SkyCity Hotel to Kerikeri private car — Jing's family visit

The lobby of SkyCity Hotel was buzzing, a constant ebb and flow of guests looking important or slightly lost. October in Auckland was starting to lean into spring proper; there was a warmth to the air even before midday, hinting at the summer months to come. My sedan was waiting curbside, polished and ready, the interior smelling faintly of lemon polish and the subtle, persistent scent of those air fresheners I favour. Jing L was descending in the escalator, a neat, dark red suitcase trailing behind her, her gaze a little unfocused as she navigated the throng.

She was heading north, all the way up to Kerikeri. Not a short drive by any means, but a common enough one. Many people underestimate how far north the Northland region stretches until they look at a map closer. She’d booked through the office, a last-minute arrangement, and she mentioned her family was expecting her. Visiting family – the best reason to travel, in my opinion. We loaded her bag, a surprisingly light one for what I assumed would be a lengthy stay, and pulled away from the polished forecourt, merging into the steady flow of afternoon traffic heading out of the city.

The Northern Motorway is always the first real test out of Auckland, and even on a fine Monday afternoon, there was a decent crawl. We slipped through the tunnels, past Orewa, then Warkworth, the familiar rolling green hills on either side of the road starting to become more prominent as we headed towards the Dome Valley. Jing was quiet, her eyes flicking from the passing landscape to her phone, but not intensely so. She seemed content to watch the world go by. We talked a little about the scenery, the urban sprawl giving way to more rural farmland. I pointed out the turn-off for Wellsford, a town I know well, and she nodded, a faint smile touching her lips.

Our first proper stop was a little further on, just north of Kaiwaka. I needed my customary flat white and a stretch of the legs. Jing opted for a bottle of water from the shop and found a sunny spot outside. The air was fresh, carrying the faint scent of salt and damp earth from the nearby coast. It was the kind of quiet stop that lets you recalibrate. Back in the car, the conversation picked up a little more easily. She told me she’d been living in Auckland for a couple of years, working in finance, but her parents and extended family were all in the Bay of Islands. This was her first time back in months. She spoke about her younger sister, who was getting married in the spring, and how much she was looking forward to seeing everyone. She seemed to carry a quiet sort of strength, a gentle determination that I’d noticed in many of the women who’d travelled with me.

The landscape began to change again as we climbed towards the Brynderwyns. The dense green of the subtropical north started to assert itself – larger ferns, more trees lining the road. We passed through Whangārei, a town that always feels a bit like a gateway. The final stretch to Kerikeri is always the most beautiful, winding roads opening up to glimpses of the coast, estuaries, and rolling hills dotted with orchards. The light was starting to soften, the afternoon sun casting long shadows.

Jing directed me to a modern house set back from the road, surrounded by a well-tended garden. As I helped her with her suitcase, a woman with a warm smile came out to greet her, calling her name. The embrace was immediate and clearly full of affection. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Jing,” I said, leaning back into the car. She offered a grateful nod. “Thank you for the drive, Harry. It was very smooth.”

I watched them go inside, their voices already a happy murmur. I turned the car around, the engine humming quietly, and pointed myself south again. The drive back is always a time for reflection. I thought about the subtle shift in Jing’s demeanour as she got closer to her destination – the quiet anticipation turning into open joy. It’s a privilege, really, to be a small part of these journeys, to witness these moments of connection, even from the driver's seat. The road north had been easy, the company pleasant, and the destination one of pure happiness. A good day's work.