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If you’ve read my blog profile (as Han so endearingly penned) it accurately mentions “Riki is looking forward to not driving a car.” With mixed emotions, I inform you that we purchased a minivan! After a few days of daily driving a loaner wagon from our friend Ted, this beauty fell into our lap.

We are now driving twice daily to Paihia, the next town over, to deliver and retrieve the gang from school. It’s a quick drive on a serpentine, hilly, coastal road. We’re also making semi-weekly trips to Kerikeri, the bigger town about 25 minutes away on the same serpentine, hilly, coastal road. This is a continuation of the main north-south ‘highway’ through Northland, which refers to most of the island north of Auckland. The new multi-lane freeway runs out soon after Auckland and turns into the typical 2-lane, serpentine, hilly road. 

In so many ways this minivan feels like our old 2007 Odyssey in Tacoma, which we gifted to Han’s brother’s family, Weston and Justine who are expecting their second child in January. A 2000 Toyota Estima, NZ version of the old Previa, has many miles, tricky sliding doors, motor peculiarities, rain leaks, stained seats and the same check engine light which comes on and miraculously fixes itself, all the same as the Odyssey, and we love it!  

The biggest difference is the steering wheel is on the right side, which is the wrong side. Survival requires a quick learning curve and it is quite tricky. All the console controls are switched as well. Here was the daily routine for a few days…approach the car on the left side to find the steering wheel missing, walk around and get in. Reach for the seatbelt over your left shoulder, blindly grasping at air. Start car easily as the ignition, gas and brake are the same. Look for the shifter and when found put in gear, signal which turns on the wipers and you’re off. Don’t even think about figuring out the stereo with your left hand while driving. You know what the roads are like!

Now the dangerous part. All the previous mistakes illicit a face palm and a snicker but when you get on the road…STAY LEFT!!! Turning right is odd and nerve-wracking. The mantra is stay left, stay left! The kids remind us all the time.  Roundabouts are everywhere in NZ. Paihia has 1 streetlight. Kerikeri, the bigger town has none, we think. So stay left on the roundabout while circling clockwise…easy right?!?

Fortunately the car buying process was painless, quick and free. Yes, free! Pay the seller, he reports it sold online. He’s required to have at least 3 months of current registration which is transferable. I fill out a 3 line paper as the new owner and take it to the post office, show my passport and pay nothing. NZ doesn’t even have insurance requirements. We got liability, fire and theft which was inexpensive. We don’t need a NZ drivers license either!

We expect some adventures in this vehicle and with public transportation non-existent in Northland, it is a current necessity. We are very happy with our new rig and yes, I’m still looking forward to not driving a car.