Vehicles on the beach

Kāpiti beaches are shared spaces, and we want everyone to enjoy them safely together.

Vehicles are not allowed on most beaches in Kāpiti.

Two-wheeled and off-road motorbikes are not allowed on any beach, foreshore or dune areas.

Vehicles allowed on the beach

Some vehicles can go on the beach. These are:

vehicles launching or retrieving boats in designated areas, no faster than 10km/h
land yachts/blow-carts in authorised areas
emergency and law enforcement vehicles
lifesaving vehicles
Council vehicles on official business.

Parking in boat launching areas

You can only park in boat launching areas if you are:

launching or retrieving boats
displaying a valid mobility sticker, and in the Kāpiti and Waikanae Boating Club launch areas only.

Other vehicles can only park in beach areas where driving is allowed, but two-wheeled and off-road motorbikes are not allowed on any beach area.

Accessways and driving zones

Other vehicles (not two-wheeled and off-road motorbikes) can drive or park:

on the foreshore
from Olliver Grove, North Waikanae
to the southern end of Rodney Avenue, Te Horo.

on the shingle track beside the foreshore
from the northern bank of the Ōtaki River mouth
to opposite 100 Marine Parade, Ōtaki Beach.

on the foreshore
from opposite 8 Marine Parade, Ōtaki Beach
to the northern boundary of the Kāpiti Coast District.

Note: Waitohu Reserve is off-limits to all vehicles.

Vehicles on the beach must:

use authorised vehicle accessways, at no more than 10km/h
drive safely in permitted areas, at no more than 20km/h
give way to pedestrians, bathers, horses and dogs
not block access for others
stay out of dune areas, to protect plants and breeding birds.

Note: Council can fine $70 for parking violations; Police can fine $150 for driving where vehicles are prohibited.

Map

Reporting vehicles

Council officers and local Police patrol beaches, but can’t be everywhere. You can help by reporting issues.

If a vehicle or motorbike is:

driving dangerously, call 111 immediately.

driving in a no-driving beach area or reserve (dunes etc), call or log it with Police (105) immediately.

driving in the Waikanae Scientific Reserve, call the 24-hour Department of Conservation Emergency Line

parked in a no-driving beach area, call Council.

Is a beach a road?

Technically beaches are considered roads under the Land Transport Act 1998. This means Police can control and enforce rules on beaches, so we can all safely enjoy these spaces.

Councils set speed limits and other rules, including where vehicles can and can't go.

Our Beach Bylaw 2021 bans motor vehicles on many parts of the beach.

This helps keep our coastal environment safe for people and wildlife. We’re exploring other ways to keep vehicles off restricted areas.

Learn the rules for motor vehicles on our beaches in our Beach Bylaw, and never drive on the dunes.

Watch out for...

See Looking after our beaches to learn how you can help protect the Kāpiti Coast's vulnerable plants and animals.