10 THINGS TO DO IN WAIKANAE (FROM A LOCAL)

As I started to write this post the variety of things to do in Waikanae took me by surprise. Not bad for a small town on the Kapiti Coast.

Note: I was born and raised in Waikanae (Dad still lives there). So while I may be irrationally harsh on Waikanae at times when talking to friends, I genuinely believe there are plenty of fun things to do in Waikanae.

Take a look through the 10 activities I’ve listed here (I’ve grouped some activities together) and have an amazing time in Waikanae.

10 THINGS TO DO IN WAIKANAE

1. WALK TO THE TOP OF HEMI MATENGA SCENIC RESERVE

There are plenty of nice walks in Waikanae, but for those who enjoy hiking, a trip to the summit of Hemi Matenga is the best.

You’ll be walking through some native bush, and while there’s a solid incline and it’s a couple of technical sections most people should be okay making it to the top.

At worst, you can turn back around on the way up if it’s getting too tough (starting from the Te Au track is super tough).

2. WATCH THE SUNSET FROM WAIKANAE BEACH

Waikanae Beach is a sandy beach stretching along the west coast of the town. The beach itself is not going to win the best beach in New Zealand award, but the sunset is a contender.

In a perfect world, you’ll be able to see the sunset dip behind Kapiti Island (take a day trip here!) for the drama, but it’s more likely you’ll be watching it drop further south over the South Island.

Grab some fish and chips and eat them on the beach for a stunning sunset experience (weather dependent of course).

p.s. You can find a bunch of different spots to take photos of Kapiti Island here.

3. EAT AND DRINK YOUR WAY AROUND THE BEACH

Waikanae Beach has gone become gentrified a tad over the last 10 years or so. And now you’ll find a few cafes and restaurants that wouldn’t look out of place in Melbourne. In the beach area alone (all within walking distance of each other), you’ve got:

Long Beach Tavern: Long Beach feels more like a modern pub than a cafe. But it’s open throughout the day serving everything from coffee to beers, and they’ve got a wicked menu. I’m always surprised by how busy it can be in the middle of a weekday for a town that is considered by some to be ‘sleepy’. Here’s the website.

Hey Coastie: Right next door to Long Beach, Hey Coastie is a lot more laid back. They’ve got a loyal following though, with their drinks always top-notch. I enjoy chilling out in the courtyard out the back on a warm day. Make sure to check the latest opening hours on Google Maps. Check out the menu here.

TukTuk Waimea: A Thai Restaurant in Waikanae Beach! They offer Thai cuisine, made with local ingredients. Yes, that means there is Tom Yum and Pad Thai on the menu. And you get some awesome views over towards Kapiti Island. You can look at the menu here.

There’s also Waikanae Beach Takeaway for fish and chips, Waimea Dairy, and Four Square for your on-the-go food and drinks in Waikanae Beach.

4. SWIM/CLIFF JUMP AT WAIKANAE RIVER

If you’re not a fan of swimming in the ocean, take a walk along and jump in Waikanae River. There are a few swimming holes to be found or you can head up past the old highway and test your mettle at the cliff-jumping spot known as Devil’s Elbow (do this at your own risk, practice all the usual precautions).

Note: It’s best to check the council website before going to verify the water quality.

5. VISIT THE KAPITI COAST MUSEUM

The Kapiti Coast Museum is worth a quick visit if you like to know more about the history of the area you’re visiting. There’s plenty of information to read, and feel free to quiz the staff members too!

It’s across the road from the train station, so as long as it’s open will make a good first stop on a day trip from Wellington.

6. ENJOY A BEER AT THE NORTH END BREWERY

North End Brewing is part of Salt and Wood, a restaurant and craft beer spot near the Countdown.

Like most small brewing companies, North End Brewing started as a few mates who began to take their brew-making seriously. Starting in 2013, they all love the Kapiti Coast (hence the name), and try to use local as much as possible when they produce their beers.

Head on down the Salt and Wood and you’ll try a beer that’s brewed in the adjoining building. Their inspirations? Traditional European styles integrate the local land.

7. LEARN AT NGA MANU BIRD SANCTUARY

The Nga Manu Bird Sanctuary’s history started in the 1970s and over 40 years later is a hidden gem in the North Island. With the goal of preserving and conserving the native flora and fauna, a visit here will span your knowledge and build your connection with nature.

There are plenty of different things to do on a visit to Nga Manu:

• Walking through the swamp forest
• Check out the aviaries
• Look into the reptile enclosure
• See a kiwi!
• Feed the eels
• Become a ranger for a day (children)

The reserve is about 14 hectares in size and is a way better experience than visiting a zoo.

8. VISIT MAHARA GALLERY

Galleries are one of the best ways you can support independent creators. The Mahara Gallery is a small spot, but there are some awesome pieces (anything with Kapiti Island is ace), so pop your head in and see what you find.

9. PLAY A GAME OF GOLF WHERE STEVE WILLIAMS GOT STARTED CADDYING

Steve Williams might well be the most famous caddy in the world, thanks to spending over a decade on the bag for Tiger Woods. And he got his start here on the Kapiti Coast. While he was caddying most of the time at Paraparaumu Beach as a teenager, he would regularly go golf ball hunting at Waikanae Golf Course in addition to playing and caddying here.

Is that a good enough reason for you to play at Waikanae Golf Club?

If not, I’ll try and further convince you. Down the road is Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, a course that has ranked in the top 100 in the world in the past. And when it was? There were people who came to visit the Kapiti Coast to play all the courses in the area, and they’d say the Waikanae Golf Course is the better of the two.

10. GO BIRDING AT THE ESTUARY

Think birding is for the crazy? Think again. There are over 80,000 members subscribed to the birding sub-Reddit alone. That’s no small number.

The best place to take in birds in the wild in Waikanae is down at the estuary where you might see any number of the 60+ birds that visit throughout the year (there are 20 or so species regularly there). And why not do it with a local expert bird nerd, Mick Peryer.

For $35 per person (click the link above to book), you’ll walk about the lagoons, sandspit, and river reserve as Mick takes you to the best bird-viewing spots. He knows their behaviour better than anyone in the area, so you’ll see things the regular person misses. You’ll learn a bunch too.

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I hope this has helped you figure out what to do in Waikanae 🙂

Feel free to send any questions or comments below, or email me jub@churnewzealand.com

Chur,
Jub

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