Changes

A common approach to getting out of Wellington on Route SH1 to the north is from Paraparaumu. "ParaParaparam" is far enough out that one can avoid all the short trip cars going to work from Wellington. To get here take the train from [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=wellington+station,+wellington,+nz&layer=&sll=-41.281161,174.781108&sspn=0.014642,0.054245&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=-41.278968,174.780142&spn=0.007321,0.027122&om=1&iwloc=addr Wellington station] which costs about $6.50 (ticket inspectors are always on the train) and takes 55 minutes. At Paraparaumu station, exit the train and turn right to walk north to the end of the platform. Continue this direction to the road and turn left. Turn right at the lights and this is Route SH1. You can hitch here but it is very busy, so continue about 800m further north along the road, around the curve till you come to the nice big [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=paraparaumu,nz&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=0.015547,0.040169&layer=&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=17&ll=-40.910618,175.016858&spn=0.003681,0.013561&t=h&iwloc=addr lay-by]. The perfect hitching spot! It may seem like alot of time to get out here, but in reality you have shaved this time off your total trip since it takes almost an hour to get here by car from Wellington, especially if the traffic is bad.