Given I grew up on the Kapiti Coast (Waikanae) I should have a reasonable grasp of all the things to do in Kapiti, right?
Right. But until the last couple of years, I didn’t. So now each time I return to Kapiti I make a conscious effort to visit and revisit places across the region.
All that to say, as of writing this post, these are what I feel are the…
6 BEST THINGS TO DO IN KAPITI
They all make for a good start to a great day trip from Wellington.
A FEW NOTES BEFORE YOU BEFORE READING THE LIST
- The Kapiti Coast stretches from Otaki in the north to Paekakariki in the south.
- In this list activties 1 and 5 are the most suitable things to do in Kapiti with kids.
- I have listed some things I don’t deem to be in the top six at the bottom of the post.
- You can see the six things on a map here.
1. RIDE ON THE FLY BY WIRE
It’s not often a place can claim ‘there’s nothing else like this in the world’, but the Fly by Wire is unique. The video above paints 1000 words much better than I can explains what the Fly by Wire is but I’ll give it a whirl anyway.
I would describe the Fly by Wire as a rocket attached to a wire that you control at speeds up to 100+ kilometres per hour in a gorgeous canyon. Like a pendulum.
It’s not cheap, with the full retail price starting at $149 (check for discounts), but the 10-minute experience doesn’t need to be longer than that. You’ll get a sweet rush of adrenaline, and I found myself more than content with the time onboard the plane.
Even though I was bad at flying the rocket, it didn’t take away from the experience which is cool.
This is a great activity located right by the highway and if you book in advance (check Treat Me and GrabOne for discounts), you’ll be all done in under an hour, leaving plenty of time to do other activities in Kapiti. Your friends can watch too.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: EXPERIENCING THE FLY BY WIRE
2. TAKE A DAY TRIP TO KAPITI ISLAND
New Zealand is a bird nerd paradise and you can dive deep into your nerdery on Kapiti Island. But if you’re not a bird nerd, Kapiti Islands makes for a great day out regardless. The pure quantity of native birds you’re all but guaranteed (nature is never 100%) to see is incredible.
You’ll meet some fun characters birds on the island while hiking a few of the trails that lead towards the island’s summit with views back towards the mainland.
Once again this activity won’t take up an entire day if you’ve got your own transport, which is cool. There are two licensed operators and the service they offer is similar, as is the price.
You can book with Eco Experience here. That’s who I went with and loved it.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: SEEING ALL THE BIRDS ON KAPITI ISLAND
3. WATCH THE SUNSET ON THE BEACH
Kapiti Island is very photogenic. Here are some awesome places to take Kapiti Island photos.
I’m not a traveller who craves sunsets, but I certainly enjoy a good one.
And the sunsets on the Kapiti Coast are legitimately one of, if not, my favourite anywhere. You could go to any of the Kapiti beaches for sunset, but either Waikanae, Peka Peka, or Te Horo beaches are the best for sunset in my opinion.
The sun will either set immediately behind Kapiti Island or close by depending on the time of year which makes for an amazing backdrop.
Grab some fish and chips, and eat them while strolling along watching the sunset. You can sit down to eat them, but be prepared for some seagulls hanging around!
*of course, if the clouds don’t play ball, the sunset won’t be great.
RELATED READ: 5 AWESOME PLACES TO WALK IN WAIKANAE
4. BROWSE SOUTHWARD CAR MUSEUM
I’m not a car person in any way shape or form, but I do enjoy walking through the hundreds of cars on display at Southward Car Museum. The cars come from all over the world, from different eras and each has a nice information board to give you more context about what you’re looking at.
I can only imagine the upkeep involved in keeping all the cars looking spick and span.
The vehicles are spread across three levels, and with some short films adding context to a few displays, your time here will fly by. If you’re only walking around and looking at the cars, you’ll be done in 45 minutes but car enthusiasts could be ‘stuck’ here all day long.
My favourites are the DeLorean (above), Filipino Jeepney, and the old school F1 cars. At $20 for adults, I feel like it’s slightly overpriced but not enough to be annoyed about really.
READ MORE: 10 OF THE 500+ CARS ON DISPLAY AT SOUTHWARD CAR MUSEUM
5. VENTURE INTO THE TARARUA’S
The Tararua Ranges are amazing! Having grown up with them just outside of a stone’s throw away I can’t believe I haven’t spent much time exploring them. But having experienced them a few times now, the Kapakapanui Track is the most easily accessed hiking track in the Tararua’s from the Kapiti Coast (next up is the walk to Mount Hector).
That doesn’t mean it’s for the faint-hearted though as the Tararua’s are known for being able to switch weather-wise in a heartbeat (always check the weather).
While only 11km long, there’s a good stretch of elevation involved, and if you’re a once-a-year hiker you probably will be better off hiking Hemi Matenga. But, the views along the way and at the summit made me include this. EPIC.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: HIKING THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE TARARUA’S
6. WALK THE PAEKAKARIKI ESCARPMENT TRACK
With the nickname of NZ’s Stairway to Heaven, the Paekakariki Escarpment Track is an easily accessed hike that provides a doable challenge with epic views of Kapiti Island and the surrounding coastline. You’ll spend a good few hours hiking in one direction, and if you don’t want to make the return hike you can simply catch the train back to your starting point.
Handy, right?
This hike would be an awesome addition to the Fly by Wire, and with a cool gallery and nice cafes in Paekakariki Village, your appetite will be satisfied.
Along the hike, you’ll come across the stairs to heaven, native bush, swing bridges, and if you’re lucky you’ll see some tui’s flying through the gullies. It’s one of my fav day hikes in NZ.
READ THE FULL BLOG POST: HIKING NZ’S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT
There are plenty of other things to do in Kapiti, but rather than write about everything I kept the list to the six best things in my opinion (this may change in the future).
Some of the things/places I was going to include but didn’t are:
- Nga Manu Bird Sanctuary
- walking Waikanae River
- Kapiti Chocolate Factory
- Tuatara Brewery
- Hemi Matenga
- Kapiti Coast Museum
- Queen Elizabeth Park
Interestingly, you’ll be able to see Nga Manu, and the Chocolate Factory on this tour departing Wellington.
RELATED: 10 THINGS TO DO IN WAIKANAE
While I’ll be the first to admit I get a bit bored on the Kapiti Coast when I return to visit, I think that’s me just feeling constricted and wanting to explore new places.
In reality, Kapiti has some amazing attractions. If you’re visiting I hope this helps you plan some epic adventures here.
For me, I need to continue exploring the Tararua more!
What to read next:
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- 200+ Fun things to do in New Zealand.
- Awesome walks in and around Wellington
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.