[clodestar]

Does anyone commute by car from Kapiti to Wellington ? Is it possible? OH job offer in Wellington CBD but prefered area to live is Kapiti coast. OH job involves shift work ,working appox 4 days a week, 12 hour shifts so wouldn't be travelling at peak times very often. Whilst on our reccy it took 30minutes on a good run but when there was an accident it took 1 1/2 hours to travel from Puekra Bay to Coast through the single lane section.

[Cat Woman]

Oooh - the Kapiti Coast is so gorgeous! How envious am I??????
We had to settle in Auckland for our jobs but Kapiti was one of our preferred places when we came on a reccy in 2005.

I reckon you have to work on about an hour just to play safe.

[jackie m]

:yes Hi
Yes my hubby travels to Lower Hutt every day takes roughly 45 minutes on a good run an hour in the evening. We are in Paraparaumu, of course if there is an accident then it does cause serious delays but only had one, fingers crossed in the past 7 months of living here. Where abouts are you looking to live in Kapiti ?
The one good thing is if you do get stuck in traffic what beautiful views you have on part of the route home.
Hope this helps
Jackie:nice1

[eternalkiwi]

My limited experience travelling between Kapiti & Wgtn would mirror the above replies.

If you work close to the Thorndon/Lambton end of the CBD the train could be another viable option.

Shawn

[Questor]

My better half works in Petone and we live in Waikanae. She starts work about 7.30 and finishes about 4ish so misses the rush hours and it takes her about an hour on average - bear in mind this is to Petone so takes a little longer than into town

Jon

[incredible hulse]

I occasionally drive in from the north end of Paraparaumu. This takes about an hour leaving about 7am. You could do it in about 45mins but run the risk of the speed guns that seem to be out most of the time. Coming back takes similar times but can get snarled up around Pukerua Bay. If I was driving in I would look towards Raumati area rather than Waikanae end as the traffic can often get very bad from the lights at Paraparam around holiday time, Fridays, when transit decide to relay the tarmac, etc as the traffic seems to tail back from the Waikanae bridge. Recently took us about an hour to do 4ks from Paraparaumu to Nikau Valley at one of these times.

[Big Puku]

I commuted from Paekakariki - nice place to live (albeit a bit quiet for our teenager), but I wouldn't want to commute from any further north, although by train into the CBD it could be do-able - we have friends in Paraparaumu and it takes them just over an hour door to door.

Alternatively, places like Plimmerton may be worth a look (a bit expensive, but closer to town and quite picturesque with a nice beach).

[Questor]

Depends on what you're used to - if you're used to a LONG (read a couple of hours each way often for Catie) commute, then an hour isn't going to be much for you - I suppose you have to weigh up whether you want a longer commute, and a nicer (IMO) place to live, or to live closer to town, but not have the nice area :)

[annie abercrombie]

Hi there - hubbie travels to CBD several times a week from Paraparaumu by bus/train (we only have one car) - takes about 1.10 door to door. It is a lovely train ride and really cheap compared with UK trains. Train ride is 50 minutes and they run every half hour.

Several friends commute daily by car and it takes around an hour. I echo the comments about living in Paraparaumu, Raumati, Paekakariki or Pukerua Bay rather than further north. Plimmerton is lovely but house prices are really expensive and if it applies - the secondary school/college for the area is awful.

The Kapiti coast is an incredible place to live. I wouldn't live anywhere else!

[sarahw]

Its definitely do-able - I know several people who do it - but it depends on what you're prepared to do - we moved here for my hubby to be able to spend good family time & get home in time to put our daughter to bed every night (he gets home at 5.30 - 5.50pm) - takes him 40-50 mins from the Airport if he sets off before 5pm on a good run - used to take me 30 mins from Welly (botanic gardens) if I left dead on 5pm - any later & you were adding more time on...). We live in Paremata - 30 mins from Paraparaumu on a good run... - I go there often - the beach is lovely & love Kapiti Island - even though we can see it from our house nothing like walking Paraparaumu beach for the views! I'd give it an hour each way Welly to Paraparaumu on a good run - can take a lot longer if there's an accident but luckily that doesn't happen too often. Trains may be an option for you - in which case quite a good line & about an hour which can be comfortably used to read/do work.

Coast is beaut! We would most likely live there if hubby didn't have to work in the city & could work from home 1 or 2 days a week...

I'd disagree that the closer to Welly you get that the areas aren't 'nicer' - we live in a perfectly nice suburb, are 2 mins from the water & 5 mins from the nearest beach with loads of restaurants, cafe's & shops closeby & views to die for. Plimmerton is definitely lovely (if a little spendy) with other good places to live locally - I'd give my right arm to live in Pauatahanui if the prices weren't so steep (not on Kapiti coast but IMO very nice indeed - again spendy). Although, the weather is certainly nicer on the Kapiti coast - couple of degrees warmer than Welly & usually slightly less wind & house prices are certainly 'nicer' although prices have certainly gone up by a lot recently on all counts making the gap between Welly & Kapiti less IMO. Some of the central Welly suburbs are fantastic & if we were younger we'd jump at the chance of living there.

[incredible hulse]

Just a further point on this. I've been getting the train from Paraparaumu quite regularly for about 15 months. It started off being pretty reliable, and whilst never arriving on time as per timetable, it was generally within 5 mins or so. I've noticed recently though that the service has gone downhill quite significantly - the published 50 mins journey is now usually at least an hour and quite regularly up to 1hr 15 mins. They don't notify you of any reasons so it's hard to say why but the trains have got a lot busier and I think are just struggling to cope