Horowhenua, Kāpiti Coast & Wellington

Wellington & beyond

A PLAYFUL ENERGY AND ARTISTIC FLAIR RUNS THROUGH WELLINGTON’S VEINS. CREATIVE TYPES FEEL RIGHT AT HOME AND THE CITY’S INFECTIOUS STYLE HOOKS ALL THOSE WHO VISIT.

Cosmopolitan Wellington refuses to follow the status quo of most capital cities. It’s surprisingly compact, affording an intimacy more akin to a township. Highrises are rejected in favour of preserving beautiful timber houses, and hustle and bustle is vehemently shunned, replaced by relaxed waterfront strolls and cheery seaside smiles.

There is one area where Wellington matches the metropolitan main players – the art scene. There isn’t one nook or cranny of this neighbourhood where imaginations don’t run wild. Crammed with theatres, galleries and museums, slick new spaces rub shoulders against sealicked Victorian buildings. And while Wellington is justifiably known as the Windy City, nowhere else would inhabitants make the windswept look so de rigueur.

Standout Wellington highlights visits to include the world-famous Te Papa museum, meanders along a hook-shaped harbour and riding the cable car skywards for views across the city. You’ll find ample coffee spots, craft beers and diverse dining, as well as an historic observatory, a peaceful botanic garden and 360-degree panoramas from Mt Victoria.

Wellington Night Markets © PIVOT Photography

Just under an hour from the city, the Kāpiti Coast offers easy city escapism. Famed for its namesake Kāpiti Island, the craggy coastal paths are an invigorating must-do, while inland, Tararua Forest Park offers a rugged hiking landscape, perfect for getting lost in your thoughts. Take in the cultural delights of Horowhenua which embraces Manawatū Gorge, or continue south and cross the Cook Strait to Te Wai Pounamu.

Views over Wellington Harbour © Positively Wellington Tourism

Horowhenua & Kāpiti Coast

THE KĀPITI COAST TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE ISLAND OFF ITS SHORE WHICH IS A TRANQUIL BIRD HAVEN. THE COASTAL TOWNS AND THOSE IN HOROWHENUA ALL HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER AND BEG TO BE EXPLORED FOR THEIR RICH HERITAGE AND RURAL CHARM.

Levin

Levin is the main town in Horowhenua and has wild beaches and bush plus farming and clothing industries. Visit Waitārere Beach for its surf and dunes and learn about the Hydrabad, lost off the coast in 1878. Take a walk in Papaitonga's sand dune lake reserve or see the morepork at Owlcatraz.

Paraparaumu

Paraparaumu’s golf course has hosted the New Zealand Open 12 times and is considered the game’s spiritual home. See vintage vehicles at the Southward Car Museum. Catch a guided boat tour to Kāpiti Island and encounter rare takahē and kōkako.

Paekākāriki

Just 20 minutes north of Wellington, Paekākāriki is close to the Akatārawa Forest Park, a blend of native and exotic flora and popular with quad and trail bikers. The Paekākāriki Steam Museum and the Tramway Museum are interesting.

Porirua

Porirua has a reputation for energy, creativity and outdoor action. The city is a collection of villages, each with its own personality and attractions. Papakōwhai is home to the Royal New Zealand Police College Museum and the tranquil Aotea Lagoon. Nearby is the exciting Adrenalin Forest: aerial obstacle courses of rope swings, flying foxes and other high-wire challenges. Don’t miss the Pātaka Art + Museum, which showcases the best in contemporary Māori, Pacific Island, New Zealand and international arts and culture. Porirua is surrounded by twin harbours, hills, ocean and a rugged coastline with walks and cycle tracks. You can also kayak or sail up the Pāuatahanui Inlet. Mana and Plimmerton have excellent beaches. Scuba diving, fishing, and trips to Mana Island, a conservation sanctuary, make a great day out.

Ōtaki

In the rural town of Ōtaki you'll find the Ōtaki Forks, one of the Kāpiti District’s best-kept secrets, a casual campground adjoining a truly magical stretch of river with deep swimming holes and rocks for jumping off.

Waikanae

Waikanae is home to Nga Manu Nature Reserve, an idyllic bird sanctuary where you can see New Zealand's rare brown kiwi, spot native geckos, get up close to the ancient tuatara and feed endangered long-fin eels.

Kāpiti Coast © Johnny Hendrikus