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'''New Zealand''' is a reasonably okay country for hitchhiking. There are a lot of friendly people, and hitching is legal and comparatively safe. By hitching you'll be involved a lot in the local life. You'll have invitations to parties, homes. Cars drive on the left side, so be careful if you're not experienced with that.
At least in high and shoulder season, hitchhiking is very popular among backpackers travelling around New Zealand, especially in the South islandIsland. Leave early before hostel checkout times (usually 10pm) and you have better chances to avoid competition situations among hitchhikers.
There are only motorways around the big cities, [[Auckland]], [[Christchurch]], [[Wellington]] and [[Dunedin]], the rest are highways, secondary/tertiary roads or dirt roads.
== In General ==
Another awesome place to travel, [[WWOOF]] and hitch. Not as many long distance rides as in the Australian outback[[Outback]], but because towns were are quite close togetherfrom each other, but on the other hand not as "dangerous" to hitchhike ;)Because towns are pretty small seen the amount of people in New Zealand some roads are really not busy. Amory Tarr had no troubles coming up and down You might wait a nice little while.=== North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui ===A bit smaller than the west coast (South Island), although much more populated: 3,5 million out of New Zealand's 4,5 million inhabitants. This island is a bit less touristic, but cities are bigger.=== South Island or in fact anywhere really. Te Waipounamu ===The South Island is bigger but less populated, only problem spot was in the concrete jungle that 1 million, and is auckland. It is illegal to even walk on any of the motorwaysmost touristic so you will often be picked up by travelers, including especially along the on-ramps ($200 instant fine)West Coast, where there isn't a lot of traffic. It *'''West Coast:''' West Coast is also basically one unpopulated and a very, very big city to walk acrossfavored travelers way because of the nature and glaciers. If you want to head south your best bet is to go to the bus station under the sky tower and get a ticket to Bombay junction (about $15) are hitching between Greymouth and when Wanaka you get there, walk across might have the road fortune to score a ride with one of the on ramp which has plenty of spaceDHL drivers aka the local posties. Heading north, get They are a bus couple of awesome guys who meet up in Fox Glacier to Orewa swap packages (which is worth visiting on its ownand hitchhikers too if you are lucky!) and hitch from there.
== Maps ==
== When? ==
Summers start in October/November but being a maritime climate the weather can be changeable. The weather in January - March is a little more settled.
Winter can be harsh and snowy, keep this in mind when planning your travel. The general snow season is about early June until early October in the South Island, and snow does happens in the North Island but less frequently. Gloves, scarf and hat are definitely a good idea if your thumb brings you up in the mountains.
== Other travelling infos ==
Look at the [http://nomadwiki.org/en/New_Zealand Nomadwiki article] for more, but remember that free camping is usually not allowed and can expose you to a NZ$200 fine, so try to hide ;)
== North Island ==
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