Holiday traffic queues up to 15km-long

Orewa is a common bottleneck. File photo / Paul Estcourt

Drivers returning to the main centres were battling long queues at the end of the Labour Weekend holiday this afternoon.

The traditional bottlenecks are the worst affected with a tail 15 kilometres long reported heading to Auckland along the highway from Windy Ridge to Orewa.

And Aucklanders heading back home from the Coromandel are causing a 7 kilometre traffic back-log near Thames.

The logjam is on the Thames township side of the Kopu bridge.

Traffic heading back into Wellington on State Highway One is already beginning to back up. Police say there is a major traffic jam going into Otaki heading south.

North of Auckland, police are suggesting motorists take State Highway 16 instead of SH1.

Police are urging motorists to drive sensibly in the conditions.

Acting Road policing manager Inspector Rob Morgan said patience is key. He said being impatient will not help and creates dangerous driving.

He said people need to be prepared for a long, slow trip home.

- NEWSTALK ZB, NZ HERALD STAFF