Road Trip, a Playlist, and the Reality of Fatigue

We often say to parents in Driver Coach that they know their kids best. I have two young adult children, and when it comes to driving, they couldn’t be more different — especially in what I worry about. The curse of working in road safety is that you know more than most about what can go wrong. You’re acutely aware of the risks, the trauma statistics, and the thin margins young drivers operate within. I don’t worry about my 19-year-old son when it comes to speeding or drink driving. He’s naturally risk-averse. But fatigue? That’s the big one for me.

He’s the kid who can sleep anywhere. Growing up, he used to fall asleep daily on the 15-minute drive from home to school. So when he started learning to drive, fatigue was always at the top of our conversations: plan your trips, pull over before you think you need to, nap early, share the driving if you can. This year he’d finished a year-long outdoor education course in Wānaka and needed to drive back to the North Island for Christmas — with all his gear. It’s a long trip, and one I didn’t want him doing solo.

So I joined him.

Not the cheapest option, especially given we’ve just moved to Sydney — but I knew I’d never forgive myself if something happened. And honestly? A road trip up New Zealand with your kid is a pretty special thing to do.

The Plan vs What Actually Happened

We gave ourselves 2–3 days, planned around the Interislander ferry, and deliberately built in food stops and leg stretches. My son was in charge of the playlist — I didn’t interfere. I was curious what he’d choose… and whether the beats per minute would tell a story later. What I noticed early on: lots of cruisy, chilled tracks under 120 BPM. Not consciously chosen for safety — just instinctively right.

Day One — Queenstown to Twizel

The plan:

Arrive Queenstown at 6:30pm and drive to Twizel — about 2.5 hours. Far enough to make progress, short enough not to push fatigue. Cheaper than Queenstown or Tekapo. Dinner in Cromwell.

What happened:

We arrived on time… and my son sheepishly admitted he’d left his bike in Wānaka. Route change. We doubled back, collected the bike, and grabbed Firebird from the Wānaka food trucks. The song as we pulled out? Sultans of Swing — Dire Straits. A strong start. We reached Twizel around 10pm. Later than planned, but calm, unhurried, and still within our limits.

Day Two — Twizel to Picton

The plan:

Our biggest day. We committed to sharing the driving and planned stops:

• Fairlie pies (yes, pie for breakfast)
• A stop in Christchurch to see our RSE NZ Manager
• Kaikōura coast for seals and seafood at Nins Binn
  Arrival in Picton by 5pm

What happened:

We left at 7:45am after grabbing coffee from Bids Coffee Cart. The scenery slowed us down — Lupin fields near Tekapo, a rabbit casually posing outside the Church of the Good Shepherd and on the soundtrack: Traffic in the Sky by Jack Johnson.

The Fairlie pies did not disappoint. Fuel stop in Geraldine — cheapest petrol we saw all trip ($2.30/L at NPD). Driver swap. Always on my mind – Tiki Taane on the playlist. An unplanned stop in Ashburton to fix my phone SIM (thanks, One NZ), then into Christchurch around midday to say hi to my Ryda colleague, Naomh Cusin, and stretch our legs. As we left: I Think I Left the Stove On — Hotel Ugly. Another driver swap.

By 4pm we hit Nins Binn on the Kaikōura coast — paua fritters, chips, and half a crayfish each, seals lounging on the rocks below. Wallet lighter, spirits higher. We stopped shortly after at Ōhau Point seal colony — baby seals everywhere, guarded by enormous bulls and watchful mums. Absolute highlight of the trip. We had to physically drag ourselves away.

Into Picton listening to Dani California — Red Hot Chili Peppers. Arrived about 7pm — later than planned, but still safe and steady.

Day Three — Picton to Tūrangi

The plan:
9:30am Interislander to Wellington, then drive north with lunch along the way. Maybe a detour to Ōhakune for an éclair.

What happened:
Toasties from Toastie Lords in Picton, then boarding the ferry — my son navigating it like a pro. A stunning crossing through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait, plus a few games of Phase 10 with whānau heading the same way. We arrived in Wellington at 1pm on a windy afternoon and headed straight north. Song choice: How Long — The Black Keys. Transmission Gully was a revelation — so quick we pushed through to Bulls for lunch. Driver swap. Culling Voices — Tool. We took the Ōhakune detour. The éclairs lived up to their reputation. Leaving town to Rally ’20 — Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Another driver change in National Park and into Turangi by 6pm. That night we met whānau at the Turangi Tavern for dinner and a game of pool — everyone choosing not to push on. A good call.

Day Four — Tūrangi to Waihi

The plan:
An easy final leg — about 3.5 hours.

• Maybe a swim at Lake Taupō
• Morning tea in Tirau
• Home to Waihi for Christmas

What happened:
No rush. We wandered down to the river and watched trout hovering in the current. On the road around 9am to Clint Eastwood — Gorillaz. Taupō was 15 degrees, so no swim. Instead, we stopped at Te Waihou Walkway near Putāruru for a gentle wander. Driver swap. Cold Cold Cold — Cage the Elephant. Lunch at DK’s Burger Bar at 12:30, then the final stretch home. We rolled into Waihi at 1:45pm — relaxed, connected, and exactly where we needed to be.

The Playlist (and Why It Matters)

Looking back, the music tells its own story — mostly mid-tempo, chilled tracks that support alert but calm driving. Not chosen for safety reasons — just good instincts from a young driver who knows himself.

For more driving tips and stories explore the ‘Drive Safe, Arrive Safe’ site here