Paraparaumu Beach

Paraparaumu Beach combines coastal scenery with a range of ways to spend your vacation: you can spend time at the beach, plan a day trip to Kāpiti Island or discover the local golf club’s links course. The area’s history also extends beyond its development as a seaside resort. Which of these aspects appeals to you most can help you decide whether Paraparaumu Beach is the right destination for your trip and your search for a holiday rental.

Coastal scenery and beach paths

Maclean Park is a three-hectare reserve between Marine Parade and the coastal dune at Paraparaumu Beach. The park gives the coastal landscape a distinct focal point: it is bounded by the road on one side and the dune on the other. At the beach, a paved path invites you to walk, ride a scooter or cycle. This lets you explore the coast on foot or on wheels. Paraparaumu Beach is considered a family-friendly destination with safe swimming opportunities. For families who want to include time at the beach in their trip, this is one of the area’s defining qualities.

Day trip to Kāpiti Island

Ferries to Kāpiti Island depart from the Kāpiti Boating Club in Paraparaumu Beach. Kapiti Island Nature Tours also use the club as their departure point. One more detail matters for a day trip: the required Department of Conservation permit is included in the price. Visitors to the island can park at the Kāpiti Boating Club or use the car park on the other side of the stream. The departure point, parking options and permit are practical details to consider when planning a day trip to the island. If Kāpiti Island is among the experiences you’re interested in on your trip, Paraparaumu Beach is where the ferries depart from.

Golf on natural coastal terrain

Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club welcomes golfers from New Zealand and around the world to experience its course, described as iconic. The golf course has a natural landscape and is located on the coast. If you want to make golf the focus of a vacation day, this offers a different experience from a beach walk or a trip to the island. Your interests can help guide your choice of holiday rental: think about which experiences you want to shape your trip, rather than deciding based only on a general vacation theme.

History from pā to seaside resort

The area’s history spans different periods. By 1824, members of Te Āti Awa had established a large pā at Kenakena. Several thousand people lived there, and the pā included extensive gardens and a palisade with carved posts. By 1843, the region’s first church had been built in Paraparaumu Beach. In the 1920s, the coastal areas of Paraparaumu Beach were subdivided as a seaside resort. These historical references represent different chapters: the settlement at Kenakena, the region’s first church and the later subdivision of the coast as a seaside resort.

A Saturday market

A weekly market is held on Saturdays in the vicinity of Paraparaumu Beach. If you’d like to include a market visit in your trip, you can plan around this regular day of the week. Along with its beach paths, golf and day trip to the island, Paraparaumu Beach offers a range of ways to get to know the character of the destination.

More destinations to discover: Bidwells Cutting, Otaki, Clareville, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Featherston, Dyerville and Whareama.

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