Commuter makes daily 310km round trip

Some people will do almost anything to avoid living in Auckland. Take Brian Barclay, for example, the new media manager at The Radio Network, and one of Auckland's most determined commuters.

He travels into the city from Te Awamutu four days a week, leaving the family farm before 5.30am and not getting home until 8pm - a 310km round trip.

He drives to Pukekohe, a 90-minute journey, then he gets on the train for a further hour, bound for Auckland's Britomart station. A walk to his offices in Cook St completes his commute of three hours.

"People think I am crazy even though it is becoming more normal to commute longer distances. I quite like driving. You get used to it," he says, adding he clocks up about 70,000km a year.

"One of our announcers here lives in Hamilton. It is not all that unusual."

Mr Barclay listens to audio books in the car and on the train and answers his emails.

Fortunately, Mr Barclay's employer allows him to work from home on Wednesdays, which he says breaks up the week.

His wife has suggested he has a flat in town, but he says: "It doesn't appeal to me greatly. I would rather go home."

At the end of the week, Mr Barclay relaxes on the 57ha farm, which has its own farm manager.

"The weekends are fabulous, it is remote, the cows are mooing. And shopping in downtown Te Awamutu is hardly stressful."

His one complaint? "I just wish there was a train from Hamilton [to Auckland at commuter times]. Hamilton is becoming more of a dormitory suburb of Auckland."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY