Breakfast in Mangere???

We are flying into Auckland next month, arriving late at night, and have now decided to stay at an airport motel in Mangere, pick up a car the next morning back at the airport, and then drive directly to Rotorua after breakfast. So... can anyone recommend a place to have breakfast in or near to Mangere? We don't want to spend a fortune, and one of our party is gluten free so we need basically a café which will sell cereal, bacon and eggs, etc at a reasonable price. I've tried to google this question but am strangely striking out (seems to be lots of restaurants, some of which are quite expensive, one opens at 10am! [too late for us]). Out of curiosity I also rang the motel we've booked and the guy told me that there was nothing near by and they serve continental and cooked breakfasts (I'm not keen on motel breakfasts - invariably overpriced and cold by the time it gets delivered).
I guess options are (a) hope someone can recommend something or (b) get on the road in the morning after picking up the car, start driving towards Rotorua, and hope we see something on the side of the road. I'm surprised I'm finding this a difficult issue! Any help would be appreciated!

I can't advise on the availability (or otherwise) of breakfast near your airport hotel, however in similar situations we've simply had a couple of nut/muesli bars on us, had the tea or coffee available in the room, and hit the road really early, getting a roll or something out on the road a bit later.

Between Papakura and Drury motorway off ramps, there's a service area where you might get something. Otherwise on the right coming into Huntly. Never had the need to stop for breakfast.
Which route are you taking? I go via Hamilton so I don't get lost ( and still do) my husband always goes via Matamata.

Hey - thanks for both replies. I'm now thinking (slightly gloomily!) of packing some weetbix and eating it at the hotel before we leave. Ah well - cheap meal! We'll almost certainly stop somewhere for coffee on the way. I haven't checked the route yet - was going to rely on the trusty sat-nav! Whichever is the quickest though as am keen to get to Rotorua with plenty of daylight to spare to start looking around.

Countdown at the airport is open 24 hrs. No need to pack weetbix.

Countdown = supermarket chain in NZ.

Alas - landing 11.15pm, at international airport, with elderly relative, and shuttle to motel. I reckon that combination = no visit to Airport Countdown, and packed weetbix or nut bars which hopefully Customs won't insist on confiscating (also Airport Countdown shuts at midnight according to the website - but for the combination of these factors was a great suggestion!)

Your food won't be confiscated, and your motel will have milk and sugar. Take a couple of plastic bowls, plates and cutlery - they'll be useful on your trip anyway.

Good idea - will do.

Used to be open 24 hrs but then again its been quite some time since I had the need to go supermarket shopping in the middle of the night. MacDs drive through suffices.

actually motel breakfasts are often not that bad. cereal and toast, or simple things like bacon, baked beans, eggs etc. Most of the ones I have had run to no more than $10. Brought to your room. Far cheaper than hotel breakfast that can be $20 plus. May be worth checking the breakfast menu at the motel. Won't be five star food, but will probably be as good as you can get at any place round mangere area.

or if you have time, head into Mangere Bridge. That is back toward Auckland city mind, not south toward Rotorua. if you want to get out of Auckland fairly quickly, on highway south to Hamilton (state Highway 1), places like Te Kauwhata have couple decent cafes or the Rangiriri Tavern may do breakfast. if you slide down state highway 2 there are some cafes on the main highway before the turn off to Thames.Think in terms of 40 odd minutes from the airport mind.

Used to be open 24 hrs but then again its been quite some time since I had the need to go supermarket shopping in the middle of the night

I can just picture you Westy, in dressing-gown and slippers, quietly picking up some chocolate biscuits at 3:00 am. And why not?

Hmm - may actually ask motel. Doesn't sound like there is much around!

I know of other places but unfortunately its a case of " go left, go right" and you'd be totally lost. Until a couple of months ago I lived about 15 min from the airport heading south so just used to drive.

Can you remember names of any places? That would be great :)

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