Traffic is stretching for kilometers before the Johnstones Hill Tunnels heading north of Auckland. Video / Tania Osbourne
Motorists are being warned to expect heavy traffic today as holidaymakers make their way around the country.
Those travelling north of Auckland are being advised the roads will be busy all day in various areas from 7am through to 8pm.
The busiest area in the Auckland region is on StateHighway 1 around Puhoi, which NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi expects to be jam-packed from 7.30am until 8pm with people heading north.
By 10am, traffic was down to a crawl at Warkworth in the north and Papakura in the south. One motorist called it "a real go slow".
One woman, travelling south on SH1, posted a near two-minute long video showing traffic backed up heading north waiting to get into the tunnel near Puhoi.
Southbound traffic was likely to be busiest between Manukau and Bombay from 9.30am for most of the day.
The situation wasn't any better further south in Wellington and its surrounds, where there were reports of traffic backed up from Waikanae to Otaki on SH1.
The long line of traffic snakes north along State Highway 1 at Peka Peka. Photo / Supplied
The weather was also abysmal, with showers and cold temperatures set for most of the day in the region.
One Wellington resident was surprised by the amount of traffic as he headed north to Palmerston North.
Google maps told him his trip was going to take him about two and a half hours from Pekapeka to get there.
Traffic was down to a literal crawl along SH1 at Wellington, pictured at 1pm today. Photo / Supplied
"Its really bad today," he said.
Another local said it was one of the worst days she had seen in the area for any holiday period.
One motorist wrote how she witnessed somebody get out of their car and go for a quick run, the backlog was so bad.
The congestion continued further north around Bulls through to Sanson on SH3, leading police to send out a warning for motorists to be patient.
The warnings come as four people have so far died on the country's roads in two separate crashes - already equalling last year's festive period road toll.
HOLIDAY TRAFFIC EXPECTED TODAY - SUN 27 DEC Be prepared for heavy traffic northbound on #SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford from 7:30am-8pm TODAY as motorists leave Auckland for the Holiday period. Find out where traffic is expected to be busy here: https://t.co/t29hOKcGCb. ^MF pic.twitter.com/OshhwxdelD
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) December 26, 2020
