Peka Peka Beach

Access
4WD recommended if towing heavier boat
Parking
Some room to leave vehicle in parking area but very limited especially in summer when this is a very popular destination . Cars angle park leaving only one small stretch opposite for vehicle and trailer.If parking on the sand be wary that tide can come up close to sandhills at high tide. I'd be hestitant about leaving vehicle on beach through a high tide.
Characteristics
Typical beach access road which can get build ups of drifted sand.Flat road.
Pictures

 

Car park

Entrance off car park

Closer view of access road

View exit access road

Closer view exit access road.

Waikanae Beach - Near Waikanae Boating Club

Access
On Tutuere Street just south of  Waimea Road. Beach Launch with access from car park alongside Waikanae Boating Club. http://www.waikanaeboatingclub.org.nz/
Short sealed road down to beach.
Parking
Waikanae Boating Club car park is large but for members only. Park on Beach.
Characteristics
Boat launching and parking south of entrance - signs depict this. See Pictures below.
Pictures

From Tutere Street

Waikanae Boating Club

Lookin away from car aprk to driveway out to Street

Kapiti Island etc has a Reserve

View down short sealed road to beach

Another of road to beach

View from Beach back up access road

Manly Street (North End Paraparaumu Beach)

Access
The entrance is an unnamed cul de sac south of Watson Drive
At the end of the cul de sac there is a sandy road to enter the beach.
The incline down this sandy road is such that I recommend a 4WD.
Parking
Very limited parking in the cul de sac - private residences along both sides.
Parking on the beach, be mindful that the high tide can come well up here.
Characteristics
An alternative to the nearby Paraparaumu Beach put-in. Within approx 2 KMs of same.
Pictures

Looking back towards cul de sac

The view of the cul de sac approaching

 from the south along Manly Street

View down the cul de sac - sandy road on extreme left at the end

The beginning of the sandy road

More signs

Continuing down to the water

Waste water pipe ?? Turn right I suggest !

 

Paraparaumu Beach

The first put-in nearest to me.
Situated at the entrance to the beach here are:-

• The Kapiti Boating Club http://www.kapitiboatingclub.org.nz/club/frameset.html 

• The Kapiti Coastguard  http://www.coastguardcentral.org.nz/localunits_kapiti.html

• The Kapiti Underwater Club http://www.divekapiti.org.nz/ 

Access is allowed onto the beach for the purposes of launching a boat or for disabled persons.
This is common from Waikanae south given the population using the beach.
Parking
Park vehicle and trailer back off the high water mark.Plenty of available space but leave room for each other as well as other beach users.
Characteristics
In my view, one of the better beach launch areas on the Kapiti Coast. Protected to some degree by the lee of Kapiti Island and also a convenient sandbar that helps dissipate waves making launching and retrieving easier. Popular especially in summer.Heavier boats have a challenge getting over the sandbar hence the availability of a tractor to Kapiti Boating Club Members. For light boats such as mine there is ample water to sail over the bar with centreboard raised.

Pictures

Exit from the beach

View of Kapiti Boating Club

Common signs on many beaches on the Kapiti Coast

View looking out to sea. Launching usually to the right of this fence line. This photo taken on a day that definitely wouldn't be suitable!

Beach Access Generally

On most of the Kapiti Coast where I live, launching is done off the beach and through waves. The locals in particular are dab hands at it. I'm still learning the 'tricks'. I've added goal posts to my trailer. (trailer guides I think they are mainly called) I have found them most helpful especially when retrieving after a sail. From my limited experience, floating the boat onto the trailer is to be avoided. I winch off the hard as do many others do here. The greatest damage, in my case, has been caused when launching. The worst times are when waves with wind and tide are not at right angles to the beach. The risk then is that the boat slams against the side of the trailer as it leaves the bunks (the carpeted guides the boat sits on)
The purpose of this particular post is to show generally what beach access signs looks like from about Raumati South North.

Not all labelled beach access signs are suitable or allowed for vehicular boat access and launching. But more will be revealed under each different venue post about signage and what each looks like.

Introduction

Being new-ish to the area and having just completed a sailboat ( a John Welsford Navigator Yawl Rigged Cruising Dinghy I've called Stingaree) I have been  trying to get an idea the whereabouts and characteristics of places to launch my 15 footer.

First ever sail and Stingaree on a reach from Kapiti Island back to Paraparaumu

Finally launched and underway in light breezes

Kapiti Island

Now that I have completed my boat and sailed a little before winter struck, I thought it might be worthwhile to explore the area and to document what I find.
The area I plan at this stage to include will be from the South Coast as far north as Foxton Beach.
At this point I plan to record photos general information such as amenities, type of ramp or put-in current costs (if any), particular known restrictions etc.
As far as actual sailing characteristics are concerned, I may be in a position to elaborate more on these as I gain more experience on the water (eg sand bars tides etc). I hope visitors to the blog too, can contribute from their own experiences.

Cheers

Geoff