7 Things I have learned about Auckland in 7 days.

**Gubb** · 16th December 2007, 17:46

1. All directions start with "Just get on the motorway..."

2. There is no such thing as off-peak. It's busy, or motorway parking.

3. Indicators are completely optional, and "the finger" is often presented after near misses when it is the "presenters" fault. (I got flipped off by an 80+ year old woman on Thursday, for letting a car in a side street into the traffic flow)

4. Real Groovy Auckland is feckin' awesome!

5. People aren't as openly friendly as they are in other parts of the country, often it seems they are always in a rush.

6. That nothing quite compares to Makara Hill, Paekak Hill, and the 'takas.

7. Having a public transport system that is somewhat reliable is fantastic, and I miss Welly because of this. You can't have a "super-city" without a rail network.

**Stickchick** · 16th December 2007, 17:52

Originally Posted by Hubba Gubba

7. Having a public transport system that is somewhat reliable is fantastic, and I miss Welly because of this. You can't have a "super-city" without a rail network.

I have to disagree about this as The bus drivers in Welly are not that happy to help someone out that is completely lost and jumped on the wrong bus.....and I have caught pulbic transport in Welly for 30 years and I have only been in Auckland for 7 days.

**Drum** · 16th December 2007, 18:02

Originally Posted by Hubba Gubba

1.... often it seems they are always in a rush......

Ironic when you consider #1 and #2.

**Usarka** · 17th December 2007, 07:04

Originally Posted by Hubba Gubba

5. People aren't as openly friendly as they are in other parts of the country.

Purely because every time an Aucklander visits any other part of the country they get treated with contempt, disrespect, and sometimes open hostility.

Its just our way of paying you fullas back.

**jrandom** · 17th December 2007, 08:14

Originally Posted by Hubba Gubba

5. People aren't as openly friendly as they are in other parts of the country, often it seems they are always in a rush.

Nonsense.

I was half-asleep in the Devonport New World supermarket the other day, pottering around looking for something or other, and suddenly realised I was gawking rather rudely at a woman in one of the aisles.

Before I could gather my scattered thoughts and pretend to have been looking past her at a can of spaghetti, she met my gaze and gave me a huge grin.

People are just people, wherever you go.

Try not being in a rush yourself.

**scumdog** · 17th December 2007, 08:23

Anywhere with motorways, traffic lights and roundabouts has too much traffic and is waay too big to be good for you.....

**Bass** · 17th December 2007, 08:39

Originally Posted by scumdog

Anywhere with motorways, traffic lights and roundabouts has too much traffic and is waay too big to be good for you.....

But.....but.....but.... the first roundabout in the country was in Invercargill FFS, about 42 years ago. I had to cycle around it going to school.

Mate, if Invercargill was too big for you over 40 years ago, you have some serious hermit tendencies

**Tank** · 17th December 2007, 10:03

Originally Posted by Hubba Gubba

I got flipped off by an 80+ year old woman on Thursday.

HTFU - REAL Aucklanders wouuld have bottled her for that.

**Devil** · 17th December 2007, 10:33

Originally Posted by Tank

HTFU - REAL Aucklanders wouuld have bottled her for that.

Not bottled, but bottle-jacked!

**Gubb** · 17th December 2007, 17:00

Originally Posted by Tank

HTFU - REAL Aucklanders wouuld have bottled her for that.

I have so much to learn sensei.....

**R6_kid:Me** · 17th December 2007, 17:15

SH16 on a good day with no cops is good... stretch your legs to mangawhai and it's pretty nice too. Try heading out to Coromandel and do the loop, and dont forget Whangamata-to-Waihi as well.

I spent 4 or 5 years lane splitting daily in Auckland and only ever had a handful of close calls - and many people said I was doing it too fast.

You're just gonna have to learn to ride hardcore-defensive and learn that there are always alternate routes to where you are going (unless you are going over the bridge!)

**P38** · 17th December 2007, 17:59

Originally Posted by Usarka

Purely because every time an Aucklander visits any other part of the country they get treated with contempt, disrespect, and sometimes open hostility.

Its just our way of paying you fullas back.

Lol nice one

Treating them any less would just be plain WRONG!!!!!

**Conquiztador** · 17th December 2007, 18:04

Akl is a spread out town with a little over 1mill ppl. A few high risers down town, but rest is houses on sections.

If you struggle there, then you better not go to Asia, Europe or States...

**Unit:Me** · 17th December 2007, 18:12

Stop bottling old people you lot, Im sure its not safe, and as for you Mr JRandom, your scattering thoughtness defines you

**Gubb** · 17th December 2007, 20:20

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Akl is a spread out town with a little over 1mill ppl. A few high risers down town, but rest is houses on sections.

If you struggle there, then you better not go to Asia, Europe or States...

Never said I was struggling, just noticed some things that were pretty different to other places I have lived.