Coastin' Through Summer: Your Kāpiti Hotlist

It’s so easy to drive past, but there’s something timeless about spending a summer day in Paekākāriki. The beach stretches wide and soft underfoot, perfect for swimming, building sandcastles, or poking around the rock pools at the southern end. When the sun gets high, head over to Beach Road Deli for a coffee and a bite, then cool off with a Paekākāriki Pop from Paekākāriki Village Grocery Store; will you go for Avocado and Lime, or Ginger, Lime and Lemongrass? As evening falls, see if there’s a gig on at St Peter’s Village Hall, a beloved community venue where names like Tiny Ruins and Lawrence Arabia have played intimate sets. A night of live music here, relaxed, neighbourly, and full of soul, epitomises Kāpiti summer at its best.

A leisurely bike ride is one of the best ways to enjoy not only summer, but the Kāpiti Coast. This easy, scenic trail winds through Queen Elizabeth Park from Paekākāriki to Raumati, offering a blissful mix of coastal views, dunelands, and rolling farmland. Stop along the way to watch native birds, inspect the wētā ‘motel’, or just take in the calm. Exploring the trail on the weekend? Keep an eye out for the historic trams at Queen Elizabeth Park as they head to Whareroa Beach, or the Model Aero Club flying their planes. All in all, a gentle cycling trail with plenty for the whole family to see and do.

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae is a lush, living, 14-hectare reminder of what this coast looked like before the highways arrived. The site is one of the largest remaining areas of lowland swamp in the region, and you can wander boardwalks shaded by ancient kahikatea and nikau, spot tuatara basking in the sun, or sit quietly as kererū swoop overhead. The reserve’s open aviaries and eel feeding sessions are a hit with kids, but it’s just as good for a slow, restorative stroll, a hearty dose of native Aotearoa bush just minutes from town.

Few things shout ‘Kiwi summer’ quite like a bustling weekend market, and Paraparaumu Beach Saturday Market is the place to be. The market brings together around 50 stalls featuring locally grown fruit and vegetables, flowers, artisanal crafts, cheeses, baked goods, books, and more. A rotating lineup of local musicians provides a cruisy soundtrack to your weekend shopping. Designed with a strong community ethos, the market welcomes stallholders from all over the Kāpiti Coast region and beyond. A relaxed, social Saturday morning spot to browse, chat, pick up something fresh or handmade, and soak up a bit of the local rhythm.

Paraparaumu Beach is classic Kāpiti, wide open, laid-back, and full of locals making the most of the glorious summer sun. It’s so easy to make a whole day of it here: take a slow stroll along the shoreline or, if you’ve planned ahead, jump aboard a boat to Kāpiti Island, one of New Zealand’s most treasured sanctuaries. For a more casual day out, let the kids run wild at the fantastic MacLean Park, and when bellies start grumbling, make your way a block inland to Salty’s Tavern. It’s a retro Americana diner with Detroit deep dish pizzas, deli sandwiches, cold North End beers, and easygoing service. Sit out in the suntrap courtyard or soak up the 70s vibe inside, either way, it’s the perfect end to a beach day.

Queen Elizabeth Park is the Coast’s green heart: a mix of rolling dunes, bush tracks, and picnic-perfect clearings. Loved by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, its network of trails winds through native bush and along the shoreline, offering a peaceful escape just a short drive from Wellington. For something a bit slower paced, pack a picnic basket and set up under a tree for a lazy afternoon. There’s a stretch of beach here too if you’re after a quiet swim away from the crowds. With views out to Kāpiti Island and the odd vintage tram rumbling by, it’s one of those places that captures everything simple and wonderful about summer outdoors.

Nothing says summer on the Kāpiti Coast like an ice cream in hand and sand between your toes. From Paekākāriki Fruit Supply’s real-fruit scoops to the artisan flavours at Raumati Beach’s La Moon Gelato, and the scoops at Melt & Co right by Paraparaumu Beach, the coast knows how to keep things cool. Wherever you end up, a cone enjoyed in the sunshine is practically a Kāpiti tradition.