked like it travelled well. Her surname began with R – I’d seen it on the booking. She had a large, sleek carry-on bag and a smaller laptop case. Plenty of business ahead, I figured.

“Good morning,” she said, her accent clearly Indian. “Traffic into the city this morning was interesting.” I just grunted; Auckland traffic is a constant, usually uninteresting, topic. “Is Pauanui very far?” she asked, settling into the back leather seat. “Not too bad,” I replied, pulling away. “About three, three and a half hours, depending on the roadworks and a stop. We’ll break it up with a coffee on the way, maybe near Thames.” She nodded, pulling out her phone. I caught a glimpse of a flight booking confirmation – Wellington to Auckland, then this trip, and then back to India later in the week. A long haul for a short business trip.

The route out of Auckland is always its own special challenge. Even with the bypasses, the transition from the city sprawl to the open motorway takes patience. We passed through Pokeno, the usual truck stop buzz already building, and then onto State Highway 2, heading towards the Coromandel. I like this stretch that skirts the Firth of Thames. The water glittered on our left, a pale blue under the hazy sky. Anjali was quiet for a while, tapping away on her laptop, then she scrolled through something on her phone, a small smile touching her lips. I wondered what she was seeing – family back home, perhaps. It’s always a mix on these intercity runs: people going to see family, or for business like Anjali.

We stopped near the edge of Thames, a little way before the main town, at a small bakery that also did decent coffee. The air was warmer here, carrying the scent of salt and damp earth. While I got us both a flat white, Anjali stood by the car, looking out across the water towards the Coromandel ranges. They were softened by the haze, looking almost like watercolour paintings. She told me she worked in tech, in Bangalore. This trip was to look at a potential new market for her company here in New Zealand. It sounded ambitious, and from what I’d gathered from an earlier booking for a similar type of company, there’s a growing interest in offshore investment.

“It’s… different here,” she said, as we resumed our journey, turning onto the winding roads that lead to Pauanui. “More space. Quieter.” I knew what she meant. While Auckland is a major city, the further you get from it, the more the landscape opens up. We drove through small pockets of green belt, then into more farmland. The road tightened as we climbed into the Coromandel Peninsula proper, winding along bays and through dense bush. It’s a beautiful drive, but it demands attention. I prefer it to the main highway any day.

As we neared Pauanui, I could see the coastline opening up again. The houses here are mostly holiday homes, or places people have moved to for a quieter life. The real estate brochures always show them with pristine beaches and clear water. Today, the water was a steely grey, reflecting the overcast sky that was beginning to build. Anjali was gathering her things, straightening her jacket. She’d mentioned she was meeting a local developer, someone who had experience with international clients. “It’s a first step,” she’d said earlier, more to herself than to me. “A big first step for us.”

I pulled up outside her Pauanui accommodation, a modern bach with a view towards the estuary. She thanked me, her voice light. “It was a good journey, Harry. Thank you.” I watched her go inside, her sharp suit a distinct contrast to the casual beachside vibe of the place. Another business person making a big leap from far away, finding their way in a different part of the world. I turned the car around, heading back towards the main road, the quiet hum of the engine a familiar sound as I began the long drive back to Auckland. The humidity had broken a little, and there was a coolness in the air that promised a change, perhaps even rain, for the afternoon.