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Upscale suburban location featuring space, comfort, ambience, and personable hosting. Less than an hour from New Zealand’s culturally dynamic capital city,
and less than five minutes from the beach.-

       Wellington — city & harbor as seen from Mt. Victoria.
   Photo Credit: WellingtonNZ.com

ellington, capital city of New Zealand, occupies much of the hook of land at the very southwestern corner of New Zealand’s North Island. Built on the surrounding steep hillsides like an amphitheater nearly encircling its splendid, protected harbor, Wellington has little room to expand. As such, it is perhaps the most densely occupied space in New Zealand, reminding many North American visitors of San Francisco, another coastal city crowded into limited space between a bay and the open ocean.
          Wellington’s density makes for traffic congestion and limited parking.

Indeed, Wellington’s difficult system of one-way streets is a challenge to negotiate, making the city one of the few stressful places to drive in New Zealand. For this reason Home At First has lodging locations in Wellington city center and in its outlying, uncongested suburbs. Fortunately, the suburbs of Wellington are not simply nondescript bedroom communities. Several, especially those along the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington, may be considered destinations in their own right. The award-winning* Kapiti Coast Suites are ideally located for access to the beaches, golf, and nature preserve that bring visitors to the Kapiti Coast, while being an easy commute by train or car to downtown Wellington.
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*People’s Choice Award 2008: “Best Nationwide Retreat”

THE ACCOMMODATIONS: Kapiti Coast Suites is a lovely, upscale suburban bed and breakfast lodging located on a quiet, landscaped street. The architecturally unique, spacious one-story ranch house blends discreetly into its natural, wooded setting just five minutes from the beach. Kapiti Coast Suites offers three unique accommodations to visitors looking for comfort and style in a quiet, relaxed location within an hour of New Zealand’s capital city.
          Two of the three bedrooms share the guest wing of the large house. The master bedroom in the main house has a king-size double

Master suite in the main house with
French doors leading to secluded gardens,
patio, and heated, outdoor pool.

The large master bathroom
in the main house. Note two lavatories, the shower stall,
and bathtub (right).

bed, and comes with a large en suite bathroom with both bath and shower, a walk-in closet, flat-screen TV/DVD, and a private outdoor alcove with hot tub. The second main house bedroom is available as an extra bedroom (choice of twin beds or super king bed) plus private bathroom (shower only) when needed by larger groups like families or two couples traveling together. Breakfast for guests staying in these two bedrooms is served in the main dining room in the house, or, if the weather is nice, on the verandah, or beside the pool. The daily continental breakfast includes fresh baked muffins or pastries, juices, cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit, and tea/coffee. The rotating cooked breakfast selection includes eggs Benedict, pancakes, French toast, cheese tarts.
          The third bedroom occupies a separate small house across the heated outdoor swimming pool from the main house. This self-contained apartment suite includes a king-size double bed, suede coach, upholstered chair, desk, bathroom with shower, kitchenette with refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, cupboards, and provisions for continental breakfast, tea, coffee, and snacks.

          All three bedrooms, while absent extensive views, offer exterior entrances from the private garden and patio areas. All three bedrooms provide cotton robes and slippers and complimentary toiletries. All guests have use of the pool (November through April). A happy hour with drinks and hors d’oeuvres occurs every evening by the grand piano in the main house.
          Parking is off-street, and close to the main entries to all three accommodation suites. Be advised that five steps lead from the poolside to the front door of the apartment suite. There may be challenging to guests with restricted mobility or heavy luggage.

Kapiti Coast Suites' Pool House offers a
detached small apartment by the heated
pool. Private and romantic, this unique
lodging is ideal for couples.

THE SETTING: Kapiti Coast Suites’ leafy suburban setting promises guests quiet, green, and clean surroundings. But tranquility itself is not enough. Just minutes away is the bustling shopping district of suburban Waikanae, with shops and a wide variety of restaurants ready to serve a quick bite of lunch or a satisfying, creative dinner.
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Inside the Pool House is a lovely space tastefully furnished with king-sized double bed, sofa, flat TV, and, beyond the bed, a kitchenette on the right and full bathroom (with shower) on the left.

THE HOSTS: As with all Home At First New Zealand lodgings, the hosts at the Kapiti Coast Suites lodging take an active interest in their guests and are especially keen on sharing their knowledge of the Kapiti Coast and Wellington region. Owners/hosts Liz and Andrew—married with two children—are native New Zealanders who have been serving Home At First guests with distinction. They have a great knowledge of the Wellington region, and are eager to share insights and hints with their guests about what to see and do while staying here along the Kapiti Coast and when visiting Wellington city.

Liz, the hostess at Kapiti Coast Suites: vivacious, knowledgeable, and welcoming. She is devoted to the success of her guests' visit to the Wellington region.

Te Papa — New Zealand's national museum —
on the lively Wellington waterfront.

THE LOCATION: The practicality of the setting makes the Kapiti Coast Suites ideal for guests needing to be within an hour of center city Wellington and its airport. Downtown Wellington is 45-50 minutes drive from Kapiti Coast Suites, and may also be reached conveniently by hourly commuter bus/train connections (journey time: 75 minutes; current fare: NZ$25/adult round-trip) if guests prefer to avoid the rigors of city traffic and finding and paying for parking in the city center. The downtown district is, of course, where the bulk of the action is, with museums and other cultural

attractions, restaurants, the New Zealand Parliament, the Botanic Gardens, and the landmark harbor promenade with its centerpiece, the Te Papa national museum of New Zealand.

ACTIVITIES: Within five minutes drive of Kapiti Coast Suites are the extensive, attractive beaches of Waikanae on the Tasman Sea, tennis courts, and the local 18-hole golf course. Golfers will also enjoy playing at one of New Zealand’s little-known gems at nearby (20 minutes north) LEVIN GOLF CLUB, and, if looking for a challenge, at arguably the best course in New Zealand, the Scottish-style links at PARAPARAUMU BEACH GOLF CLUB, just 10 minutes drive toward Wellington from Kapiti Coast Suites.
          Visitors interested in New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna (and especially the unusual bird species) with sufficient time (two or more days) to

The tranquil retreating tide of Tasman Sea
leaves a broad expanse of Waikanae Beach
strewn with clams and driftwood. In the
distance is Kapiti Island, an important
nature reserve and bird sanctuary.

The Kapiti Island Nature Reserve.
Photo credit: Ian Trafford – Tourism New Zealand

broaden their visit to the Wellington region will want to consider a ferry trip to and guided (or self-guided) tour of the large Kapiti Island Nature Reserve just off-shore. The day-trip requires departs by mid-morning from Paraparaumu Beach and returns in mid-afternoon. Since a maximum of fifty persons per day may visit Kapiti Island, visitors must first secure a permit from the New Zealand Department of Conservation, before booking the ferry trip to the island. Total cost for the day excursion with all permits, transportation and a guided tour of the island is less than NZ$100/person.

THE OFFER: Kapiti Coast Suites provide an elegant, welcoming, peaceful, and practical base from which to explore greater Wellington, as well as an ideal location from which to stage for the crossing from the North Island to the South Island of New Zealand. Airy, upscale lodgings with a delectable breakfast daily and personable hosting make a stay at the Kapiti Coast Suites an ideal addition to any New Zealand travel program. With a broad selection of touring options and outdoor activities close at hand, adding a stay at Kapiti Coast Suites to your independent, flexible, fly/drive HOME AT FIRST trip makes it possible to experience the New Zealand of your travel dreams.

This lovely room at Kapiti Coast Suites
welcomes guests to breakfast and to
the late-afternoon happy hours.

AVAILABILITY: For current availability information, call HOME AT FIRST at (800) 523-5842, or contact us by e-mail at: info@homeatfirst.com.

Norfolk pines lining the promenade and shading
the colorful houses at Wellington's Oriental Bay.
The promenade passes a public beach, a yacht
basin, a few museums, and several cafés,
bistros, beaneries, and fine restaurants.

Learn more about HOME AT FIRST's travel program to: NEW ZEALAND.

HOME AT FIRST IS A DESIGNATED "KIWI SPECIALIST"
TOUR OPERATOR BY THE NEW ZEALAND TOURISM BOARD.