The Best Wellington Bays To Visit When It’s Sunny

The start of summer has brought with it beaut weather, so what better time to run through the best Wellington bays to visit when it’s sunny?

Lyall Bay

This bay has its own Instagram account which is a testament to how damn pretty it is. To complement the soft sand and cocktail sunsets, Lyall Bay offers a charming (albeit chilly) spot for a dip and a surf. There are also a selection of choice places to eat and sip, namely Spruce Goose, The Botantist and Maranui Café. And if you end up at the latter, get stuck into the Fisherman’s Fried Eggs.

Scorching Bay

This intimate little beach is a balanced mix of rough volcanic rocks, friendly grassy parklands, calm waters and a view that you would definitely write home about. There are cafes to choose from, but the pick of the bunch is Scorch-O-Rama – a wee joint that is “littered with nostalgia and nerdery”. Duck in for a coffee and an Arnold Chowdernegger, their thick and musselly seafood chowder served with hot bread.

Red Rocks

The furthest pick of the bunch and also the least comfortable, Red Rocks is not a sit-down-and-relax bay, it’s a “whoa, look at that” kind of place. Perched at the farthest end of Wellington’s southern coast, Red Rocks boasts scenic and craggy walks, seal colonies and the monolithic Devil’s Gate… and there are also some pretty sweet red rocks.

Oriental Bay

And of course there’s also Oriental Bay, which is just next to QT Museum Wellington and only ten minutes from the CBD. It’s home to pristine water, warm sand and an excess of worthy bars, cafes and eateries, like Coene’s Bar and Eatery, Beach Babylon and Gelissimo (try the olive oil ice cream).

words by niall roeder