Wellington Beaches for Summer Swimming
Let's talk about one of the most Kiwi summer activities Wellington has to offer - going to the beach!
There's so much to do at the beach. You can build sandcastles, go swimming and jump over waves, draw pictures in the sand, and follow the footprints in the sand left by birds. You can collect shells, have a picnic, search for sea life in a rockpool, and there's so much more!
When you're planning your beach trip, it's a good idea to be prepared with lots of sunscreen, buckets and boogie boards, and also some thoughts towards safety. If you're not already familiar with the Water Safety Code, we recommend having a read so you know how best to keep yourself and your family safe. If you're visiting a beach for the first time, Safeswim is a great website created by Surf Life Saving New Zealand that has profiles for many beaches around Aotearoa. Auckland City Council is one of the collaborating organisations for Safeswim so outside of the Auckland regions only beaches with lifeguards tend to have profiles. On Safeswim you can search up the beach you're planning to visit, check out the forecast, find out if there will be lifeguards, and learn about any hazards to watch out for. Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) also gives good information about beaches around the motu. Their focus is on water quality, but they also provide information about whether or not a beach is patrolled, and the nearby facilities.
There are so many beaches around Wellington for you to explore, so let's take a look at some of them:
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Balaena Bay is the first of the smaller beaches along Evans Bay Parade.
There's a carpark at one end, and changing rooms at the other. The water here is quite shallow and calm, so is good for just splashing about if you're not yet ready for swimming.
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Freyberg Beach and Oriental Bay are so close together that they're sharing an entry in this list.
These two beaches are right next to each other, and very close to the central city.
There are changing rooms and wheelchair access at Freyberg, as well as parking and a playground! There's also a beach wheelchair at Freyberg pool that's available to borrow. There are also a few cafes, ice cream stores, and food trucks around on Oriental Parade in case you're after a post-swim snack.
If you're worried about safety, then relax! Oriental Bay is patrolled by lifeguards over the summer.
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Hataitai Beach, like Balaena Bay, is along Evans Bay Parade. The beach here is quite small and the water is very calm but it gets deep more quickly than at Balaena Bay so if you're not a very confident swimmer make sure to stay close to the shore. Cog Park is right next door, so if you are a confident swimmer and the tide is in there's a small wharf you can jump off!
Cog Park has plenty of picnicking spots, and at the other end of Hataitai Beach are the changing rooms with steps that go straight down into the sea.
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Island Bay is easy to get to on the bus - just hop on a number 1 and you're pretty much there. If you're keen for a swim or a walk along the beach, Island Bay is a good option for you. Just remember that it looks out on the open sea so the water will be a bit cooler than any of the beaches inside the Wellington harbour.
There are changing rooms and picnic tables at the park across the road, and also a playground!
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Lyall Bay is a wonderfully long stretch of beach to walk along - and the eastern end of the beach allows off leash dogs if you have a furry friend who would like to join you!
You can use the changing rooms in the Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club, and they also have beach wheelchairs available to borrow. Lyall Bay is a patrolled beach over the summer so let the lifeguards keep you safe!
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Princess Bay is another beach along the south coast. It's further east than Island Bay and quite a bit smaller. Princess Bay is good for a sheltered swim and if you're interested in sea life you can explore the rockpools out along the point. If it's a clear day you might even be able to see the South Island!
Leave your car in the carpark at the eastern end of the bay by the changing rooms.
Image: Wellington City Council and licensed by WCC for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Out along the Miramar Peninsula is Scorching Bay. It's got golden sand, a nice grassy area, changing rooms and outdoor showers, and the Scorch-O-Rama café across the road.
Scorching Bay is a patrolled beach, so make sure you swim between the flags.
Worser Bay is another beach along the Miramar Peninsula, out on the eastern side.
You'll be well taken care of with changing rooms, a picnic area, and across the road from the beach is the famous Worser Bay swing. Be sure to check it out!
If you can't get out to the beach but you can make it to the library, or you'd like to know more about the creatures you might find in a rockpool, here are some beach-themed New Zealand reads to get you inspired:
- At the beach : explore & discover the New Zealand seashore / Candler, Gillian
- Freddy Bear and the beach / Cowley, Joy
- The life-size guide to the New Zealand beach : featuring the odd things that get washed up on the sand / Crowe, Andrew
- Dashing dog / Mahy, Margaret
- A summery Saturday morning / Mahy, Margaret (board book edition)
- A is for Aotearoa : a lift-the-flap New Zealand treasure hunt / Newcombe, Diane
- Charlie Tangaroa and the creature from the sea / Roxborogh, Tania Kelly (ebook)
- Splish, splash, safety : a book about water safety
- Summer days : stories and poems celebrating the Kiwi summer