Swimming at the beach
Our beaches are generally very safe for swimming. You can find out more about each beach at Kāpiti beaches.
Paekākāriki and Ōtaki beaches have surf life guards on duty at times, and it's safest to follow their directions. Swimming and bodysurfing are the only activities permitted between the flags.
Check the Facebook pages for Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards, and Ōtaki Surf Lifesaving Club for information about their patrols.
Recreational water quality
We regularly monitor our beaches in partnership with Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Kāpiti's water cleanliness is generally safe for swimming and other water-based recreational activities, but we recommend regularly checking if it's safe to swim on the interactive map on LAWA's website.
It's always a good idea to wait 48 hours after heavy rain before you swim again. More information can be found at Recreational water quality.