New Zealand is a natural playground for those who love to enjoy what Mother Nature is able to create. The diverse terrain ranging from lush rainforests to icy glaciers makes a visit here special in almost any area of the country but along the Kapiti coast north of Wellington lies a little gem many tourists don't check out. Kapiti island is a 10 km long, 2 km wide island with a world renowned bird sanctuary inside a natural preservation area specifically to keep out pests that might harm the rich bird life which can be found here. It is a lovely place for hike on the pristine trails or an overnight stay at the Kapiti Nature Lodge, the only accommodation available on the island if you plan on hiking all the trails.
There are many activities to take in on Kapiti Island, from bird watching to snorkelling. The waters here are brilliantly clear with three different marine habitats that can be observed, which is quite rare in itself. There are really two distinct areas on Kapiti Island - Rangatira and the North End, which is important to know because you'll need a permit from the Department of Conservation to visit either area, so plan your trip ahead of time to avoid headaches with the permits.
Rangatira is the part of Kapiti Island with the highest point on the island, Tuteremoana at 521 meters, which offers spectacular views and photo opportunities. Hiking up to the summit takes about 2 hours on one of two tracks - Wilkinson Track is a 3.8 km steady, well formed trail and Trig Track is only 2 km but considerably steeper, requiring at least a medium level of fitness to traverse. A bonus for the Wilkinson Track hikers is the hihi or stitchbird feeder station where you might be able to get a glimpse of this rare but active and very social bird. Other birds to be found in the forest in this area include weka, kaka, bellbird, tui, kereru, and takahe. At the start of both tracks is the oldest building on the island, a ware, one of the oldest nature conservation buildings in the country.
In the North End you'll find 3 hiking trails - the Lagoon Walk, Okupe Look Walk, and Boulder Bank Loop Track. The Lagoon walk takes you to the northern coast of the island and is the shortest of the walks in this area at only 850 meters. The Okupe Look Walk is a 4.8 km hike through regenerating forest to the north-wester lookout point. The Boulder Bank Loop takes you along the northern coast around the Boulder Bank but it is closed from October to March due to seabirds that nest in the area of the trail.
Stay on the tracks and respect the birds while on Kapiti Island, keeping on the marked tracks so you don't disturb the natural order of the bird life here. That being said, watch yourself as two species of bird, the weka and kaka, are known pickpockets and will scround around in your bags if left un-attended. Book in advance to get your permits and decide if you want to stay a night at the Kapiti Nature Lodge for the full experience. Anybody visiting Wellington should consider this little island sanctuary for a day tour as its proximity to the city and unique bird life make it well worth the visit.
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