4 minute read
Paekākāriki Must Do's
STEAM INCORPORATED Hop aboard these beautifully maintained carriages and be whisked out of the station on one of their frequent train trips hauled by either steam engines or veteran diesel locomotives.
PAEKĀKĀRIKI STATION MUSEUM A small yet unexpected gem, the museum is beautifully kept in a former train station. Open weekends and public holidays between 11am and 3pm.
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PARAPARAUMU
Southward Car Museum
Buffed until you can see your own reflection, classic autos gleam with polished good looks. Five minutes from Paraparaumu township.
Kāpiti Island Nature Reserve
One of New Zealand’s most accessible nature reserves, home to its finest rare birds. Access is by tour operator only – book a day tour or stay overnight in the lodge. Boats depart from Kāpiti Boating Club at Paraparaumu Beach.
Wellington Tramway Museum
Located at Queen Elizabeth Park, this is more than a museum; you can also ride a vintage tram for 2km to Whareroa Beach.
Escarpment Track in Pukerua Bay © WellingtonNZ
PORIRUA
Pātaka Art + Museum
Showcasing the best in contemporary Māori, Pacific Island, New Zealand and international arts and culture. Toi Store also has an appealing range of ceramics, art prints and jewellery.
New Zealand Police Museum
A wonderfully presented history of the New Zealand Police, full of engrossing stories.
Aotea Lagoon
This is a great spot with wheelchair and buggy-friendly walkways. Kids love the Splash Pad, complete with spray cannons and tipping buckets, there’s also a playground, barbecue and picnic area, coffee cart and miniature train rides operating most Sundays.
Adrenalin Forest
If aerial obstacle courses, rope swings, flyingfoxes and high-wire challenges areyour thing, this will put a smile on your dial.
Plimmerton Beach
Flat, sheltered and shallower than other beaches in the area, this beach is a popular for swimming and windsurfing.
Mana Island
Sitting just off the coast of Porirua, day trips to this predator-free island put visitors in proximity to little spotted kiwi, North Island robins, blue penguins, parakeet and more.
Harbour’s Edge
Take a stroll along the Harbourside Path to Get Fixed Bicycle Café where you can hire a bike or just relax with a coffee, gelato or light bite on a bean bag. Pop into Blue Bell Club for vibrant Pacifica homeware and fashion.
LEVIN
PAPAITONGA SCENIC RESERVE Amble through native bush on boardwalks cradled by wetland and lush coastal forest. An eightminute drive from Levin.
WAITĀRERE BEACH Ten minutes from Levin, flop onto a wide stretch of beach famed for its surf, dunes and wreck of the Hydrabad which ran aground in 1878.
ADVENTURE PARK You’ll find playgrounds with tumbling drums, a ropes course, climbing wall, fitness trail, mini-ball court, skating area, sand volleyball court, disability swings, Bocce courts, a dog exercise area and a miniature train with free rides from 1-3pm weekends and holidays.
KĀPITI COAST
Ruru / Morepork, Kāpiti Island © Kāpiti Island Tours
Ngā Manu Nature Reserve
iI Waikanae Both wheelchair and buggy-friendly, explore walkthrough aviaries, reptile enclosures and a nocturnal kiwi house. Feed the eels at 2pm, embark on free guided weekend walks and wander the open lawns, escorted by an army of ducks.
Ōtaki Forks
In the rural town of Ōtaki, you’ll find Ōtaki Forks, one of the Kāpiti District’s best-kept secrets. Here is a campground adjoining a truly magical stretch of river with deep swimming holes and rocks for jumping off. A 45-minute drive from Waikanae.
Tararua Forest Park
This is the North Island’s largest conservation park, so the tramping possibilities are almost endless and the opportunity to have a wild, wind-whipped adventure is guaranteed.
Akatārawa Forest in Waikanae
Steady uphill climbs lead to epic views across Hutt Valley. 4WD tracks are available to run, bike, hike or drive, and shared by dirt bikes, too.
