Visit the Best Beaches and Bays of
Wellington New Zealand

1. Oriental Bay and Parade.

Oriental Bay isn’t just Wellington’s postcard beach – it’s a living theater. The artificial sand imported from Golden Bay gives you that proper beach feel, while the surrounding hills create a natural amphitheater. But here’s what the guidebooks won’t tell you: the best time to visit isn’t the crowded summer afternoons. Come at 6 AM when the water taxis are just starting their routes, or better yet, during one of those famous Wellington southerlies when the waves crash against the seawall and spray reaches the road. That’s when you’ll understand why Wellingtonians have such a complicated relationship with their weather.

3. Evans Bay

Tucked behind the airport, Evans Bay feels like Wellington’s quiet cousin. The water here is genuinely swimmable – protected from the worst of Cook Strait’s moods by Miramar Peninsula. This is where Wellington families come for proper beach days, where grandparents can actually relax in deck chairs while grandchildren build sandcastles.

The surrounding hills are dotted with million-dollar homes whose owners wake up to this view every morning, but the beach itself remains
refreshingly egalitarian. 

5. Lyall Bay – Where Surfers Become Philosophers

At Lyall Bay, planes from Wellington Airport roar overhead every few minutes, so close you can almost read the airline logos. It sounds intrusive, but somehow it’s not. The surfers waiting for the next set barely glance up. There’s something deeply Wellington about this scene – urban life and wild nature existing in the same frame, neither apologising for being there.

The beach faces Cook Strait, which means it catches swells from both north and south. On big days, waves can reach impressive heights, but don’t let that intimidate you. The southern end of the beach, near the surf club, offers calmer water perfect for a refreshing dip. The real magic happens at sunset when the western sky explodes in colours that reflect off the wet sand, creating a double infinity of lights

Wellington’s Coastal Character: More Than Just Sand and Water

What makes Wellington’s beaches special isn’t just their individual beauty – it’s how they reflect the city’s character. This is a place where nature and urban life don’t exist in separate compartments. Where else can you catch a bus to a beach where fur seals bask on the rocks? Where committee meetings pause for earthquake drills, and weekend beach walks might be interrupted by film crews shooting the next blockbuster?

The weather here changes faster than anywhere else in New Zealand, which means beach days require flexibility. That southerly that ruins your picnic might also create the most spectacular wave action you’ve ever seen. Those gray clouds that looked so threatening might part to reveal light that photographers travel across the world to capture.