If you want to get back to those glorious days where the simplest pleasure in life came from flying a kite, then get yourself on Netflix, dig out Mary Poppins and sing along! Seriously though, the best way to get out and enjoy some hard core kite flying is to get yourself down to the Otaki Kite Festival taking place on the weekend of the 5-6 March.
What’s this kite festival all about?
The Otaki Kite Festival attracts over 12,000 people over the course of the 2 days and is a truly spectacular site. Held on the stunning Otaki Beach on the Kapiti Coast, the weekend is about much more than kite flying. With entertainment, exhibitions and bike riding, the Otaki Kite Festival is a real family fun-packed weekend.
Although the official event kicks off on Saturday 5th March, there is a chance to get involved on Friday 4th March from 1-4pm when there will be an informal schools workshop with the chance to fly kites alongside the facilitators.
Then from Saturday at 10am it all gets going with kite fliers from around New Zealand showcasing their kite flying skills as well as some stunning kite designs and artistry. There are kites of all shapes and sizes and with some perfect viewing spots above the dunes or from the roof of the Pavilion at the Otaki Lifesaving Club, you are in for a kite flying spectacle!
Something for everyone
This is definitely a family friendly event and there is no better place than the Kapiti coast on a warm summer’s day. Whether you’re always down at the beach or you make a special trip out for the event, there is a bit of something for everyone. There will be some great food stalls at the even as well as craft stalls. For the kids, there is plenty of entertainment including a bouncy castle and merry-go-round so pack up your beach stuff and make a day of it.
If you can, squeeze in your bikes as Otaki is a great and safe place for family bike riding. There is bike hire available if you fancy it when you get there. In addition, there will also be kite making workshops so if you’re inspired by the awesome kites and the fantastic flying, you could head home with your very own kite and maybe even the start of a new hobby!
This is a totally FREE event and we can think of no better place to be if you’re down in the Wellington area next weekend.
Exploring the Kapiti Coast
If you’re around the area for the whole weekend, or if you just make the hour long drive up from Wellington, there is heaps to do on the Kapiti coast. You can check out some of the Lord of the Rings filming locations – Queen Elizabeth Park was used for the filming of the Battle of Pelennor Fields and it is also a pretty awesome place to go and spend a few hours. Add to this one of New Zealand’s best golf courses, a pretty awesome bird sanctuary, a vintage car museum and some awesome cycle and walkways.
Then of course there’s the ice cream and the cheese. It may not be world famous but to us Kiwis, Kapiti cheese and ice cream is up there with the best in the world. It would be very, very rude not to sample some whilst you are in these parts. Consider yourself told!
If you’re looking for some ideas for things to do in the area, be sure to check out our Trip Planner itineraries from Wellington.
