Beaches · Wellington · New Zealand
The best beaches in and near Wellington
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Oriental Bay (About 1.5 km from Te Papa).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 4
- Warmest sea
- 17°C (63°F)
The beaches
About 1.5 km from Te Papa · Swimming and city strolls
1.Oriental Bay
The city beach on the harbour, with a promenade, diving platform and cafés; calm on still days.
About 7 km south-east of the centre · Surfing and watching planes
2.Lyall Bay
A surf beach on the south coast next to the airport runway, with cafés and the best-known surf break in the city.
About 25 minutes by ferry · Families and day outings
3.Days Bay
A sheltered beach across the harbour reached by ferry, with a café, playground and kayak hire.
About 12 km north-east of the centre · Walks and picnics
4.Petone Beach
A long, flat harbour beach for walking and picnics, with views back to the city and Jackson Street nearby.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C (61°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| February | 17°C (63°F) | 21°C (70°F) |
| March | 16°C (61°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| April | 15°C (59°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| June | 13°C (55°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| July | 12°C (54°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| August | 12°C (54°F) | 12°C (54°F) |
| September | 12°C (54°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| October | 13°C (55°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
| November | 14°C (57°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| December | 15°C (59°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$$ · Best for couples, beach, families and luxury
Oriental Bay
East of the centre along the harbour, Oriental Bay has a sandy city beach, a promenade, a diving platform, the Carter Fountain and art deco apartment buildings climbing the slopes of Mount Victoria. Serviced apartments and a few hotels here give harbour views within a 15-minute waterfront walk of Te Papa.
- Good
- Harbour views and a city beach; Waterfront walk to the centre; Calm in the evenings
- Watch out
- Expensive; Exposed to the wind
- Nearby
- Oriental Bay beach, Mount Victoria, Te Papa
Getting to the beaches
- Bus — Metlink buses run frequently across the city and suburbs, including to Zealandia, the zoo, Miramar and the south coast.
- Train — Metlink suburban trains from Wellington Station serve the Hutt Valley, Johnsonville, the Kāpiti Coast and the Wairarapa.
- Ferry — Harbour ferries from Queens Wharf sail to Days Bay and Matiu/Somes Island, while the Interislander and Bluebridge ferries cross Cook Strait to Picton in about 3.5 hours.
Beach-weather months
Air temperatures rarely reach classic beach weather here: the warmest month, February, averages 21°C (70°F).
Beach safety
Wellington is generally relaxed for visitors. Strong winds can make walking on exposed streets difficult and disrupt ferries and flights; New Zealand is seismically active, so learn the 'Drop, Cover, Hold' drill, and use strong sunscreen even on cool days. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Wellington have beaches?
Yes: Oriental Bay, Lyall Bay, Days Bay and Petone Beach.
+What is the best beach near Wellington?
Oriental Bay: The city beach on the harbour, with a promenade, diving platform and cafés; calm on still days.