Penrose office to Cathedral Cove private car — Astrid's family visit

The August gloom hadn't quite lifted by 8 AM that Tuesday, even as far south as Penrose. A typical mid-winter Auckland morning, damp and with a faint chill that hints at the grey skies. I was parked outside the office building, the early start meaning I’d had a quiet motorway journey heading south from home. My passenger, Astrid L, was meeting a colleague briefly before heading off on her trip. She'd booked an intercity trip down to the Coromandel Peninsula, specifically to get close to Cathedral Cove.

Astrid emerged from the building, a compact woman with fair hair pulled back, wearing practical layers. She carried a small but sturdy-looking suitcase and a good-sized handbag. She seemed focused, almost reserved, as she settled into the back seat amidst the faint scent of pine cleaning spray I use. The plan was to drive straight to Thames, then make our way across to the coast. We’d need to leave the car in Hahei and walk the track in. I remembered hearing that due to weather, sometimes the upper track was closed and it would be a longer beach walk, but that was a decision for closer to the time.

As we cleared the initial Auckland sprawl and joined the Southern Motorway, heading south towards the Bombay Hills, Astrid began to relax. She’d been in Auckland for meetings for a few days, she explained, before this holiday part of her trip. Her sister lived in Norway, and they communicated regularly, but this was a special occasion, a combined birthday celebration for her sister and an early Christmas get-together. She showed me a photo on her phone: two smiling women, arms around each other, standing on a Norwegian fjord. Astrid herself had been living in Wellington for the past two years, working in tech. She’d flown into Auckland for the meetings, but her actual home, her base, was down in the capital. This Coromandel trip was a little personal adventure before heading back south.

We passed through the familiar stretch towards the turn-off for State Highway 2, heading east towards the Coromandel. The landscape began to flatten out as we approached the Hauraki Plains, crisscrossed with drainage ditches and dotted with sheep. The sky remained overcast, but the rain held off. We stopped at a petrol station near Ngatea for a quick coffee and muffin. Astrid bought a meat pie, which she seemed to enjoy. She was quiet about her work, mentioning that her company had an office in Wellington, and she was quite settled there. Her focus seemed to be entirely on the upcoming visit, the anticipation of seeing her sister and their planned activities. She mentioned they loved hiking, and that Cathedral Cove was a highlight they’d always wanted to do together.

Continuing towards Thames, the hills began to rise again, more rounded and bush-clad than the ranges further south. The road narrowed, becoming more winding as we approached the coast. Astrid pointed out a particularly striking view of the Firth of Thames, the water a steely grey under the clouds. She spoke softly about her sister, how they’d grown up exploring the forests and fjords of Norway, and now they wanted to recreate some of that magic in New Zealand. It wasn't the dramatic cliffs of her homeland, but she found a certain quiet beauty in the coastal curves and the dense green of the native bush.

We reached Hahei in the early afternoon. The air was cooler here, carrying the scent of salt from the sea. The carpark was moderately busy, considering the season. Astrid met her sister, a woman named Solveig who had travelled up from Wellington the day before and stayed locally, outside my vehicle. There was an immediate warmth between them, a shared smile that instantly bridged the distance. I helped Astrid with her suitcase and wished them both a wonderful visit. It’s always satisfying seeing those reunion moments, especially when you know you’ve played a small part in bringing people together like this.

My return journey felt quieter, the car empty. The low afternoon sun tried to break through the clouds as I headed back west. The winding road out of Hahei was familiar, and the descent back towards the flat plains felt like a steady unwinding. I thought about Astrid’s quiet hopefulness, her desire to share a piece of this country with her sister before the year was out. It wasn't a dramatic trip, no urgent business or life-changing event, just a simple journey to bring family together. Sometimes, those are the most important ones of all.