Recommended New Zealand websites....

Department of Conservation  The Department of Conservation is the central government organisation charged with conserving the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future New Zealanders.

DOC Kapiti Island Permits Online Booking Link  View DOC permit availability and book your DOC permit to visit Kapiti Island here.

Kapiti Island - Getting there - Plan and prepare   Check this webpage to help you plan and prepare your Kapiti Island visit.

Kapiti Recreational Marine Forecast  Four day marine forecast for the Kapiti Coast.

   The New Zealand Birding Network is a group of operators located throughout New Zealand offering bird-watching orientated tours, excursions and accommodation. In addition to unique birds and fantastic scenery, New Zealand has a well-developed infrastructure, visitor facilities are up-to-date. It is a safe and easy place to travel with friendly people who welcome visitors and love showing-off their country.

New Zealand Tourism Online  New Zealand's comprehensive online directory of tourism and travel companies. New Zealand Tourism Online offers over 12,000 NZ accommodation, attraction, tour and transport listings plus extensive travel, vacation, holiday and visitor information.

Kapiti Tours  Ferry bookings to Kapiti Island.  Safe and comfortable ferry transport to Kapiti Island.

Positively Wellington Tourism  Come and discover this incredible city, the capital of New Zealand.  Here you will find everything you need to enjoy your stay. From accommodation, restaurants and shops to sights and activities, transport and maps – this is the complete guide to Wellington.

100% Pure NZ  New Zealand site for destination New Zealand

Flat Earth - Kapiti Island Tour A day trip from Wellington to one of New Zealand's most revered nature reserves.  Your tour begins at your Wellington city accommodation or airport, where your host will meet you and transport you around Wellington's beautiful harbour, and on the West Coast of the southern North Island: the Kapiti Coast. Once on the Kapiti Coast you will take a ferry trip to Kapiti Island. The boat journey to the island is about 10 minutes and passes through a Department of Conservation Marine Reserve where dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds can sometimes be seen.

Wrights By The Sea  Wrights By The Sea is situated right in the heart of Paraparaumu Beach on Kapiti's famous Nature Coast.  Renowned for great motel accommodation with friendly service and home away from home comforts.

Barnacles Seaside Inn  Situated at Paraparaumu Beach on the Kapiti Coast, our YHA Hostel is less than an hour north of Wellington

Te Horo Lodge  Craig's home, Te Horo Lodge, is set in a rural environment adjacent to 2 hectares of native bush consisting mainly of Kohekohe trees. The Lodge is situated just 50 minutes from Wellington, at the bottom of the New Zealand's North Island.  Wonderful place and hospitality.

Otaki Life's a Beach  Looking for quality holiday accommodation on the Kapiti Coast, one hours drive north of Wellington.  Designed solely for couples, this is the ultimate place to relax and chill.

Beachfront Kapiti - B&B  Beachfront Kapiti - Bed and Breakfast in a private home right on the beach.  Stay with us and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of Kapiti's Nature Coast.  Stroll out of the back door onto the beautiful sandy beach..

Driftwood B & B - Te Horo Driftwood offers modern, and luxurious bed and breakfast accommodation situated halfway between Wellington and Palmerston North.  Built on the Te Horo Beach front, "Driftwood" enjoys panoramic views from Kapiti Island west to the Wanganui coastline and east to the Tararua Ranges.

Adventure South New Zealand Cycling & Walking Holidays  Small group cycling and hiking tours for all abilities with experienced, friendly guides exploring New Zealand's stunning South Island wilderness plus exciting activity based soft adventure vacations.

Tararua Walk  Welcoming guides and hospitality, spectacular bush and farm scenery, historical logging tracks, comfortable rustic cabins and delicious home cooked meals. Our walks have it all.  Enjoy a wilderness adventure that includes walking through superb virgin native bush or alongside a crystal clear river.

The Parrot Ranch  Bird and exotic animal park Kimberley Road, Levin, New Zealand.

Nga Manu  Nga Manu Nature Reserve offers you a unique opportunity to have a hands on experience related to the natural history of New Zealand. The reserve offers you an opportunity to see a diverse range of our native flora and fauna in just one visit. Most visitors would spend approximately 1-1.5 hours at the reserve.

Mik's Eco Tours  The Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve is, home to over 63 species of birds (at some time during the year), many of these can be seen in their natural and native habitats during a bird tour with Mik Peryer.

Owlcatraz  Native bird and wildlife park.

Nature Coast  Known as the Nature Coast for good reason, the Kapiti-Horowhenua region offers a stunning natural environment on the lower west coast of the North Island, where the mountains meet the sea. Kilometres of unspoilt beaches, forest walks and a hinterland that is rich in both Maori and European history are melded with a temperate climate and innovative entrepreneurs which have combined to create an abundance of fresh produce, and superb food products.

Māori Tours Kaikoura  Experience genuine New Zealand Maori hospitality with Maori Tours Kaikoura.          "Maori Tours Kaikoura will send you away with some of your loveliest New Zealand memories."  (Frommer's Guide - March 2006)  "A wonderful combination of natural, social and political history of a Maori community - first class example of cultural tourism at work."   (Graham Howe - Travel Writer - South Africa)

Bushy Point Fernbirds  The homestay is located on an environmentally sustainable, privately owned managed and protected forest & wetland reserve on the edge of the New River Estuary. Revegetation and predator control projects are ongoing. We are proud to be included as a Ramsar wetland of international importance site. We have a good track and boardwalk to take you directly to otherwise impenetrable marshland. 

Albatross Encounter  Experience the sensation of getting close to the mighty albatross, one of the world's largest flight birds.  Albatross Encounter is located in our new Encounter venue at 96 Esplanade, Kaikoura, New Zealand.  The Encounter complex is also home to the famous Dolphin Encounter operation as well as the popular Cafe Encounter.

Dusky Lodge  Dusky Lodge offers a clean homely environment with natural carved timbers throughout. A great place to relax, unwind and take in the great views and spectacular sunsets from our extensive decks.  Enjoy a swim in our heated swimming pool, or just take it easy in the sauna and spa pool before dining al fresco at our poolside Thai restaurant.

Qualmark®  Qualmark® is New Zealand tourism's official mark of quality.

First on Marine  Situated just across from the waterfront of Kapiti's finest beach, Paraparaumu.

Anchor At The Pier Situated in the enviable beachfront location on Paraparaumu Beach, just minutes from the ferry to Kapiti Island.

Nature Quest  Working in natural history, bird watching, botanical and educational travel - in designing and guiding bird watching, botanical, general nature and study abroad programmes in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific for individuals, groups, colleges, societies, universities and special interest operators.

Travel Essence  For European and UK travellers, TravelEssence offers complete and personal custom made New Zealand journeys featuring B&B's, cottages, lodges and retreats combined with carefully selected small scale activities.

Glass Bottom Boat  The Glass Bottom Boat runs regular trips at the world renowned Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh, 90 kms north of New Zealand's largest city, Auckland.

Tiritiri Matangi Island  Located 30km north east of central Auckland and just 4km from the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Tiritiri Matangi Island is one of New Zealand's most important and exciting conservation projects.

Miranda Shorebird Centre  The Miranda Naturalists' Trust was formed to encourage people to visit the coastline and appreciate its wide range of flora and fauna. The Trust encourages research and other educational activities. The Trust is involved with studying bird migration.  The Trust owns and operates the Miranda Shorebird Centre which offers a range of events and education programmes through the year.

Pukaha Mt Bruce  Pukaha Mount Bruce is New Zealand's National Wildlife Centre for conservation of some of our most endangered wildlife. We are also a centre for environmental education and an eco tourism destination. Kiwi, kokako, kaka and other wildlife are now being restored to the forest with the support of the local community.

Rankers  Check out this site so you can take the word of other travellers to New Zealand - provides feedback on a huge range of activities and transport providers.

Vista Del Sol  Visit Mike and Lynette at Vista del Sol – or “View of the Sun”, their newly developed luxurious B&B  in Kapiti, the sunshine and nature coast.