Sightseeing
check out the pods! Such a great swimming spot in the river (the pods).
Plus all the awesome walks around there too! short and long ones.
Note: there was a slip and the road is closed approximately 5km from the start of the big hikes, but you can still hike across the slip if you have the right gear and know what you are doing.
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Otaki Forks
Otaki Gorge Roadcheck out the pods! Such a great swimming spot in the river (the pods).
Plus all the awesome walks around there too! short and long ones.
Note: there was a slip and the road is closed approximately 5km from the start of the big hikes, but you can still hike across the slip if you have the right gear and know what you are doing.
Go to the kite festival in early February each year! it's mind blowing.
But Otaki Beach is stunning all year round! Great views and spots to hunt for Pipis. Surfing and swimming or going for walks is fun there too! And if you are lucky you might even spot Mount Taranaki in the distance.
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Otaki Beach
Go to the kite festival in early February each year! it's mind blowing.
But Otaki Beach is stunning all year round! Great views and spots to hunt for Pipis. Surfing and swimming or going for walks is fun there too! And if you are lucky you might even spot Mount Taranaki in the distance.
Absolutely stunning to hike in, beautiful views and easy access from Otaki
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Tararua Range
Absolutely stunning to hike in, beautiful views and easy access from Otaki
I recommend the walk past the big water reserve tank. If you make it all the way to the top you'll be rewarded with stunning views over Kapiti Island
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Hemi Matenga Memorial Park
I recommend the walk past the big water reserve tank. If you make it all the way to the top you'll be rewarded with stunning views over Kapiti Island
There are such gorgeous walks around here. You can go to the river and walk to the beach or head inland to walk the Crystal bend.
Stunning either way
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Otaki River
There are such gorgeous walks around here. You can go to the river and walk to the beach or head inland to walk the Crystal bend.
Stunning either way
Neighbourhoods
There are lovely Cafes and shops in Waikenae as well as some great Restaurants.
There are also beautiful walks and river reserves.
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Waikanae
There are lovely Cafes and shops in Waikenae as well as some great Restaurants.
There are also beautiful walks and river reserves.
There are lots of outlet shops up by the highway (2-3km)
Supermarket and Cafes and shops and op shops as well as the library in town are only a 10 minute walk away.
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Otaki
There are lots of outlet shops up by the highway (2-3km)
Supermarket and Cafes and shops and op shops as well as the library in town are only a 10 minute walk away.
A bit bigger than Otaki, it has all the shops you might need, other than that there is not too much to see there, except for the awesome adventure playground right by then main road is great for kids and well worth a visit.
Levin
A bit bigger than Otaki, it has all the shops you might need, other than that there is not too much to see there, except for the awesome adventure playground right by then main road is great for kids and well worth a visit.
Lots of outlet shops during the week and markets on Sundays. (every other Sunday in winter)
SH 1 North
State Highway 1Lots of outlet shops during the week and markets on Sundays. (every other Sunday in winter)
Food Scene
Beautiful food and fantastic coffee. Only a 10 minute walk away. They have lots of vegan options and super friendly staff.
Cafe Sixty Six
66 Main StBeautiful food and fantastic coffee. Only a 10 minute walk away. They have lots of vegan options and super friendly staff.
This is a great place to go for dinner. Only a 15 minute car ride.
They have great Pizza!
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Long Beach Cafe
40 Tutere StThis is a great place to go for dinner. Only a 15 minute car ride.
They have great Pizza!
This is our take out go to! The boss is super nice and the food is to die for!
Pronto Pizza and Pasta
80 Main RoadThis is our take out go to! The boss is super nice and the food is to die for!
Best Indian food on the Kapiti Coast!
We love it! it's great for take ways and eating at home.
Only 2 or 3 minutes by car.
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Curry Town
57 Main StBest Indian food on the Kapiti Coast!
We love it! it's great for take ways and eating at home.
Only 2 or 3 minutes by car.
Antonio's
yummy Pizza and Pasta, but pricey for Otaki though.
Red's cafe up by the highway is a great place with lots of space, They serve nice coffee and yummy food.
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Red's Cafe
5 Arthur StRed's cafe up by the highway is a great place with lots of space, They serve nice coffee and yummy food.
Sunlong Restaurant & Fast Food
Good takeaways with a big selection.
The biggest supermarket in Otaki. It doesn't have a massive selection but it does the job for smaller shops
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New World Otaki
163 Main HwyThe biggest supermarket in Otaki. It doesn't have a massive selection but it does the job for smaller shops
Family
Levin Adventure Park
93 Oxford StThis is a lovely day trip for the little ones.
There is a Cafe and kids get to meet animals up close
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Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café
2362 Akatarawa RdThis is a lovely day trip for the little ones.
There is a Cafe and kids get to meet animals up close
The Otaki pools are nice for a swim.
In summer their splash pad outside is great for kids, and its free!
Otaki Swimming Pool
200 Mill RdThe Otaki pools are nice for a swim.
In summer their splash pad outside is great for kids, and its free!
Big park and nice playground. There is space to play basketball or do some dual biking, and it has got plenty of space to have a nice picnic.
Haruatai Park
Big park and nice playground. There is space to play basketball or do some dual biking, and it has got plenty of space to have a nice picnic.
Our kid's favourite playground! They call it the Pirate ship, as it has a big wooden pirate ship to explore as well as a flying fox!
Tasman Road Playground
Our kid's favourite playground! They call it the Pirate ship, as it has a big wooden pirate ship to explore as well as a flying fox!
Beautiful place to visit (with or without kids) you can feed ducks and eels, there are tuataras, swans, geckos, butterflies, go for a bushwalk, check out the lookout tower, and even spot a kiwi if you are lucky.
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Nga Manu Nature Reserve
Beautiful place to visit (with or without kids) you can feed ducks and eels, there are tuataras, swans, geckos, butterflies, go for a bushwalk, check out the lookout tower, and even spot a kiwi if you are lucky.
Called the 'enchanted forest' by locals, the pine forest is a fantastic place for a walk with room to explore. There is a tyre swing set up and a few cool places to check out
Pine Forest OTAKI
Called the 'enchanted forest' by locals, the pine forest is a fantastic place for a walk with room to explore. There is a tyre swing set up and a few cool places to check out
Råd om din stad
Missa inte
Sunday Markets up near the highway
Fresh produce, antiques, plants, gifts, hand made goods.
Every Sunday in summer, every other Sunday in winter
Ta sig runt
Trains to Wellington leave from Waikenae
Time tables are found under the coffee table. There is plenty of parking in Waikenae. Its about 15 to 20 min by car. You have to have cash as you pay on the train. The train leaves about every hour during the day. It's the easiest and fastest way to go to Wellington. There is one service a day in each directions directly from Otaki.
Other than that there are some busses, but you really need a car to get around here.
Sedvänjor och kultur
say 'hello'
Remember this is a small town, so if you're walking down the street and someone crosses your path give them a friendly 'kia ora' and a smile 😃
Boka innan du ger dig av
BYO food
while Otaki and Waikanae have some nice food places, there is no delivery and no uber eats. We also don't have any fast-food places apart from fish and chips and one subway up by the highway.
The easiest way to eat is to be prepared and grab some groceries for simple meals on your way.
We have a small oven and a plug-in stove as well as a microwave in the studio.
Otherwise you can always go out for dinner. (See my local restaurant recommendations)
Förslag på packning
just bring what you need
Everything you need for a few days away is in the studio. From sheets to towels, dishwashing liquid and laundry powder, as well as some toiletries everything is here.
Bring some clothes, shoes and your toothbrush and you are all set.
Användbara fraser
learn some te reo Māori
Ōtaki has a great Māori population. So here are some useful phrases:
Kia ora = Hello
Mōrena = Morning
Ata mārie= Good morning
Ka pai = good
Ngā mihi = thank you
Tēnā koe = Hello (more formal. Usually uttered directly to just one other person.)
Tēnā koutou katoa = Hello, everyone. (This is usually said to three or more people)
Ka kite anō = See you later!
Haere rā = Goodbye!
Kei te pēhea koe? = How are you doing? or How’s it going?
Kei te pai = Good (The usual answer to “Kei te pēhea koe?”)
Tino pai = Very good (answer to “Kei te pēhea koe?”)
Resa med barn
Porta cot
Travelling with kids in New Zealand is generally extremely easy. Everyone and everywhere is very child friendly. There are a lot of free activities for kids, especially in the holidays.
At the studio we have some games, toys, kids' books and DVDs to entertain your little ones.
We also have a porta cot that we are happy to set up upon request.
Sätt att spara
Op shops in Otaki are great!
If you after some clothes or books, or toys or literally anything else you might have forgotten or would like you should check out our local Op shops (second hand shops) there are quite a few of them and they have some great stuff! You can always find a treasure there!
The best ones are probably cob webs (on Main Street) its really small, but full of goodness and Arohanui which has just had a major overhall (also on Main Street but further down the road on the other side)
There is also another one on Matene Street as well as one up by the highway.