Holiday Inn Auckland Airport to Pukekohe private car — Priya's family visit

The air in the Holiday Inn lobby always has that faint, sterile smell of recycled air and expensive cleaning products. Priya was sitting near the coffee machine, dressed in neat travel clothes, a small wheeled suitcase tucked beside her. She looked like she’d just arrived herself, rather than waiting for a ride out of town. I greeted her and confirmed the destination – Pukekohe. A familiar journey, one I’d done countless times heading south from the airport. It’s a short run, usually, but the traffic around Manukau and the Bombay Hills can be a bit unpredictable.

She mentioned she was from Sydney, visiting her aunt. It sounded like a reunion of sorts, something she’d been looking forward to. As we pulled out of the airport precinct and merged onto State Highway 1, the grey September sky offered little cheer. It was one of those late autumn days where you could feel winter trying to cling on, with a cool breeze and the occasional dampness in the air. I pointed out the familiar landmarks as we headed towards the interchange, the usual talk about the motorway construction that seemed to be a permanent fixture.

Priya wasn't much of a talker, not at first anyway. She gazed out the window as the city gradually gave way to scrubby paddocks and the first signs of rural life. We passed through Drury and then the familiar stretch towards the Bombay Hills. Even with the traffic building slightly, it's a decent climb and offers a good vantage point back towards the Manukau Harbour on a clearer day. Today, though, it was mostly just muted greens and browns under a heavy sky.

As we descended, the landscape flattened out again, and we were into the heart of the Waikato region. Pukekohe was still a bit further on. I asked her if she’d visited this part of New Zealand before. She said no, not really. Her aunt had moved over from Australia a few years back, and this was her first extended visit. She spoke softly about her family, the reasons for her aunt’s move – a desire for a slower pace, closer to grown children who were already settled here. It was a common story these days, people seeking a different lifestyle.

We passed the turn-off for Pukekohe Park Raceway, a place that always conjures images of roaring engines and crowds, a stark contrast to the quiet, domestic task of visiting family. As we approached her aunt’s street, the houses started to become more spread out, with bigger sections and established gardens that were starting to look a bit windblown. Her aunt was standing at the gate, waving as we pulled up. I could see the warmth in the greeting as Priya stepped out, a genuine, unhurried embrace. I unloaded her suitcase and watched them walk towards the house, two figures silhouetted against the more suburban backdrop of Pukekohe. It was a simple trip, but felt like a good one – bringing people back together, one journey at a time.