With Xmas looming and Season 1 of our TV Show wrapped up, we decided to do an Xmas special, taking to the road to celebrate Mini’s 66th anniversary. Instead of a simple cake and candles affair, we orchestrated an epic road trip challenge that would take the 3 of us (Dave, Matt and Harry), and three John Cooper Works Minis, on a 66 hour continuous adventure across New Zealand’s North Island.
The mission? Visit six cities, sample six traditional British meals, and pay homage to one of Britain’s most iconic automotive exports. Spoiler alert: nobody got much sleep, but everyone got plenty of memories.
The Challenge – Because Normal Celebrations Are Boring
Picture this, it’s Thursday night in Mangonui, the northernmost point of our journey, and us three blokes are standing next to three shiny JCW Minis (Cooper, Aceman and Countryman), contemplating what we’ve just signed up for.
The rules are simple yet delightfully mad, drive for 66 hours straight (well, mostly straight), visit six New Zealand cities including Mangonui, Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wellington, and Havelock North, and consume six proper British meals along the way.
Oh and Dave casually dropped another bombshell: “We’re going to sleep in the car as well!.” Because apparently, that’s how you celebrate an automotive icon, by becoming intimately familiar with its interior dimensions at 3 AM. The response from Matt and Harry being less than enthusiastic especially when they discovered that ‘paper-scissors-rock’ would ultimately decide sleeping arrangements.
The journey kicked off at the Mangonui Fish Shop, a fitting starting point considering the establishment opened in the 1950s—just like Mini itself. How’s that for synchronicity?
Three Minis, Three Personalities, One Epic Journey
This wasn’t just any trio of vehicles, these were three distinct expressions of Mini’s current lineup, each bringing its own flavour to the road trip feast.
The Mini Cooper – arrived as the purist’s choice and was driven by Dave. A compact electric vehicle offering 300 kilometres of range and that quintessential Mini driving experience that has enthusiasts weak at the knees.
Matt’s choice, the Aceman, played the middle child, sporting five doors, sporty handling, and 190 kW of electric power. Think of it as the Countryman’s cooler younger sibling who moved to the city and got really into yoga.
Last but not least, Harry opted for the Countryman. The practical one, petrol-powered, all-wheel drive, and boasting nearly 700 kilometers of range. It’s the one you’d actually want for a cross-country road trip, which is exactly why Harry made sure to snag it. His reasoning? Massage seats. Fair play, mate.
A Brief History Lesson (Because Dave Was Almost There)
Before diving into the culinary adventures, it’s worth understanding what we’re celebrating. Mini wasn’t just another car, it was a revolution on four wheels, dreamed up by the legendary Alec Issigonis in 1959.
Issigonis’s genius lay in his radical engineering approach. By moving the engine into a transverse position across the front axle and implementing front-wheel drive, he created unprecedented interior space in a compact package. The result? A city-dwelling vehicle that could comfortably fit an entire family while still being nimble enough to dart through traffic like a caffeinated squirrel.
But Mini’s legacy extends far beyond clever packaging. The ‘little car that could’ went on to dominate motorsport, winning the Monte Carlo Rally three times (in 1964, 1965, and 1967). And who could forget its starring roles in pop culture? From being Mr. Bean’s trusty steed (complete with that iconic sofa-on-the-roof scene) to the heist vehicle of choice in “The Italian Job,” Mini became more than transportation, it became a cultural icon.
The Six British Meals – A Gastronomic Tour of Empire
1. Fish & Chips at the Fish Shop in Mangonui. Starting at what’s allegedly New Zealand’s best fish and chip shop, we kicked off their culinary journey with Britain’s most famous export, crispy battered fish and golden chips, all accompanied by the mandatory seagull audience.
2. Bangers & Mash at the Cock and Bull in Hamilton. No British food tour is complete without this pub classic, sausages and mashed potatoes swimming in onion gravy. It’s comfort food that has sustained British souls through everything from winter football matches to disappointing election results.
3. Eton Mess at Gusto Restaurant in New Plymouth. This delightfully chaotic dessert (a mix of crushed meringue, whipped cream, and strawberries) got the Kiwi treatment at Gusto. It’s named after Eton College, though we’re fairly certain nobody there has ever made it quite this messily delicious.
4. English Breakfast at the Old Bailey in Wellington. The full monty, eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, and toast. It’s the meal that launched a thousand lorry drivers and continues to cure hangovers across the Commonwealth.
5. High Tea at Birdwoods Gallery in Havelock North. Switching gears from hearty to refined, the team indulged in traditional high tea, complete with finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and delicate pastries. It’s what the Queen would approve of, assuming she was into road trips.
6. Sunday Roast at The Fox Tavern, Auckland. The grand finale deserved grandeur, and The Fox Tavern delivered. A proper Sunday roast with all the trimmings, including horseradish sauce (definitely not hummus, as Dave was quick to clarify). Roasted meat, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, vegetables, and gravy, it’s the meal that reminds every expat Brit why they occasionally get homesick.
A special mention goes to The Kitchen Door’s Cornish pasties, which emphasised chemical-free ingredients and quality over convenience, exactly the kind of attention to detail that Mini itself has always championed.
The Green Revolution – Mini’s Sustainable Future
Here’s where things get serious. While driving 2,400 kilometres in 66 hours might not scream “sustainability,” Dave was quick to point out that Mini’s broader story is very much about the future.
Mini is on track to become the first brand within the BMW Group to go fully electric, a bold move that shows real commitment to environmental responsibility. But it’s not just about the powertrain. Mini has implemented comprehensive sustainability measures throughout their manufacturing process, including: Use of recycled plastics and fabrics in interiors that still look unmistakably Mini. Elimination of chrome across the entire lineup. Implementation of BMW Group’s “production to destruction” approach, ensuring components are reused and recycled throughout their lifecycle.
Admittedly there was a certain irony in showcasing electric vehicles on a long-distance road trip like this, with the Countryman’s petrol engine proved far more practical for this purpose, requiring only three quick fuel stops compared to the 9-ish lengthy charging sessions needed for the EVs. But that’s the point, different tools for different jobs. The Mini Cooper excels in city environments, the Aceman offers versatility, and the Countryman handles long-haul duties.
The Technology That Makes It Tick
Modern Minis aren’t just about retro styling and British charm, they’re packed with contemporary technology that would make Alec Issigonis’s head spin. Features include adaptive cruise control, reverse assist for those tricky parking situations, large AMOLED displays that wouldn’t look out of place in a tech showroom, and Mini ID for remote monitoring of your vehicle.
The JCW models even feature a dedicated go-kart mode, because apparently, the standard Mini handling wasn’t quite cheeky enough.
Summing the trip up – Three Days, Three Opinions
After 66 hours of driving, eating, and minimal sleeping, each participant had their favorite. Despite spending most of the time (and thoroughly enjoying the Cooper), Dave praised the Countryman for its space and practicality as more suited for his family dynamics, while Harry was the opposite, appreciating the Cooper for delivering that classic Mini feel. The Aceman earned respect for its city driving capabilities, proving that you can have five doors without sacrificing the fun factor.
We summed up the highlights as “The food. British food all the way along, all the snacks and also the Minis themselves. Just tremendous”. Then there were the stunning vistas across New Zealand’s North Island and the weather variety, from beautiful sunny days to torrential rain – cheerfully described as “British summertime”.
Tarmac Takeaway
Celebrating a 66th birthday is unusual, it’s not a round number, not a traditional milestone. But perhaps that’s entirely appropriate for a brand that has never done things conventionally. Mini started as a radical rethinking of automotive design, became a motorsport legend, evolved into a cultural icon, and is now leading the charge toward electric mobility.
This 66-hour journey across New Zealand, combining British cuisine, stunning landscapes, go-karting, mini golf, and three very different takes on what a Mini can be, perfectly encapsulated what makes this brand special. It’s not just about getting from A to B. It’s about the journey, the experience, and occasionally sleeping in a car because your mate forgot to mention that detail.
Merry Christmas and Happy 66th birthday, Mini. Here’s to the next chapter, preferably one with more hotel beds and fewer seagulls.
