Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport to Te Aroha private car — Budi's special occasion

The air in the lobby of the Naumi Hotel felt cool and quiet, a welcome respite from the late morning sun in November. I spotted him almost immediately – a man in his late twenties, perhaps, looking a touch lost amongst the few other guests, nursing a small suitcase. He was smartly dressed, a good shirt and trousers, but there was a slight crease of anxiety in his brow. He introduced himself as Budi, and told me he was heading to Te Aroha. He’d just flown in, and this was his first time in New Zealand.

He was meeting his fiancée’s family, he explained, for a special occasion. A wedding was on the horizon, and this was the chance for everyone to get acquainted. He spoke with a quiet politeness, his English good but with that gentle lilt I’ve come to recognise from travellers from Southeast Asia. He’d been looking forward to the overland part of his journey, he mentioned, wanting to see a bit more of the countryside than the city airport could offer. I think he was also a little apprehensive about navigating the smaller towns on his own for the first time.

We joined the flow of traffic heading out of the airport precinct, the familiar south-bound lanes busy with weekenders and commuters. The Southern Motorway quickly took us past the city sprawl. Budi seemed to be taking it all in, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery. I pointed out the Bombay Hills as we began the climb, the wide green paddies that sometimes appear in the lower valleys, and the more typical farmland that dominated the landscape. He asked questions occasionally, about the types of trees, the names of the towns we passed through like Pokeno and Ngatea. His interest was keen but never intrusive – just a genuine curiosity about this new environment.

We stopped at a service centre in Ngatea for a break. He bought a coffee and a small pastry, nibbling on it with a thoughtful expression. He told me a little more about his fiancée, Amelia. She was from Te Aroha, and her family were keen for him to experience a bit of rural New Zealand before the wedding. He mentioned he’d practised saying a few words of greeting in te reo Māori, and I could see the genuine effort he was making to connect.

As we continued, the landscape began to change subtly. The rolling hills of the Hauraki Plains gave way to more pronounced undulations, and eventually, the distinctive cone of Mount Te Aroha started to rise on the horizon. It looked a bit like a sleeping giant, covered in its cloak of trees. Budi pointed it out, his eyes lighting up a little. It was a landmark he’d seen in photos, he said, and it looked even more imposing in person. The air was still and warm for November, with just a whisper of a breeze.

We made our way through the quiet streets of Te Aroha, a town that feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting for something. I pulled up outside a charming red-brick villa, where a woman and two men were standing on the porch, waving. As Budi gathered his suitcase, he turned to me and offered a small smile, a mixture of relief and anticipation on his face. He thanked me, and I wished him well for his meeting and the upcoming wedding. It was always satisfying to see a passenger arrive safely and on time for a significant event, especially when they were clearly stepping out of their comfort zone. As I drove away, the distinctive mountain seemed to watch me go, a silent guardian over the town and its newcomers. I headed back towards Auckland, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the fields, feeling that quiet contentment that comes from a journey well made.