Kapiti Coast Private Tour from Wellington: Kiwi & Car Museum

Coastal stops, a car museum, lunch, and a guided walk through native bird aviaries

A 7-hour private tour departing Wellington at 9:30am covers the Kapiti Coast with stops at Pukerua Bay, Paraparaumu Beach, the Southward Car Museum, and Nga Manu Reserve. You'll watch and feed endangered eels, see Brown Kiwi in the nocturnal house, spot tuatara and native geckos, and walk through aviaries with live birds. Lunch at Long Beach Cafe and all refreshments are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kapiti Coast full day tour

• Pickup from Wellington at 9:30am
• Stop at Pukerua Bay for views
• Detour at Raumati to Paraparaumu Beach
• Visit Southward Car Museum
• Lunch at Long Beach Cafe, Waikanae Beach
• Guided tour at Nga Manu Reserve
• Chocolate tasting (shop closed Sunday)

The experience

How do you fit the Kapiti Coast into a single day from Wellington without driving yourself? This tour picks you up at 9:30am from your choice of Wellington location and heads north along the coast. The first stop is Pukerua Bay, where you get views of Kapiti Island and the coastline. Then the route detours through Raumati and up to Paraparaumu Beach for a brief stop before moving on to the Southward Car Museum, one of the best car collections in the southern hemisphere with vehicles spanning vintage to modern.

Lunch happens at Long Beach Cafe in Waikanae Beach, a locally-loved spot. After eating, you spend 45 to 60 minutes at Nga Manu Reserve on a guided ranger tour. This is where the day shifts from sightseeing to hands-on: you can watch or participate in feeding endangered long-fin eels, see Brown Kiwi in the nocturnal house, walk through aviaries with native birds, and get close to tuatara and native geckos. The whole experience runs about 7 hours including the 90-minute drive each way.

Entry fees, lunch, coffee and tea are all included in the price. The tour works for families with infants and small children, who can bring a pram or use specialized infant seats. Bottled water comes with you throughout the day.

What’s included

• Pickup from your choice of Wellington location.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• lunch at Long Beach Cafe.
• coffee and tea.
• all entrance fees to Southward Car Museum and Nga Manu Reserve.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (1 to 16 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 49 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Wainuiomata Taxis

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the pace and timing are yours alone, and the pickup comes from wherever you're staying in Wellington. Choose it if you want to cover the whole Kapiti Coast in one morning and afternoon without renting a car or navigating between stops yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 16 years).

What exactly do you do at Nga Manu Reserve?

Nga Manu Reserve offers a 45- to 60-minute guided ranger tour where you see Brown Kiwi in the nocturnal house, walk through aviaries with native birds, watch or feed endangered long-fin eels, and spot native geckos and tuatara up close.

Is the Southward Car Museum worth the stop?

The Southward Car Museum holds one of the best car collections in the southern hemisphere, ranging from vintage to modern vehicles, so it's a substantial part of the day if you're interested in cars.

How much driving is involved in this tour?

Travel time totals about 3 hours round-trip (90 minutes each way from Wellington), and that is included in the 7-hour tour duration, so the remaining time covers the stops and lunch.