The Kāpiti Coast

Kāpiti Coast with its breathtaking beaches, offers many all year round activities and is only 1 hour’s car drive or a train/bus ride into Wellington.

PEKA PEKA BEACH has a distinctively laid-back character, ideal for those wanting to combine the best of rural and beach life and is a sought-after weekend retreat.

It is a wonderful safe swimming and surfing beach, with great sunsets, and sand for miles.

It is an ideal location to escape to enjoy long walks and solitude year round where you can walk, surf, ride your horse, relax, or just listen to the ocean and the birds sing!

READ MORE ABOUT PEKA PEKA

Kāpiti Island

Kāpiti Island sits just 5 kilometres off Peka Peka Beach. This iconic island, an internationally renowned sanctuary for New Zealand native birds and forest, was once the home of the great Maori chief Te Rauparaha. Access to the island is restricted -- a permit is required from the Department of Conservation plus a ferry boat booking. Trips leave daily from the Paraparaumu Boating Club. Overnight experiences may be arranged through Kapiti Island Nature Tours.

Transport

There is regular train service from Waikanae to Wellington. Also Intercity or any tourist bus company will stop in Waikanae. Daily flights to and from Auckland operate from the Kapiti Coast Airport in Paraparaumu.

Walking/Reserves

Kāpiti has walks to suit every taste. Naturally, the beaches are very popular. The Waikanae River has walkways up both sides of the river from the estuary to the bridge at SH1. There are bush walks on the flat and walks in the hills to suit every ability. For the serious trampers/hikers, the Tararua Forest has some great trails, with access only 15 minutes drive from Peka Peka Beach. A recommended experience is a personalised bird watching tour with Kapiti Bird Tours encompassing the Waikanae river estuary which is home to more than 60 species; or make your way through the Nga Manu Nature Reserve and Bird Sanctuary where you are able to see kiwi, tuatara, silver ferns and native eel feeding.

Cycling

Cycling is a very popular activity in our area. We can lend you bikes.

Kapiti Coastal Cycleway

Golfing

There are 5 golf courses in close proximity to us -- courses at Waikanae, Otaki, Levin, Kapiti and the top 100 internationally ranked links course at Paraparaumu Beach where Tiger Woods made his NZ debut at the NZ Open.

Other popular Activities/Places to visit in the Area include

Kapiti Four x 4 Adventures - a great guided experience through New Zealand native bush
Horse Trekking: Stables in the Park
Otaki Gorge Rafting and Tubing
Southward Car Museum - worldclass collection of vintage cars
Tramway Museum
Shoreline Boutique Cinema in Waikanae
Steam Incorporated- restoration and train excursions in the steam engines and carraiges of the era of steam,also steam train excursion trips on the main trunk line to interesting events
Kapiti Ten Pin Bowling
Lindale Farm Park
Landsailing Have you ever wanted to have a go on a Blokart? Now's your chance with Landsailing Kapiti giving you the chance to take a ride and enjoy the rush of riding a Blokart.
Adrenalin Paintball, Volcanic Paintball Tournament, Paraparaumu, Kapiti
Kapiti Aero Club for training, flights, and the adjacent aviation museum and Heli Pro for Helicopter scenic rides and trips.
Wellington Fishing Charters with Pete Lamb
Kapiti Personalized 4 Seasons Tours Glynis and Trevor FitzGeorge are kiwi owner operators of Kapiti 4 Seasons Tours, they have been operating here for nine years as a transport company plus many more years in the Kapiti Region and Wellington.They provide personalized tours to cover what interests you most as there is much to see and enjoy on the Nature Coast.

For more info on Kāpiti Coast activities, please visit Nature Coast Experience.

Shopping

There are also plenty of shopping opportunities in the area:

Coastlands Shoppingtown
Raumati Beach Shopping Village
Paraparaumu Beach Shopping
Sunny Otaki Outlet Stores are only ten minutes away and include: Icebreaker, Norsewear/Swazi, Kathmandu, Hunting and Fishing, Billabong/Rip Curl, Pumpkin Patch, Kia Kaha, Bendon, Annah S, Minx and Kumfs Shoes and others.
Waikanae Village

Local Artists and Events

Kāpiti Coast Art: There are many interesting local artists and once a year an arttrail is organised to get acquainted with all of them. We especially like Shona Moller with her very vibrant approach to the coast's colours. More about local artists you can find on Creative Coast.

Eating Out

Many new cafés have opened up in Waikanae and Waikanae Beach to service both the locals and visitors to the beautiful Kāpiti Coast. They cater for all kind of tastes, NZ fine dining, casual dining, Pizza, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Cambodian or Sushi.

Waikanae Tourism

Contact

LOCATION MAP