Kapiti Coast – Guide for Backpackers

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Otaki and Tararua Forest Park

Otaki is the northernmost township on the Kapiti Coast. On one side of the small town, you have the black sand Otaki Beach with a stunning view of Kapiti Island. Although it’s a safe swimming beach for a cool down on a warm day, arguably the best time to visit the beach is for the sunset. You’ll want to get some pictures of the sun creating a silhouette of Kapiti Island.

On the other side of Otaki, heading inland, there’s the Otaki Forks on the Otaki River. This is the western entrance of the Tararua Forest Park. The Otaki Forks Campsite is a good place to base yourself for some hiking or white water kayaking, or to just take in the river and forest surroundings. Plus, bookings are not required (find out more in Where to Camp in Wellington). From the car park, you can take advantage of some of the walks:

Arcus Loop (50-minute Return)

Starting at the Boielle Flat, this loop walk goes over the Waiotauru River terraces and climbs to views of the river and campsite.

Fenceline Loop (1h30mins Return)

This loop goes rises above the campsite through regenerating forest. You’ll get awesome views across the Waiotauru Valley.

Waiutauru Walk (40-minute Return)

An easy walk up the valley to the remains of an old sawmill.

Find out more about the three above walks on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website.

Field Hut and Table Top (5-6 Hours Return) and The Southern Crossing (3 Days)

This day trip hike takes you to the tops of the Tararua Range. Climb through the forest to the Field Hut a DOC hut with no bookings necessary if you need to use the facility. Above the forest, you’ll walk along tussock and shrublands. Return on the same track or continue to the mountain peaks and further on the 3-day Southern Crossing hike, which ends in Kaitoke car park.

© Grutness at English Wikipedia

Waikanae

There’s more beach fun to be had in Waikanae, plus the small town is also close to the gentle Waikanae River. There is a 10km (6 miles) well-formed walking and cycling loop track going down/up both sides of the river for those that want to go exploring.

Boardwalks go through the Waikanae Estuary, which is a scientific reserve for around 60 species of waders and seabirds, such as the dotterel, pukeko, dabchick, and oystercatcher. However, if you catch yourself in Waikanae on a rainy day, never fear! There is the Shore Line Cinema.

Finally, those with a self-contained vehicle can take advantage of the many freedom camping spots in the area. Find out where you can camp for free in 15 Free Camp Spots in Wellington.

© Nick Wall - Tourism New Zealand

Paraparaumu

You guessed it, more beaches! If you want a swim in somewhere a bit warmer then head to the Coastlands Aquatic Centre. It’s also worth trying New Zealand’s famous cheeses and ice-creams at Kapiti Cheeses along State Highway 1 near the Nikau Reserve.

Those interested in taking to the skies and getting a bird’s eye view of the Kapiti Coast can go on a gliding trial flight. From Paraparaumu Airport you can take either a 20-minute, 40-minute or an hour flight.

Paraparaumu Beach is also the location where you can take the ferry to Kapiti Island, where you pick up your tickets from the kiosk at MacLean Park.

Find more activities in the 8 Excellent Things to Do in Paraparaumu.

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Kapiti Island

Get a taste of what life used to be like in New Zealand before human migration. Kapiti Island is one of the few accessible nature reserve islands in New Zealand. With it are native birds that you rarely see (or don’t see at all) on the mainland. Look out for the kaka, saddleback, weka, takahe, wood pigeon and little spotted kiwi.

To access the island, you either need to go with a DoC approved tour operators, such as Kapiti Eco (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) or Kapiti Island Nature Tours (on Viator and Tripadvisor), or purchase a ferry ticket with the DoC permit at the kiosk in MacLean Park, Paraparaumu. With a tour operator, there’s a chance to learn about the wildlife and history of the island, stay on the island overnight, and even goto see a seal colony or kiwi spotting at night.

If you are going to Kapiti Island without a tour operator, then you can either access the walking tracks at Rangatira or the Northern End.

At Rangatira you’ll take the short and easy Rangatira Flat Walk before approaching a choice of two walks:

Wilkinson Track (3 Hours Return)

This is the easier of two tracks to get to the summit ofTuteremoana, the highest point on the island. You will pass a hihi feeding station along the way.

Trig Track (3 Hours Return)

This is a shorter way up to the summit but much steeper. The Northern End walks offer more coastal scenery.

The Lagoon Walk (1h30min Return)

Walk along the island’s northern coast.

Okupe Loop Walk (1h30min Return)

Make your way up the regenerating forest to a lookout. This track starts from the visitor shelter found by walking the Lagoon Walk.

Find out more about the walks on the DOC website.

© Henry Burrows on Flickr

Raumati

Raumati refers to Raumati South and Raumati Beach. Its claim to fame is the Kapiti College, where Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson studied.

Other than a fantastic beach, Raumati has more to offer inland at the Akatarawa Forest. Although many of the walking tracks to the forest can be accessed from the Hutt Valley, the track to Mt Titi is accessed fromMaungakotukutuku Road just outside of Raumati.

Mt Titi (5 Hours Return)

Either walking or biking, head alongMaungakotukutuku Road and cross the stream to follow Perhams Road uphill. You’ll reach a junction with Titi Road. Turn left up Titi Road for about 3km until a clay road curves off left. Head along this track then follow a rough track west to Mount Titi. Success! Return the same way.

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Paekakariki

You have now reached the southern end of the Kapiti Coast. Congratulations! You will be rewarded with, you guessed it, another beach! This time, Paekakariki Beach offers some decent surf breaks.

From Paekakariki, you are close to two recreational parks, Queen Elizabeth Park on the coast and Whareroa Farm inland from the town. Both will keep you entertained and amazed with walking, biking and horse riding tracks. (Read more about the parks below)!

For more activities in the area, check out the 5 Super Things to Do in Paekakariki.

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Queen Elizabeth Park

Queen Elizabeth Park is the last remaining natural sand dunes in the Kapiti Coast. The park is ideal for cycling and horse riding, the last of which can be done with a local horse riding operator. You can also take your pick of walking tracks starting from MacKays Crossing, off State Highway 1:

Te Ara o Tipapa/Wetlands Walk (45 Minutes Return)

This easy stroll is along the wetlands, as well as dipping into one of the only kahikatea forests remaining on the Kapiti Coast.

Whareroa Stream (1-hour Return)

Follow the stream through farmland and rolling sand dunes. To do a loop walk, turn onto the northern Inland Track then take the Whareroa Road back to the start.

Coastal Track (2 Hours Return)

Walk between Pickle Pot in Paekakariki to Raumati South over sand dunes with options to follow tracks to the beach or to the Inland Track.

Inland Track (3 Hours Return)

As the name suggests, this track option is more inland, giving you more shelter in the forest. Start this walk from the Paekakariki information kiosk.

Yankee Trail (1h30min Return)

Named after the days when US Marines used this track to get between MacKay Camp and Paekakariki during WW2, this is another sheltered forest trail, which joins with the Inland Track.

© Von Der ursprünglich hochladende Benutzer on Wikipedia

Whareroa Farm

Just across State Highway 1 from MacKays Crossing at Queen Elizabeth Park is Whareroa Farm. This recreation area complete with regenerating vegetation goes high into the hills to offer excellent views over the Kapiti Coast. The best way to get to these lookouts, of course, is by walking track:

Stream Loop Track (12 Minutes Return)

Just a quick stroll through shrub land on this wheelchair accessible walk.

Coastal Lookout (15 Minutes Oneway)

On a clear day, you can see all the way to Marlborough Sounds.

Cairn View Track (40 Minutes Oneway)

Take a steep climb to a lookout over the coast and farmland.

Forest Loop Walk (45 Minutes Return)

Walk through the remains of forest that used to cover the Kapiti Coast, then finish the loop by returning on farmland.

For more details on each walk, check out the DOC website.