The NZTA has advice about which roads are likely to be congested as New Zealanders start heading away for their Christmas holidays. Photo / File
With the first day of many people's Christmas holidays starting today, congestion is beginning to build as large numbers of people head to popular holiday destinations.
Exactly where and when are likely to be the busiest times on our country's main roads has been calculated by the New Zealand Transport Agency to help motorists plan and avoid delays.
Northland
SH1 at Whangarei is expected to be busy from 8.30am to 6.30pm, and at Kawakawa from 10.30am to 5.30pm.
Auckland
Interactive maps show the most congested areas. Auckland's SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford and at Takanini are problem areas.
Traffic between Puhoi and Wellsford is expected to be at its heaviest between 10.30am and 4.30pm today heading north, and at Takanini from 8.30am until midday.
Traffic is likely to be heaviest northbound through the middle of each day over the weekend, and the NZTA is advising motorists to allow extra time for travel.
"To help alleviate these problems we recommend planning your travel well in advance and travelling outside the busiest periods," it said.
Waikato
Busy areas are expected to be SH1 at Karapiro, south of Cambridge, between 8am and 4pm, at Taupiri, north of Hamilton, from 10.30am to 5pm,
and on SH2 at Maramarua from 8am to 3.30pm.
An earlier police incident on SH1 Waikato Expressway, between Koura Dr and Avalon Dr roundabout, has now been cleared and congestion is easing.
Bay of Plenty
The areas to look out for in the Bay of Plenty are SH29 in the Kaimais from 9.30am to 5pm, and SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi from 10.30am to 11.30pm, and between Tauranga and Katikati from 11.30am to 6pm.
Napier
State Highway 5 at Te Pohue, north of Napier, is expected to be busy from 11.30am to 5pm.
Taranaki
State Highway 3 at Mount Messenger will be busy from 12pm to 4pm.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Congestion in the central North Island is expected to hit SH3 at Whanganui between 10am and 12.30pm, on SH1 between Taihape and Waiouru from 8.30am to 5pm, and on SH2 from Norsewood between Hastings and Woodville SH3 from 11am to 4.30pm.
Wellington
The capital is currently experiencing heavy traffic on SH1 at the Kapiti Coast which is due to last until 6.30pm, and on SH2 at Remutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston, which is expected to be busy until 5pm.
A vehicle fire on SH1 at Aotea that was blocking northbound lanes between the Porirua on-ramp and Whitford Brown off-ramp has now been cleared and congestion has eased.
Nelson-Marlborough-Tasman
Heading south, traffic is expected to begin building on SH6 at Murchison, on SH63 at St Arnaud, and on SH6 between Nelson and Blenheim.
State Highway 60 at Motueka is likely to become problematic over the New Year period.
West Coast
The West Coast is expected to avoid the Christmas chaos, but holiday traffic is forecast to build over the New Year.
Canterbury
In Canterbury, State Highway 1 is expected to get congested in various places over the next few days.
Motorists should expect delays at Waipara, Timaru, between Ashburton and Christchurch, Waimakariri and Kaikoura.
Congestion is also expected on SH75 at Akaroa Peninsula, on SH7 in the Lewis Pass, on SH79 at Geraldine, and on SH73 through Arthur's Pass.
SH80 at Mount Cook is closed due to a crash at the intersection with SH8. Please follow the instructions of emergency services on site and expect delays.
Otago
SH8 east of Wanaka and SH6 at Queenstown are likely to get busy over the New Year period, with December 30 and January 2 looking to be some of the worst days on the road.
The protest will pass over the harbour bridge this morning.