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WELLINGTON

ith 40km of unspoilt beaches sheltered from prevailing westerly winds by Kāpiti Island, to the

magnificent, wild landscape of the Tararua Range and Forest Park, Kāpiti’s natural beauty is breath-taking. Easily accessed by car, train or air, and just 35 minutes’ drive from Wellington, it is the perfect place for a relaxing break.

I first found Kāpiti 10 years ago when I was researching online where to live, having

W

Kāpiti – NZ's bird capitalThere's plenty to do in Kāpiti, writes Jennie Gutry.

been granted New Zealand residency, along with my young family. For a Londoner, being able to live on the coast and get a train to the capital city in less than an hour seemed like paradise. And it really is. Kāpiti is so close yet could be a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. With it’s own airport, it’s only a one hour flight from Auckland, too.

Here you will find some of the best tramps, cycle trails and walks in the North Island,

boutique shopping, glorious gardens to visit, artists’ studios and places to eat that rival the big city restaurants. Add in the largest car museum in the southern hemisphere, steam trains, trams and aeroplanes, world-renown golf course and adventure sports from land sailing to quad biking, and you will have some idea why Kāpiti is such a popular place to visit.

For me though, the highlight has to be the birds and there are three special places in

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Sir Peter Jackson went to Kāpiti College and started his filmmaking career there

Scenes in Lord of the Rings and King Kong were filmed in Kāpiti

Some Kāpiti cheeses are still made in Kāpiti

Many international actors, film makers, and performing artists live on the Kāpiti Coast

Māori Chief Te Rauparaha used Kāpiti Island as his base to attack other tribes in the Musket Wars of the early 19th century

DID YOU KNOW?

Kāpiti you can get up close and personal with them. Just 5km from the mainland, Kāpiti Island is New Zealand’s oldest nature reserve (1897) and home to some of our rarest and most endangered birds which you can see in their natural habitat. Here you can experience the beauty of New Zealand as it was, before man came, when the birds ruled the land.

The island was declared predator-free in 1998 and today, the island is one of the most important sites for bird recovery. Over 60 species of birds can be spotted here including kākā, hihi (stitchbird), kōkako, takehē, pāteke (brown teal), weka and tīeke (saddleback).

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Beware of the mischievous and clever kākā (mountain parrot), which will swoop down and open the zips on your backpack with its beak in search of food, and the flightless weka which seems to work in cahoots with the kākā, swiping anything you leave on the ground while the kākā is distracting you from above.

Day trips are available leaving from Paraparaumu Beach through two operators, Kāpiti Explorer and Kāpiti Island Nature Tours and are weather dependent. Overnight stays with guided kiwi spotting can be arranged with Kāpiti Island Nature Tours.

Another amazing place to see the birds (and much more) which is suitable for all including pushchair or wheelchair users, is Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae. If you are lucky, you can see New Zealand’s rare brown kiwi in the nocturnal house, and meet the native birds in the walk-through aviaries. In this beautiful natural setting of lowland swamp forest and ponds, Ngā Manu one of the few places you can see New Zealand’s native reptile, the tuatara, and feed manaaki tuna (longfin eel). You can also see a huge range of native flora in this 14 hectare reserve from native grasses, orchids and silver ferns through to swamp maire, pukatea, kohekohe and 400-year-old kahikatea. Ngā Manu is open every day of the year except Christmas Day 10am – 5pm.

My favourite Sunday stroll is along the Waikanae River and lagoons, to the estuary along a path well used by walkers, pushchairs and cyclists. I remember the first time I walked here I saw the flash of blue of a kingfisher, a bird I had hoped to see for decades, and never had in Europe. I was so excited. The kingfisher soon paled in comparison though when I saw a pair of royal spoonbills on one of the lagoons, followed closely by a dabchick, the New Zealand grebe of which there are believed to be only 2000 in existence. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be another exotic bird I had never seen before.

Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve is home to over 77 species of birds at some time during the year. ‘Birdman’ Mik Peryer, of Kāpiti Bird Tours, knows them all and has watched generations of birds thrive in the estuary. Mik runs regular tours here showcasing the bird life along with entertaining tales of the area and its winged inhabitants. For a different experience on your travels, a tour with Mik will tick all the boxes.

Whether you visit Kāpiti Island, Ngā Manu or Waikanae Estuary, the Kāpiti Coast offers a unique encounter with native birds, for an unforgettable holiday experience in New Zealand. GTNZ

Email. enquiries@kapitiheliworx.co.nz | Freephone. 0508 HELIWORX (0508 435 496) | Address. 60 Toru Road, Kapiti Airport, Paraparaumu

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