Discover Paraparaumu Beach

Paraparaumu Beach is a coastal destination suited to different kinds of trips: time at the beach, safe swimming, a trip to Kāpiti Island or golf on a links course. When choosing your hotel, you can consider which of these activities you want to shape your stay. The area’s features range from a paved path along the beach to historic sites and a departure point for island tours.

Beach and Coast

Maclean Park is a three-hectare reserve between Marine Parade and the coastal dune at Paraparaumu Beach. A paved path by the beach is ideal for walking, scootering and cycling. Paraparaumu Beach is also a family-friendly destination with safe swimming. Both the coastal paths and swimming options help define the character of the area.

A weekly market is held near Paraparaumu Beach on Saturdays. If you would like to include it in your travel plans, check the latest market information in advance.

Trip to Kāpiti Island

Ferries to Kāpiti Island depart from the Kāpiti Boating Club in Paraparaumu Beach, which also serves as the departure point for Kapiti Island Nature Tours. The required Department of Conservation permit is included in the price of day trips to Kāpiti Island. Visitors to the island can park at the Kāpiti Boating Club or in the car park on the other side of the stream. Before planning a trip, check the timetable and the operator’s information.

Golf and Local History

The Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club welcomes golfers from New Zealand and around the world. Its acclaimed iconic links course is set in a naturally shaped coastal landscape. Golf is therefore a distinct reason to visit, alongside the beach and island trips.

The area’s history spans several clearly distinct periods. By 1824, members of Te Āti Awa had built a large pā at Kenakena, with several thousand residents, extensive gardens and a palisade with carved posts. By 1843, the region’s first church had been built at this site. Later, in the 1920s, the coastal areas of Paraparaumu Beach were subdivided as a bathing resort. These milestones trace the area’s development from the early settlement at Kenakena, through the first church, to the development of the coast as a bathing resort.

Nature in the Kapiti Coast District

The Kapiti Coast District also offers a variety of landscapes and trails. Queen Elizabeth Park covers 650 hectares of sand dunes and wetlands. Its scenic trails are suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. The Waikanae Estuary Trail is a flat, easy walking trail through a nationally significant natural habitat; scenic boardwalks pass through wetlands and sand dunes. The habitat is home to more than 60 bird species, as well as freshwater and marine fish species.

In the Kapiti Coast District, Ngā Manu Nature Reserve offers hands-on nature experiences focused on New Zealand’s native flora and fauna. Rare brown kiwis can be seen in a nocturnal house. The reserve is set in a large remnant of coastal lowland swamp forest, with ancient wetlands and regenerating forest. Travel plans can therefore include both coastal and beach activities in Paraparaumu Beach and other nature experiences in the Kapiti Coast District.

Discover more destinations: Dyerville, Whareama, Paraparaumu, Bidwells Cutting, Plimmerton, Ponatahi, Otaki, Porirua

For the broader travel overview: Wellington.