Vehicles on the beach
Kāpiti beaches are shared spaces, and we want everyone to enjoy them safely together.
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.
Read more in our Beach Bylaw.
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.
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- 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.
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.