Ponsonby Airbnb to Kerikeri private car — Sarah's family visit

The call came in for a Ponsonby pickup. A nice neighbourhood, Ponsonby. Lots of character, sort of arty, a bit bohemian, but with some seriously swanky eateries these days. My kind of place. The job was to take a passenger up to Kerikeri. That’s a decent run, for sure, but nothing I haven’t done a hundred times before. It gets you out of the city and into the real top of the North, the Far North.

The pickup was at an Airbnb, a place with a bit of a garden, nice curb appeal. A woman, Sarah, was waiting by the gate. She looked organised, had her small overnight bag ready to go. She seemed keen to get moving, which I appreciate. No dawdling, straight to business. We loaded her bag into the boot and she settled into the back seat. She was heading up to see family. That’s always a nice reason for a trip, less stress than business, more relaxed.

We pulled out of Ponsonby and headed north. The traffic was doing its usual Auckland thing for a Friday morning in January. Still got that holiday vibe, but people are starting to get back into the swing of things, heading back to work, or like Sarah, making that last push of the summer visit.

We joined the Northern Motorway, heading towards the Harbour Bridge. Always a good view from up there, even on a greyish day. You can see the city sprawling out, the harbour. It’s a good reminder of where you’re coming from. Sarah was quiet at first, just looking out the window. That’s perfectly fine with me. Some people like to chat, others prefer to observe, to have their own space. I don’t push it. The goal is a comfortable journey.

As we cleared the city and got onto State Highway 1, the landscape started to change. Suburbs gave way to rolling countryside. We passed through Warkworth, a town that’s really grown over the years. Used to be a quiet spot, now it’s got a bit more hustle. Then came Wellsford, and after that, it’s proper country driving. The road winds, there are farms, hills, plenty of green. It’s a beautiful part of the country, the North.

Sarah eventually started to open up a bit. She told me she’d been visiting her parents, who had moved up to Kerikeri a few years back. They’d always dreamt of living up there, she explained, loved the warmer climate and the slower pace of life compared to Auckland. She’d had a whole week with them, doing all the usual family things – barbecues, walks, just catching up. She seemed really fond of them. She spoke about her mum’s garden, how it was her pride and joy, bursting with flowers and vegetables. She mentioned her dad was getting them into golf, something she’d never really thought about before.

We talked about the drive itself. I mentioned how the road changes the further north you go. It’s less dual carriageway, more winding. She agreed, said she’d always found the journey quite scenic. I pointed out the forests, the kiwifruit orchards that you start to see more of as we climbed further north. The air starts to feel different too, even inside the car. Cleaner, somehow fresher.

We discussed the differences between Auckland and the smaller towns. She said she enjoyed coming up north because it felt like pressing a reset button. She liked the community feel, how people seemed to know each other more. It wasn’t the anonymity of the big city. She appreciated that connection. She also mentioned that her parents had a dog, a big golden retriever, that she was looking forward to seeing again. Pets are family too, after all.

As we approached Whangārei, I asked if she wanted to stop for a break. She declined, said she was fine, just wanted to get to Kerikeri. We bypassed the city, staying on the main route north, heading towards the Kawakawa turnoff. The landscape here is really distinctive. Lots of rolling hills, dairying country, and then you start seeing stands of native bush. It’s wilder, less manicured.

The final stretch from Kawakawa to Moerewa, then on towards Paihia and finally Kerikeri, always feels like the home stretch. The light changes up here, especially this time of year, it gets that soft, diffused quality. We passed the turnoff for Paihia, the gateway to the Bay of Islands. I’ve made countless trips to Paihia, taken people to the Russell ferry, but this job was straight through to Kerikeri.

Sarah pointed out a few landmarks she recognised from previous trips. She knew which dips and bends meant we were getting closer. She was clearly familiar with the area and looking forward to being back. I could sense her anticipation. The small towns whizzed by – Moerewa, then we were on the final road into Kerikeri itself.

I dropped her off right at her parents’ driveway. A lovely house, nice garden, just as she’d described. Her parents were out front, waving as we pulled up. Big smiles. It was clear they were thrilled to see her. I helped her with her bag, and she thanked me warmly. It’s always good to see that reunion. It makes the long drive worthwhile, seeing that connection, that happiness.

I watched for a moment as she greeted her parents, the bags were unpacked, and the happy family reunion was in full swing. Another successful trip completed. Time to head back down the road, thinking about the peace and quiet of the Far North, and the energy of Auckland waiting for me. It’s a good balance, these trips.