Wellington

Me and You and Paraparaumu

Just 45 mins from Wellington, Paraparaumu’s known for its golf, gourmet foods, and the beautiful Kapiti Island just a short ferry across the water.

Head north and breeze through Porirua before skirting Titahi Bay along SH1. You’ll get to soak up the stunning coastline as you drive a few short metres from the crashing waves before passing Queen Elizabeth Park and the Whareroa Recreation Reserve and finally arriving in Paraparaumu itself.

The Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club attracts its fair share of attention and is considered the spiritual home of NZ golf. Pack the trundler and get amongst one of the best links courses in the Southern Hemisphere that’s also hosted 12 NZ Opens.

If you love your classic cars – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? – then check out the Southward Car Museum. It boasts over 400 pristine cars (and a handful of airplanes) from more than a century of automotive engineering.

With the kids in tow, the Raumati Marine Gardens make for family-friendly days out – especially in the summer. The beachfront playground hosts beautiful trees, water playgrounds and a miniature railway. Follow this up with a stop at Cantharis Alpacas where the kids (big and little) can feed the alpacas.

No Paraparaumu trip is complete without a trip to Kapiti Island, straight west from Kapiti Beach. The predator-free island reserve offers nature tours as well as overnight accommodation and kiwi spotting tours, so there’s plenty for couples and families alike. You will need to book with DoC first, so make sure you’ve checked out their website first.