7 FUN THINGS TO DO IN PAEKAKARIKI

This map above will give you an idea of how small an area these things to do in Paekakariki are in.

1. EXPERIENCE THE CRAZY FLY BY WIRE

This is one of the most unique things to do in New Zealand.

The video above details my experience, but if I was describing the Fly by Wire to you in an elevator, I’d say:

“You’re flying a plane through a valley. There are no wings on the plane but you’re attached to a wire. And it sounds like a lawnmower. It’s an epic adrenaline rush.

The Fly by Wire is a crazy experience and definitely deserves to be at the top of the best things to do in Paekakariki.

If you’ve bungy jumped before and want a different kind of adrenaline experience, this is for you. They’ll often have promos, so be sure to check out the sites like BookMe, Groupon, and Treat Me.

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2. WALK THE PAEKAKARIKI ESCARPMENT TRACK

paekakariki-escarpment-track-swing-bridge

As I mention in the opening of my post about the Paekakariki Escarpment Track, it’s one of my favorite walks in the Wellington region, if not the North Island.

It’s 10km one way with about 420 metres of elevation gain. So you can make it a big 20km day return hike if you’d like, or just catch the train back home.

Why should you do the walk? The track takes you up the hills above SH1 and offers amazing views yet you aren’t miles from civilisation. This keeps everyone happy!

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3. TAKE IN THE VIEW FROM THE PAEKAKARIKI HILL ROAD LOOKOUT

Alternatively, if hiking isn’t your thing. Drive up to the Paekakariki Hill Road Lookout. There’s a small car park there, and a wooden platform to take in views that are similar to the ones on the escarpment track.

Each to their own, but there’s nothing better than doing a little bit of work (a.k.a. hiking) to get your reward (a.k.a. view).

Note: The Paekakariki Hill Road is often closed on Friday evenings, and public holidays due to the disruption it can have to the flow of traffic coming on and off the highway.

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4. CHILL OUT ON PAEKAKARIKI BEACH

You can normally chill out on the beach. The day I took this photo, the tide was big!

The Kapiti Coast is lined with beaches, but Paekakariki Beach has the major benefit of being patrolled by lifeguards during the summer (close to the end of The Parade by the park).

The beach is made of sand, and assuming the tide isn’t massive (like above) is great for swimming with views out to Kapiti Island.

Note: there’s not much in the way of shade on the beach so bring the sunscreen.

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5. PAEKAKARIKI ART STUDIOS

visiting paekakariki art studios is one of the seven things to do in Paekakariki

This is a pretty cool thing to do, art lover or not. In the township, you can enter this art gallery and walk through an active studio.

Some of the pieces of art are for sale (if you’re in the market), but you’re likely to see some artists working on pieces too. If you’re lucky, you might have some interesting conversations with some of the artists.

Similar to the museum below, the opening times can vary, but in general, you can enter Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm (if the doors open, just head upstairs).

This is the Google Maps location (ignore the message if it says temporarily closed, that’s Google being weird).

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6. EXPLORE QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK

queen elizabeth park paekakariki

Queen Elizabeth Park might be one of the most underrated parks in New Zealand. There’s plenty of tracks for picnicking, walking, trail running, and mountain biking, and of course, it backs onto Whareroa Beach.

There are heaps of activities/attractions at the park. It’s easier if I list them and you can do your own research from there:

Horse Riding
WW2 Memorial
Wetlands
Tramways Museum
Tram Rides

I guess that means there’s more than the seven things to do in Paekakariki I mention in this post!

Also, don’t get this Queen Elizabeth Park confused with the one in the Wairarapa with the same name.

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7. VISIT PAEKAKARIKI MUSEUM

paekakariki museum

This museum is free to enter, but with its limited opening hours (which can vary), it’s more of a place to go if you happen to be nearby and it’s open.

Located at the Paekakariki Train Station (between the tracks) you can see photos, artifacts, and read about Paekakarikis history. You can buy locally themed souvenirs here too.

There’s also an associated bookshop that might be open that has books focusing on the Kapiti rail, and NZ history.

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8. HOW TO GET TO PAEKAKARIKI

paekakariki train station

The two easy options to get to Paekakariki, located right next to the State Highway, are by public transport and driving (you can easily hitchhike here too).

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Paekakariki is located on the Kapiti Train Line which runs between Wellington and Waikanae. The train runs from ~6am to midnight, with a service at least every 30 minutes so it’s an easy option.

The train takes about 46 minutes to get from Wellington to Paekakariki and 14 minutes from Waikanae to Paekakariki. You can view the full timetable and get fare details on the Metlink website.

And yes, all of these cool things to do in Paekakariki are within walking distance from the train station. Though if you’re planning to spend lots of time in Queen Elizabeth Park, you’ll be pretty knackered as it’s a big park and is ~2km from the station.

DRIVING

And it’s super easy to drive to Paekakariki given its location by the highway. It’ll take 35-45 minutes to drive to Paekakariki from Wellington, with plenty of free parking available on the street.

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9. WHERE TO EAT IN PAEKAKARIKI

perching parrot paekakariki

There are not too many Paekakariki Restaurants. The most famous one is definitely Fisherman’s Table. In town, I’ve always enjoyed the vibe at the Perching Parrot (great name) and will graba beer at Finn’s.

You can view all the other spots on the town directory.

There are no supermarkets, just the one smaller grocery store for any of your good hiking snacks.

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10. PAEKAKARIKI ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

As you can imagine, with a population under 2,000 people, there aren’t a tonne of options accommodation-wise (there’s more in nearby Paraparaumu and Raumati).

There are no hostels in town, and the only hotel available on Booking.com is Finns which isn’t too expensive and is right in town.

There are ~14 options available on Airbnb catering to a variety of needs.

But I think the best deal might be at Paekakariki Holiday Park. Their website details the various options (camping included) with some of the lodge options coming out at less than $25/person.

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And there you go, a guide on what to do in Paekakariki, in addition to a quick rundown on where to stay, how to get to Paekakariki, and the food situation.

I think you’ll agree, Paekakariki is a nice little town on the Kapiti Coast and makes for an awesome Wellington day trip.

What’s number one on your list of Paekakariki attractions?

7 THINGS TO DO IN PAEKAKARIKI

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