Plan your trail

Curating your own trail of discovery as part of the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail is delightfully easy. With over 140 artists to explore this year, a little pre-trail planning will help you make the most of your Art Trail adventure.

You can pick up an Art Trail guide to plan your trail or create an account on our website and plan your trail online. Our website has all the same features as the printed guide, as well as the ability save your favourite artists and plan your route using Google Maps.

Plan your trail online and you'll automatically go in the draw to win a $300 Art Trail voucher to spend with any of our Art Trail artists. 

Plan your trail online

Create an account and save artists to your 'My Favourites' list. You can then plan your route on our map so you can follow your trail easily on your phone using the Google Maps app. 

Step-by-step guide to plan your trail online:

Create an account or login.

If you've forgotten your password. Click forgot password and enter your email address. Check your inbox and click the link in the password recovery email and then click change password details.

  • Go to participating artists.
  • Filter artists by location and medium, or search artists by name or studio. You can view as a list or on the map. 
  • Click the ♡ (heart) icon in the top right-hand corner of their image to add to My Favourites. 

On My Favourites you'll see a map below your list with black dots showing your favourite artists' listing number – the same number as in the printed guide. Simply click on the black dots in the order you want to visit and open your route in Google Maps. 

Having problems? See more detailed instructions below. 

How to plan your route:

  • Click on each dot in the order you want to visit them. You'll see white dots appear with numbers 1 to 10. This is the order of stops on your planned route. You can select up to 10 artists per route – this is the Google Maps stops limit. 
  • You can reorder stops by clicking the white dot to clear it or click the 'Clear Route' button below the map and start again.
  • Open the route in Google Maps and/or email the route to yourself (use the buttons below the map).
  • If you'd like to visit more than 10 artists, email the first route to yourself, then clear the route and select the next 10 artists you'd like to visit and email this route to yourself. You can repeat this as many times as needed. We recommend grouping artists by suburbs if you're planning multiple routes. 
  • The map will save your planned route, even if you add more favourite artists. Just click the 'clear route' button and select your artists again if you want to change your route. 

  • Download the Google Maps app.
  • Go to My Favourites and open the route in Google Maps or click the link in your email. 
  • When you're ready to go, click start.
  • You can flick back and forth between the route in Google Maps and your email or the Art Trail website to read the artists' profiles as you go. 

Art Trail Guide

You can pick up an Art Trail Guide from cafes, galleries, libraries, local businesses and Coastlands Shopping Town. Outside the district you should be able to find guides at your regional art gallery or tourist site, or email us and we’ll post one to you. You can also download a digital copy of the guide.

In the guide, you'll find:

  • all artists and exhibition spaces are listed by location, with maps for each area
  • the number beside each listing corresponds to the artist’s location on the map
  • an index at the back of the Guide to search by artist or studio name
  • maps to navigate the Trail.

Download a digital guide

Look out for Art Trail flags

  • The Artist's studios are open from 10am–4pm each day of the trail.
  • An Art Trail flag will be outside each location, so you know you are at the right address.
  • No flag? Please don't go in, this means the artist is unavailable.
  • Directional signs will also aid wayfinding for those 'off the beaten track' studios.

Art Trail etiquette

All of the art works are treasures, and many studios are in artists' homes and gardens, so please:

  • take care of yourself and the artist's property
  • respect the artists and their work
  • ask permission before you take photos or video, and
  • supervise your children.

Getting around

There are many ways to visit the many creative spaces and charming coastal gardens on the trail.

  • By car: carpool with friends and use My Favourites to plan your trail using Google Maps and follow on your phone. 

  • By bike or on foot: you'll find many artists located near each other connected by our safe cycleways & scenic walking tracks. You can also hire e-bikes and trikes.

  • By public transport: many artists are located near Paekākāriki, Paraparaumu, and Waikanae Train Stations, that also easily connect up to local buses. Check Metlink for timetables. 

Getting to the Kāpiti Coast

Kāpiti is perfectly placed – just 50km north of Wellington, within easy reach from the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa, and Palmerston North. Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a day trip, getting here is a breeze. Travel by car, train, bus, or plane – every route leads to coastlines, creativity, and a weekend that feels a little like a holiday.

By car

From Wellington, take State Highway 1 via Transmission Gully – around 35 minutes from Wellington City to Kāpiti.

Prefer a slower, more scenic drive? Follow State Highway 59, winding along the coastline and through the charming village of Paekākāriki.

Coming from the Hutt Valley (Lower or Upper Hutt)? Head over Haywards Hill (SH58) and connect with SH1 at Pāuatahanui for a smooth run north via Transmission Gully.

Travelling from the Wairarapa? Take SH2 over the Remutaka Hill, then follow SH58 to join SH1 north to Kāpiti.

From Palmerston North, it’s an easy drive south – about 1 hour 15 minutes via SH1, or you can take the scenic SH57 and SH59 route along the coast for a relaxed start to your Art Trail weekend.

By train

Sit back and relax! Metlink’s Kāpiti Line runs from Wellington Station to Waikanae every 30 minutes, stopping at Paekākāriki, Paraparaumu, and Waikanae along the way – perfect for a car-free Art Trail weekend.

If you’re coming from the north, Palmerston North connects to the Kāpiti Coast via inter-regional train services that link with Metlink trains at Waikanae or Paraparaumu, making it easy to join the Trail from further afield.

Metlink train timetable

By Bus

InterCity operates daily buses toParaparaumu from locations across the North Island. All services arrive at Paraparaumu train station, making transfers easy.

By Plane

Flying in? The Kāpiti Coast Airport is right in the heart of Paraparaumu, with daily flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Nelson, and Blenheim via Sounds Air and Air Chathams.

Taxis, shuttles, and rental cars are available on arrival. The Paraparaumu Train Station is just 5 minutes away, with regular services north to Waikanae or south to Wellington.

Wellington International Airport is also an easy 60km drive north to Kāpiti via SH1.

Alternatively, Palmerston North Airport is 100km away (about 1 hour 15 minutes by car).

Eat, play and stay on the Kāpiti Coast

A wonderland of unspoilt beaches, stunning natural landscapes, vibrant local artisans, and foodie delights – Kāpiti is the perfect place to unwind and explore.

Make a weekend of it! Here the sun shines brighter, the sunsets are unrivalled, and it’s all just a quick skip from the hustle and hurry of Wellington City. Whether you’re hitting the trails or simply enjoying the sand between your toes, our 40-kilometre slice of paradise is waiting for your footprints.

Treat yourself to a coastal escape – discover cosy stays, seaside eateries, and perfect Art Trail pit stops from a leisurely long lunch to your essential coffee fix along the way. 


Find the best places to eat, play, and stay – plus itineraries and local guides...

Go to visitkapiti.co.nz

Browser requirements:

We use Google Maps to display artist locations. This requires a modern browser. To the best of our knowledge, current Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all support the full set of Google Map features. Since browser versions prior to that were released several years ago, they are currently not supported for use with the Google Maps.