We thought we might like Paraparaumau when we were still in the UK and it was one of the areas we checked out. Like Koko suggests for you, we intended to commute into Welli. Our opinion, and it's just our opinion, is it's too far to commute, agreeing with Koko, it's not a good road although there's a train station there so you could catch the train, I've heard it's expensve. It defo has an old folks feel, it reminded us of upmarket seaside Britain, the kind of place wealthy pensioners retire to. It felt sterile to us. Too prim, cultivated and served up. The properties are all quite close together, all vying with each other for sea views. There are loads of new houses being built but in such a way that the place feels like one big housing estate full of cul de sacs. Needless to say we didn't stay.
Something you have to be ready for when you head here is that hardly anywhere is what you imagine it to be like. The best thing is to come with an open mind and unless you've been offered employment before you leave have a look around until you find somewhere that feels like the right place to be.
