A word about driving in New Zealand

Driving on the left side of the street (or "Lift" as the New Zealanders say it) has been a real experience!  Having GPS and an automatic car (not having to shift gears) made it all possible.

I found New Zealand drivers to be very sensible --- adhering to speed limits despite the absence of police. (I only saw a handful of police the whole three weeks in New Zealand.) There are marked bicycle lanes, which are frequently utilized by bike riders. Everyone seems incredibly courteous on the roads.

The steering wheel, of course, is on the right with the gear shifts in the middle. There is a beeping sound in reverse, like a forklift backing up. The windshield wipers are on the left side of the steering column, which means that I frequently flipped on the wipers when I wanted to signal a turn.

I can't tell you how many times I walked to the wrong side of the car to get in. Driving sometimes feels as though I'm going forward looking in the rear view mirror. Still, it has been a great experience. Glad I did it!

The GPS (NavMan, for Navigator Man presumably) was a lifesaver!

The hard part is to remember to keep left in the roundabout. People observe the prevalent "Give Way" signs.



The price of "petrol" is about double what it is in the US, given that $2.15 is the price per liter in New Zealand dollars. By my calculations, this is about $6.50 per gallon, give or take.

I just liked this sign . . . Slippery "when frosty"