Hamilton (New Zealand)

Hamilton is a town in the North Island of New Zealand.

Hitching out

East/South towards Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Cambridge

There is a very good spot on SH1 just after the intersection with McKracken Ave. Wait on Cambridge Rd on the other side of the road from the Mobil petrol station. The road goes from two to one lane, there is a bus stop where cars can pull in and you easily get a lift South. Don't accept rides to Tamahere.

To get to that spot you should use Cambridge Road. If you go from the center of the city, don't try to go Grey Street and then along the SH1, there's no access for pedestrians on part of that way.

North towards Auckland

Option 1 (untested): From the transport centre, take bus 8 (direction: Frankton) and get off at 28 Weka St. Walk back into the direction you came from, to the intersection with Keruru St, and turn left onto it. Follow it until the end and turn right onto the bend (Edgar St), and follow this road north to the intersection with State Hwy 1. From there, you'll already see the Z petrol station on the northbound side of the State Hwy.

Hitch from the petrol station; to be more visible to traffic that doesn't need to fill up, you can also go up the road a bit further, where the shoulder widens enough for someone to stop before one lane turns into two lanes.

Option 2 (untested): From the transport centre, take bus 9 (direction: Nawton (to The Base)) and get off at 27 Wall St. Walk up towards the intersection with Dominion Rd and turn right onto it, then walk to up the roundabout with Avalon Drv/SH1 and turn left. Follow the State Hwy north: About 350 metres past the big roundabout, there is a road sign stating "Te Rapa", "Chartwell" and "Auckland/SH1". From here, the shoulder widens and there's enough space for someone to stop. Hitch from the road sign.