Nowadays this road is sealed all the way to the heads, but between Dunedin and Portobello, at least, it still re­quires careful attention. In general, peninsula roads can be classified as straight or flat. The straight ones tend to undergo rapid changes in altitude, while the flat ones thrash about from side to side with some vehemence. The Porto­bello road is of this latter type. But there are compensa­tions. Ever-changing panoramas of the harbour appear at every turn. Few guard rails or other obstructions mar your views of Neptune’s domain, which starts a couple of metres beyond your left wheels, and, if the tide is in, about a metre below you. Given the right sort of slop, you could be dodging mullet and seaweed.