[owen-family]

Hi everyone

We decided on Welly!

We had a reccy in April, and went all over NZ, saw Paraparaumu ( and many other places) and thought it was great, We've been looking at places on trademe (where else!) and Otaki looks really good value. But is this too far from Welly?

The question is: Is there anyone else as daft as us that would consider commuting from Otaki to Welly. I figure that it can't be any worse than Ipswich to London, but I don't know what the trains are like in Welly.


Take Care

Regards Eddie & Ellie & Kate & Jeremy

EOI submitted 16/05/08
EOI selected 21/05/08
EOI rejected 07/08/08 only 85 points so need job offer :-(
house up for sale next Wednesday - keep you fingers crossed!

[Mels]

Try looking at this site for trains.

http://www.metlink.org.nz/section10.php

I think the main train for commuting only goes to Paraparaumu. We are looking in that area too and I have had loads of help from formites living in Pararparaumu and Wikanae. I'm sure they will advise when they come online.

Mels

[incredible hulse]

I personally wouldn't do that commute but some do.

The only train would be the Capital Connection which runs once in the morning (7:15am) and once in the evening (leaves 5:17 pm). Would take about 1hr 15m on a good day and I guess the positive would be it's the 'luxury' train by NZ standards - you get a toilet and a bar (think Intercity 125 10 years ago). Alternative would be drive to Pram and get the regular commuter train which would give you about an 1.5hr commute.

Otaki does have it's less desirable areas also which maybe what you see as the good value ones.

[IanW99]

Same advice as others really, we know of others who commute from Otaki and even Palmerston North into Wellington so it really comes down to how far you are prepared to commute.

It may also depend on where in Wellington your job will be, what shifts you do, and if you can work from home some of the time?

Personally with the cost of petrol etc, I wouldn't consider it but then I don't do commuting.

Ian

[owen-family]

Thanks for all the help everyone. We'll have a good look around again when we arrive before we make any big decisions.

Take Care

Regards Eddie & Ellie & Kate & Jeremy

[sizzlingbadger]

If you're prepared to do the hour to hour and half commute by train also take a look at the Wairarapa. Ok not so close to the sea but with Martinborough and it's fantastic vineyards on the door step, mountains and bush walking, coast not too far (around 1 hour) it's a great place to live. A lot quieter than the Kapiti Coast as well.

Also excellent value for money and the commuter trains run 3 times in the morning and 3 times in the evening, even a late train Friday nights at 9.55 :nice1

OH has been commuting into the CBD now for just over three years and he still enjoys the commuting. Something we thought he'd end up hating after 6 months :D

[k-k]

We're in Otaki and OH commutes into Welly every day on the Capital Connection. It's one train in the morning and one train at night, otherwise you have to drive into Paraparaumu and catch the more regular units. Parking at the Paraparaumu station is becoming difficult due to the increase in people travelling on the train because of the petrol prices.
Only problem with the train from Otaki is that it is hard to fit in a 40 hour week around the train times. OH gets to take some of his travelling time as work hours and he much prefers the comfort of that train compared with the units.There's also a nice little 'commuting community' on the train. Basically he leaves home at 7am and is back in the house by 6.45pm (no worse than when he commuted into London).
With regards to Otaki, it's not a bad place especially if you choose your location well. We moved here because the prices were cheaper and we bought a great house with land that we couldn't have bought in Waikanae or Paraparaumu.
If you want any more info PM me, I'd be glad to give you more gen on Otaki and the area.

Karen