Sustainable Travel on the Kāpiti Coast: Your eco-friendly weekend
Looking for a weekend escape that doesn’t cost the earth? The Kāpiti Coast is leading the way in eco-tourism, with conservation projects, sustainable eats, and stays that give back to the land. Here’s how to spend two days soaking up the best of Kāpiti, while keeping your footprint light.
Day one:
Visit Kapiti Island
Start your journey with one of Aotearoa’s most remarkable eco-experiences. Just a short boat ride from the mainland, Kapiti Island is a predator-free sanctuary alive with rare birds and lush native forest. Join a guided tour to learn about the island’s ecological history, its role in conservation, and the mahi that keeps it thriving today. Pop in code “VISITKAPITI” and the discount’s yours.
Save 10% on your stay
Dine at Lustre Kitchen & Dining
7 Seaview Rd, Paraparaumu Beach
Driven by a passion for locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, Lustre Kitchen & Dining offers a farm-to-table experience. Working closely with local growers and suppliers, they create an ever-changing menu that celebrates flavour, creativity, and conscious dining - with every dish designed to minimise waste and maximise seasonal freshness. Just mention Visit Kāpiti to claim your bubbles.
Start your visit with a glass of bubbles, our treat.
Stay at Falcon Ridge
Nikau Valley, Paraparaumu
End the day perched above Paraparaumu at Falcon Ridge, a boutique off-grid haven with breathtaking views. It's more than just a retreat. In collaboration with Kāpiti's Bond Store, we will be offering cold cocktails on arrival to Falcon Ridge, we'll have them cold waiting for you on arrival.
Enjoy a cold cocktail on arrival.
Day two:
Sustainable coffee fix
4a Sheffield St, Paraparaumu
No weekend is complete without coffee, and Dark Horse brews with the planet in mind. Their ethos? Leave Less Hoofprints. Using a Loring hot air roaster, they’ve cut 80% of emissions produced by conventional roasting. Combine that with soft-plastic recyclable packaging and an in-house recycling station, and you’ve got a guilt-free cup that tastes even better knowing it’s kind on the environment.
Dark Horse espresso bar
Explore Ngā Manu Nature Reserve
For more than 50 years, Ngā Manu Nature Reserve has been protecting native flora and fauna, safeguarding one of the last remaining pockets of coastal lowland swamp forest. Join the daily Native Bird Close Encounter at 11am — walk in or pre-book to get up close. Mention Visit Kāpiti for complimentary duck food to make it even more memorable.
Mention Visit Kāpiti for free duck food
Stay at Aston Road Villa
38 Aston Rd, RD 1, Waikanae
Tucked into the hills above Waikanae, Aston Road Villa proves that comfort and sustainability go hand in hand. Stay two nights and enjoy a bottle of bubbles and a charcuterie board on arrival. Simply add “VisitKāpiti” into your booking comments to unlock this treat.
Add VisitKāpiti for bubbles & a charcuterie board