Discover Paekakariki

Paekākāriki combines nature experiences with striking railway history and art. In Queen Elizabeth Park, wetlands, sand dunes and forests alternate; at the beach, possible activities include swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, longlining and surfcasting. There is also a challenging coastal walking track, a historic railway station building and a mural on the way to the beach. This gives you different interests to consider when choosing your destination.

Nature between park and coast

Queen Elizabeth Park encompasses wetlands, sand dunes and forests. If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you can hike, cycle or ride a horse there; birdwatching is also possible. The varied landscapes give the park its own character and offer several ways to spend time outdoors. For families planning activities together, for example, this makes it possible to combine an interest in exercise with birdwatching.

From Paekākāriki, a shared cycling and walking trail runs through the dunes of Queen Elizabeth Park to Poplar Avenue in Raumati South. The route combines two ways of getting around on one trail, so it may be useful when planning your day if you want to include both cycling and walking in your trip. A historic tram in the park also takes visitors to a nearby beach.

Railway history and local art

The Paekākāriki Railway Station and Yard Historic Area is of historical, architectural, technological and social significance. It documents more than a century of New Zealand railway history. The historic railway station building, constructed in 1909, houses the Paekākāriki Station Museum. If you are interested in the development of rail transport, you can make this station the focus of a cultural history outing.

Art is also among the things to discover in the town: Holtom’s Art Studio is located in the Holtom Building in Paekākāriki and showcases local art and crafts. Another distinctive detail awaits you on Pearl and Florrie’s Way: a 15-metre-long mural runs alongside the footpath from Beach Road in Paekākāriki to the beach. If you would like to include culture and a route to the water in your trip, these offer two different ideas, without needing to be combined into one outing.

Get active: the beach and Escarpment Track

Swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, longlining and surfcasting are possible at Paekākāriki Beach. This gives you a range of ways to spend time by the water. If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Paekakariki, whether you mainly want to enjoy beach activities, park landscapes or culture may influence your choice of location.

One challenging hiking option is the Paekākāriki Escarpment Track. It runs from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay and offers sweeping views of the Kāpiti Coast and Kāpiti Island. The track includes around 1,200 steep steps, narrow paths along ridgelines and two suspension bridges. You should take these specific demands into account when planning your day. Compared with the activities in the park, the track is a particularly demanding choice for anyone looking for a hike with exposed sections.

In the wider region, the trams of the Wellington Tramway Museum travel through the natural wetlands and sand dunes of Queen Elizabeth Park. The route is 2 kilometres long, or 4 kilometres for the return journey. This is another way to experience the park landscape, while the historic tram in the park takes visitors to a nearby beach.

A place with a long history of transport

Paekākāriki’s history is also closely connected with travel. Paekākāriki Hill Road was completed in November 1849 and linked Wellington and Porirua with Whanganui via Beach Road. Paekākāriki and its hotel served as a resting place for travellers and horses; Māori, mail services, livestock and settlers also used the place in this historical context. This past adds an older transport history to the story of the railway.

Paekakariki can suit different kinds of trips: you can focus on nature and birdwatching, art and railway heritage, beach activities or a challenging hike. The nearby town pages also provide an overview of other destinations in the same broader area: Te Horo Te Horo and Waikanae Waikanae.

For the broader travel overview: Kapiti Coast District.