Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand’s best-kept nature sanctuaries and a pest and predator-free haven for native birds. Take the ferry from Paraparaumu Beach to Waiorua at the northern end of the island. You'll be met by your local guide who tell you the unique history and stories of this place and will walk with you to help you identify the flora & fauna all around you. You'll have time for independent walking before enjoying a delicious buffet lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon you'll head back to the mainland by ferry.
In demand: 6 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 12.
Experience Kapiti Island with a day tour to Waiorua Bay. Enjoy a guided walk, learn the stories of this magical island, and enjoy our famous hospitality with a delicious lunch at the Lodge.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour lasts about 5–6 hours. The itinerary has 1 stop.
Prices start at $187 per person for this Wellington experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:45 AM.
Children aged 4–14 pay from $120, adults from $187.
It can: 6 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Directions: Drive north fm Wellington City on State Highway 1. When you reach the town of Paraparaumu, turn left at traffic lights, follow Kapiti Road to the Kapiti Boating Club at the end of the road, take the 1st exit left on to Marine Parade, cafe is on corner of Howell Rd & Marine Parade. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 572 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Kapiti Island Nature Tours.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
I missed the trip, although arrived in Paraparam at 8.15 am ; but then I was not able to get an Uber to the Marine Parade Meeting Point. I rang the agency and informed about my delay; arrived finally at 8.45. but the ship left. As there are not many trips , they could have waited for a few more minutes I my opinion. So I am really dissapointed
My husband and I booked the Kapiti Island Rangatira Experience Day Trip. The communication from Kapiti Island Nature Tours in the lead-up to the day was fantastic. On the day, the lady (maybe Paula?) who checked us in was friendly and helpful, and then Tamihana, our guide, was awesome at getting us through the preparation for the trip. The ferry left on time, and the second guy (sorry didn't catch his name) on the ferry was also super friendly and informative. Once on the island, we enjoyed the info about what birds we could expect to see and info about the various walks that are available (as well as a safety briefing). The walk itself was awesome. We took the Wilkinson's track to the summit and then did the lower loop walk after that. It was a pretty overcast day, so the views weren't as good as I would imagine they are on a clear day; however, still absolutely stunning. The time on the island was perfect (not too short so you were rushing, but not too long that you were waiting for ages at the end). Once again, the ferry came at the planned time, and we got back as expected. Everything was well organised and managed from start to finish, and the welcoming and passionate staff made the experience even more enjoyable. We will definitely be back again and will challenge ourselves with the Trig Track next time. 😀
Loved the impressive amount of bird sound we could hear. The guide was very knowledgeable and passionate, giving a great introduction. We had a good walk to the top of the island, but would have loved to have had an extra hour to see more birds lower down.
I planned a trip for my partners birthday in October. Weather ended up being terrible, so asked if we could rebook. Fillnally rebooked for May. All the stuff are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Gave great information about the history of the island, and the descendants who look after it today. Had a great time, such a beautiful Island! Would highly recommend going over if you haven't already.
we were lucky to get a near perfect autumn day for our Trip. Pena was such a great guide, her knowledge and passion for the island made the whole day seem a privilege. The lunch time discussion was so relaxed and informative. Thanks for such a great day.
This tour was the perfect balance of ecological, personal and cultural history on a stunning predator free bird island! My partner and I really enjoyed the guides welcoming and friendly vibe. He treated our small group like family! The lunch was also delicious and seeing and hearing so many unique New Zealand birds was the highlight of our trip! Highly recommend this tour to nature and history enthusiasts looking for a down-to-earth and enlightening experience!
I loved hiking the trails, seeing the birdlife, and learning about the natural and human history of the island. Amazing conservation work has been done here! The island is growing itself back to how it naturally was before humans modified the grounds of the island. This means you'll experience true NZ forest close to how it used to be. Timatea, our guide, gave a fascinating intro talk and even walked up to the summit where most people were to chat with them. I learned a lot from his chats. Highly recommend going to Kāpiti Island!
From check-in to drop-off at the end, the whole day was well organised, efficiently managed, and really enjoyable! The staff are friendly, helpful and extremely knowledgeable. It was great to have a detailed explanation of the island's history and the bird life. There was plenty of time to take a relaxing walk up to the highest point on the island, taking in the scenery and birds along the way. Highly recommend this to anyone and only wish we had done it much sooner :)
Awesome day on Kapiti Island. From the welcoming sign-in staff to the boat crew and our island guide - everything was done with a smile and professionalism. Special thanks to Pania for her fantastic introduction to the island and its fascinating history - really awesome.
Wonderful expereince, had a good time, "in another world"!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour | 5–6 hours | 4.8 (572) | $187 | |
 Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island | 2 days | 4.9 (482) | $401 | View |
 The Classic: our most popular electric bike tour of Auckland's Highlights | 3h 30min | 5.0 (540) | $103 | View |
 Kāpiti Coast: Escarpment Track Guided Hiking Tour, Coffee + Lunch | 7 hours | 5.0 (2) | $189 | View |
 7-hour Kapiti Coast Private Tour | 6–7 hours | 5.0 (3) | $201 | View |
 Kapiti Coast and Foxton Area Beaches Day Tour | 8 hours | 5.0 (1) | $281 | View |
 A Taste of Kapiti - Kapiti Foodie Delights Tour | 7–8 hours | 5.0 (10) | $343 | View |