Hokio Beach

It’s a pleasant drive out to Hokio Beach. Just south of the Levin shops, take the turn into Hokio Beach Road and past the Levin Racecourse. Along the nine kilometres or so to the beach itself, you pass Lake Horowhenua to the right, the Levin Championship golf links and open spaces typical of the Horowhenua farming distric.

Holiday baches are still prominent in the beach precinct, suggesting the push from up-market land developers into the area has so far been minimal. The beach is vast and sandy, with vehicle access that assumes responsible drivers will keep off the sand-dunes and beach vegetation. There are toilets, a picnic area, picnic tables, coin-operated barbecues and a playgound at the entrance to the beach

Once on the beach, the expansive views north and south can be spectacular. Kapiti Island is still a feature to the south, and you can see Mount Taranaki’s snow-capped peak to the north on clear days. Driving or walking will take you past Waitarere Beach to Foxton north, and to Waikawa Beach south.