kapiti island tour from wellington

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Come explore Kapiti Island

Aotearoa New Zealand

Visit for the day or stay the night 

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand's most important nature reserves. The best way to enjoy the island is a guided tour , even better stay the night for some Kiwi spotting.

Boats arrive and depart daily

Stay your way.

Our glamping tents are the most popular with couples. If you’d prefer solid walls we have cosy cabins. We are the only provider of accommodation on the island. Every stay comes with cooked meals and Kiwi spotting night tour.

"Paradise found"

Fantastic day trip in an area of such natural beauty. All of the staff were most welcoming and helpful. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys nature, walks and especially birdwatching!

- Richard, Australia

"Incredible"

Excellent day in every way. Thank you for such wonderful hospitality, delicious lunch and amazing people. Keep up the brilliant work.

- Trevor and Michele, UK

"Highly recommend"

Kapiti Island has it all for any nature lover. The birds are rare but plentiful, it is worth every cent to stay overnight. One of the best experiences I've had anywhere in the world.

- Imogen, NZ

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Kapiti Island Nature Tours

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Just a scenic hour's drive north from Wellington, the Kapiti Coast feels a world away

Kapiti half day tour.

• We depart Wellington at 9.30am or 1pm and head north up and over Pukerua Bay, enjoying superb coastal views. We slip off the main roads and follow the scenic coastline from Raumati through to Paraparaumu Beach, returning you to the city at 12.30pm or 4pm.

Kapiti full day tour

• We pick you up from your choice of Wellington location at 9.30am and head north stopping at Pukerua Bay to capture the superb views of Kapiti Island and the coastline bringing  you back to Wellington at 4.30pm. 

For superb coastal scenery, nature and beachside cafes join Capital Personalised Tours on the short journey to captivating Kapiti

• We depart Wellington at 9.30am or 1pm and head north up and over Pukerua Bay, enjoying superb coastal views. We slip off the main roads and follow the scenic coastline from Raumati through to Paraparaumu Beach.
• We continue to head north and stop in at the world-famous Southward Car Museum for morning/afternoon tea and a chance for the car enthusiasts amongst us to marvel at the 20th Century motorcars on display.
• If cars are not your thing we can take you a little further north to Nga Manu Nature Reserve to see the native birds, including Kiwi. Set in picturesque coastal lowlands forest of Waikanae, this is an idyllic bird sanctuary.
• Heading back to Wellington we drop in for a coffee stop returning you to the city at 1.00pm or 4:30pm. 
• We pick you up from your choice of Wellington location at 9.30am and head north stopping at Pukerua Bay to capture the superb views of Kapiti Island and the coastline. 
• We detour at Raumati to follow the coast up to Paraparaumu Beach where we stop briefly to take in the sea air.
• Then its on to the internationally acclaimed Southward Car Museum, followed by a delicious lunch at the locally-loved Long Beach Cafe in Waikanae Beach.
• After lunch we visit Nga Manu Reserve which offers you a unique opportunity to have a hands-on experience with nature. See New Zealand’s rare Brown Kiwi in the nocturnal house and meet native birds in walk-through aviaries. Watch or participate in feeding endangered long-fin eels, spot native geckos and even get up close to the ancient tuatara.
• We continue to drive north when you have a choice of shopping in the sleepy township of Otaki or visit a restored Maori church. We can even head further north to the Deer Museum in Manukau.
• We drive back to Wellington with a stop off in Paraparaumu, at either the Tuatara Beer factory tasting room or a local coffee shop - the choice is yours.
• We drop you back in Wellington at 4.30pm.

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Waiorua Bay - Kapiti Island

Kapiti Island Nature Tours

Little Spotted Kiwi

Kapiti Camping

29 Marine Parade , Kapiti Island , New Zealand .

An internationally renowned sanctuary for New Zealand's most beautiful and endangered native birds. Activities include full day nature tours and overnight Kiwi spotting tours. Enjoy our world famous hospitality, on one of NZ's conservation icons.

Pricing and Conditions

Discounted rates available for groups of 25+

Tours are weather dependent. If the skipper cancels due to the forecast we can transfer your booking or offer a full refund. Cancellations within 14 days of arrival date: 25% forfeit of the total booking price. Cancellations within 1 day of arrival date: 100% forfeit of the total booking price.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand's oldest and most important nature reserves, and is now home to some of our rarest birds. Surrounded by lush native forests teeming with wildlife, Kapiti Island Nature Tours offers a chance to truly experience New Zealand the way it's meant to be - wild, and thick with birdsong. Those visiting for the day are able to get up close and personal with some of New Zealands rarest wildlife on a guided tour, including: takahe, kokako, saddleback, weka, kaka, and bellbird, to name a few. Visitors can also spend the night on the Island and enjoy the world famous hospitality of the Lodge, where they can enjoy delicious chef prepared meals before heading out on the best Kiwi spotting experience in New Zealand.

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Kapiti Island Nature Tours

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Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour

Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island

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Deluxe Guided Day Tour

• Duration: 7 Hours (approx.)
• Location : Paraparaumu Beach
• Product code: KT04

If your itinerary can't quite stretch to fit in an overnight stay on the island, this is the next best thing!

This fully guided experience explores the ngahere (forests) and stories of Kapiti, with a delicious morning tea and lunch included. In a small group, hosted for the day by an experienced guide, manuhiri (visitors) will visit both Rangatira and Waiorua to experience the diversity of wildlife, landscape, and unique history the island has to offer. 

You'll enjoy freshly baked scones and muffins with a pot of coffee at the Historic Whare while learning to identify the calls of kōkako, tīeke, and many more. 

After walking the Rangatira loop you'll be transferred to Waiorua to enjoy a picnic lunch, leaving time to choose between the Ōkupe lookout or Boulder Bank coastal loop walks before meeting the afternoon ferry off Waiorua.

Please note: the coastal walk is generally closed between 1 October & 31 March due to nesting seabirds.

You will have around 6.5hrs on the island. 

WHAT TO BRING

• A water bottle
• Sturdy footwear - sneakers, hiking boots or sport sandals
• A sunhat & jacket - suitable clothing for changeable weather conditions
• Your camera!

WHERE TO MEET

Check in at 29 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu Beach, 20 - 40 minutes before your tour start time.

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Kapiti Island

Kāpiti Boating Club, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti Coast

A dominant feature of the Kāpiti Coast, this nature reserve is home to many endangered species.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most important nature reserves, and a place rich in human history. A dominant feature of the Kāpiti coastline, the island is home to many endangered species.

The local Barrett whānau are based at the north end of the island. They are descendants of people who arrived and settled in the 1820s. The family continues to live on the island as custodians and have been welcoming visitors to the island for generations.

Capture Studios

Kapiti Island is a 20-minute boat ride from Paraparaumu Beach, across the waters of Rau ō Te Rangi. Visitors can spend a day exploring the island or opt to stay overnight with the option to go glamping or stay in a cabin for an authentic Kiwi lodge experience. The night stay includes an opportunity to go out and catch a glimpse of one of 1,400 little spotted kiwi who call Kapiti Island home.

On the day tours you’ll learn about how the Barrett whānau work with the Department of Conservation to keep the island free of introduced predators — while in the background you’ll hear native birds including kākā, kererū, and kokako. The summit of the island is a steep climb but it’s worth it for the incredible views out over the ocean. You’re also likely to encounter some cheeky weka on the way. Today, Kapiti Island, Waikanae Estuary, and the marine reserve in between create a very rare continuum of protected land, sea, and estuary habitats. With two reserves linked by a marine reserve, animals that move between shore, sea, and river habitats get special protection.

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