[clodestar]

We are coming to Wellington area for a few weeks over Easter. Any reccomendations of places to stay probably on Kapiti Coast?:clap

[sarahw]

Rather than paying a fortune for hotels on a nightly basis I'd book a bach on the coast on a weekly/month basis. The Kapiti coast is a good hour's drive from Welly & a bit more during rush hour. Trains go from Paraparaumu to Welly if you don't want to hire a car, but I'd really recommend a car for exploring as much as you can in a short a space of time as possible. The good places may already be booked up for Easter already but you never know - a lot of Kiwis leave things to the last minute.

Here's a couple of websites that might help:

http://www.bookabach.co.nz/__Kapiti_Coast.cfm

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/Kapiti_Coast.asp

this one takes a bit more sifting through because they group Welly & the Manawatu & the Waiarapa together!!

http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/public/search?keywords=&location=1010800&search=Search

Have a great trip.

[jess]

I live in Kapiti, but didn't stay in a b & b or hotel here so can't offer reviews. I like the look of the Raumati Sands Resort (http://www.raumatisands.co.nz/). Perhaps someone's been there and can say how it is on the inside?

I would suggest staying near Paraparaumu - the main center in Kapiti - in Raumati or Otaihanga or up to Waikanae to get a feel for the area. If you will be going back and forth to Welly a good deal, then Raumati South, Raumati or even down in Paekakariki would shorten your trips back and forth. If you'll be using the train, it runs between Welly and Paraparaumu far more often than to points further north. Personally I wouldn't suggest staying up in Otaki, because it's a little out of the way at about 20 minutes or so from Paraparaumu at the northernmost end of Kapiti.

I like Waikanae for the beautiful garden people have, walking around there with the parks, river, lagoon, beach, and quick access to bush at the Hemi Matenga Park. It's also pretty quiet. But again the train runs more regularly just south of there, and it depends on what you want to do while you're here.

You've probably seen it, but there's a list of Kapiti accomodations here (http://www.tourism.net.nz/region/wellington/wellington---kapiti-coast/accommodation/) with the official tourism Qualmark ratings.

Have fun planning the trip!:D

Added: Noticed that you said you might be staying a few weeks -- if you do stay that long I'll second Sarahw - you'll save money booking longterm at a bach.

[k-k]

Hi Clodestar,

Jess is right about staying in Paraparaumu if you want somewhere on the Kapiti Coast, but book soon as any sort of holiday usually means the whole of Wellington travels out of the city and up to the coast.

When we arrived here we stayed a week at the Golfview Motel at Paraparaumu Beach, the owner John gave us a good rate and although it's not the biggest or the fanciest motel it was fine. It's also handy for the bus to the station (parking at the station can be a problem unless you are there early) and the buses are timed for the trains to Wellington.

We're up in Otaki and there is only one train a day into the city (7.15am) and one back (5.20), but if everything is booked up further down the coast there are usually vacancies up here. If you need any other help let me know, funnily enough we're considering opening up a B&B here but that won't be till next summer.

Regards Karen

[clodestar]

Thanks for all the reccomendations.I'll get onto booking somewhere today.

[k-k]

When are you arriving Clodestar? If you are going to be staying in the Kapiti area perhaps we could arrange a meet with others who are in the area and you can get all the answers to your questions.

It's about time we had a Kapiti Coasters meet anyway.

Karen

[denisesykes]

We also stayed at the Golf View Hotel for a couple of weeks when we first arrived and now have ended up living 5 minutes down the road.The owner, John was great , very helpful and gave us a good long term rate.As has been said it is not that fancy but is a good base.Raumati Sands Resort looks lovely but a little pricy I would imagine.It is always fully booked at weekends. Best of Luck
Denise

[incredible hulse]

Another option maybe staying somewhere like Plimmerton. This has great train links (to Welly and Paraparam). We stayed there originally as we had earmarked it as the area we planned to live (ended up in Pram!) and found it really convenient as you can cut across on the 58 if you want to check out the Hutt's, be in Pram or town in 20 mins, so can really cover the whole area. There is a hotel there called Spinnaker I think which looked OK and quite reasonable rates but haven't stayed there so can't personally recommend it