If I’m going to successfully get around like this next month, I’m going to have to get freshened up on how it works, what the ‘arterials’ are, and figure out a few tricks along the way.

It looks to be pretty complicated.

For a start, despite a few recent changes (and many future talked about ones), bus and rail still operates pretty much separately. There are few obvious integration points, so those doing more complex trips have to ‘make up their own’ – they must figure out where the present useful crossover points happen to be by coincidence.

Fortunately the Monthly Discovery pass I’ll have for November will mean it will be easier for me to transfer than it is for most people. There is no such thing as an integrated “A” zone pass for the Auckland City area, for example. The otherwise excellent Northern Pass is regionally limited to North Shore trips, with a slight rail extension. A shame really, as the Northern Pass model (based, I believe, on Melbourne’s excellent Metlink fare structure, if not their tickets) would have made a really good interim integrated ticket for Auckland, while we wait for the smartcard system (which is another story).

My local ‘entry point’ on to the rail network is Kingsland station. Kingsland consists of bus stops on Sandringham and New North Roads, with a pretty good station inbetween.

However studying the timetables for the train and connecting Sandringham Rd services reveals that connections are rather poor, and require advance planning.

Sandringham Rd services during the peak consist of many express services that pass, but do not stop at, Kingsland. This could be so easily fixed by recognising the station as a “local interchange” and having all bus services that pass the station, stop there.

This would allow passengers to switch modes here so train commuters can switch to the bus to better access Symonds St, including the university, and allow bus commuters easier access to Newmarket and the lower CBD by way of Britomart.

Instead, I’ve had to collate the existing schedules to draw up my own ‘timetable’ showing optimal connection points for each bus. I will keep that in my wallet.

For other interchanges (or not), I’ll work them out as the need arises to go to different parts of the city.

I’ll be using a combination of the MAXX regional guides and timetables, along with their online journey palnner. I’ve learnt not to rely on the journey planner alone, as sometimes it suggests some way-too-tight connections and not-so-nice walks.

Today was the second and final day of my partner’s work training, which saw her attending two different sites – one at the bottom of Hobson St, and one at Stanley St. We figured out she walked over 6km today.

Today was also the evening of the CBT drinks and the last night of the Night Lights at the ferry building.

Once again we parked and rode at Baldwin Ave Station. Today’s travel was to Northcote, then Takapuna, then back to town to meet up with my partner between her two courses, then down to the train to meet up with the CBT folk.

Northcote to Takapuna is a little slow but overall ok. Bendybus from Takapuna to town made some worrying noises at every little bump and the driver could’ve caused an accident at Fanshawe/Hobson by turning from the right lane on Fanshawe to the left lane on Hobson. Red lights seemed to be merely a suggestion to this guy too.

Next up was the CBT trip. It was nice to meet you guys, and I wish I could have stayed for the whole thing but my partner was still in town and we needed to get dinner and have a look at the Ferry building. Hopped off to turn around at Henderson.

Following dinner we checked out the Ferry building’s night lights display. This was much better than the Town Hall and the building looked fantastic. You had to be there to get the full effect. Quay St was closed to traffic for the event.

We headed back to on the last train west at 9:33pm. Most seats were full. We were amused to watch a middle-aged lady caught out trying to fare-dodge on the last train home by pretending to read a magazine, then looking so indignant when dobbed in by pretty much everyone around her.

(edited 6:48am Tuesday October 20, added extra details, plus a hit/miss section)

Today my partner had to go to town as she was on a training course at the Hotel Grand Chancellor at the bottom of Hobson St. So we parked and rode from Baldwin Ave Station. We wnted to allow for bad traffic and ended up catching the train before the one we wanted, and arrived in town half an hour early.

I then carried on to my regular client school in Northcote, but before I did so I thought I’d check out when the November Monthly Discovery passes are available and have a look at the Cityhop cars in the Downtown carpark.

Turns out the monthly pass isn’t available til about eight days before the end of the month, so I’ll have to return to pick it up later. So I had a look at the hire cars. I was a little surprised to see just two, I was expecting more. Anyway, one of each were there on display. Here they are (click for bigger):

I did notice a discrepancy between the price per hour on the car and the sign (both visible in the pics) and the website – $12 per hour vs $15 per hour.

Anyway, today’s travel was good, if unspectacular, the only little amusing point was when the Birkenhead bus driver asked me where she’s supposed to clip when I handed her my Discovery day pass on the trip back into town. My partner and I met back up in town for the trip home, where she noted it would have been a nice walk (and a good exercise) home from the station.

Hit/Miss: Hit! Less than three minutes waiting for anything, connections were smooth, and we were early.

Steps: (oops, forgot the pedometer)