Kapiti Island

Kapiti Island is located in the southwestern part of New Zealand’s North Island. It is an uninhabited island situated at the northern end of the Cook Strait. Covering an area of 23 square kilometers (9 square miles), the island features rugged terrain, with half of it covered in forest. In 1897, nearly all of it was designated as a wildlife sanctuary, and it is now a bird sanctuary. Since 1897, Kapiti Island has been a nature reserve. Many of the bird species living on the island today are rare elsewhere or have become extinct. A maximum of 50 visitors are allowed on the island each day, and prior booking is required. Permission can be obtained through the Department of Conservation office in Wellington. Thanks to the eradication of invasive species, bird populations have been steadily increasing. The number of little spotted kiwi on Kapiti has grown rapidly. Recently, 20 captive-raised short-tailed bats were released into the wild on the island, marking the world’s first successful bat relocation for conservation purposes. Everything on the island is protected— all rubbish must be taken off the island, and fires are prohibited. The Kapiti Island Nature Reserve is one of New Zealand’s most important protected areas. Here, you can experience what New Zealand was like before human settlement. Accessible by a 30-minute boat ride, this unique island can also be explored with a guide who offers insights into its history from a Māori perspective. Entry to the Kapiti Island Nature Reserve requires advance permission, and visitors must arrange transport to the island through a licensed tourism operator. Practical Info: Boat services to the island operate from Paraparaumu Beach.