<

Holidaymakers are hitting the roads to return home ready to settle back into normal routines on Monday.

Traffic is congested on SH25 and SH1 in the upper part of the North Island.

Traffic is also coming to a grinding halt on SH1, north of Auckland in both directions.

The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists to avoid the area or delay their trips if possible.

The heaviest congestions are expected between 12pm and 4pm.

For traffic heading north out of Auckland, SH16 provided an alternative route, says the NZTA.

It also advised drivers to be cautious on SH1 at Otaki, near Wellington, where southbound passing lanes were closed to help ease congestion. The lanes should reopen this evening, depending on traffic flows.

Before the holiday period began, the NZTA published a map to help drivers avoid congestion.

The maps detail 13 of the country's worst bottlenecks and list the times and dates traffic is expected to be at its heaviest, from Christmas through to early January, based on the experience of last summer.

You can find high-resolution PDF versions of the maps on the NZTA website at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/docs/summer-holiday-peak-traffic-14-15.pdf

Heavy congestion halts traffic

Motorists are being warned to expect delays on State Highway 25, between Coromandel and Thames, due to heavy traffic congestion.

Holidaymakers are hitting the roads to return home ready to settle back into normal routines on Monday.

Traffic is also coming to a grinding halt on SH1, north of Auckland in both directions.

The NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists to avoid the area or delay their trips if possible.

The heaviest congestions are expected between 12pm and 4pm.

For traffic heading north out of Auckland, SH16 provided an alternative route, says the NZTA.

It also advised drivers to be cautious on SH1 at Otaki, near Wellington, where southbound passing lanes were closed to help ease congestion. The lanes should reopen this evening, depending on traffic flows.