[Kerry and David]

Hi everyone,

Wonder if anyone can give some pointers on a good beach location in the Wellington area.

We are in the process of booking flights to fly over to look at areas and it would be great to be able to do some research in advance.
We would love to live by the coast so we can walk to the beach - ideally a sandy one, we don't mind being about 30-40 minutes from Wellington.

Also if anyone has any info on Pre-schools, high schools, colleges and Universities as we have got to investigate that too for our 17, 15, 10 and 3 year old sons.

We have come to the conclusion that if we lived within an hours drive of the city that would suit the older boys and the younger ones would benefit from the beach to do watersports etc and my husband and I can be somewhere in the middle of it all!

Many thanks.:nice1

[jess]

Closer in but still well out of the city you have Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay. A lot of people really like Plimmerton. For me, the pace and amount of shops and everything slacks off and it feels more rural once you hit Pukerua Bay. I'm trying to remember how long it takes before we pass it coming home from Welly - maybe 20 minutes? - but during rush hour it would be closer to your 40 minute target. If you are commuting to Welly and don't want to be driving more than 40 minutes, you can probably stop reading now, since the rest is further north...

Once you hit the Kapiti Coast, you have Paekakariki and Raumati. Both beach towns border on the large and lovely Queen Elizabeth Park. Raumati is about 35 - 40 minutes from Welly outside of rush hour and is immediately south of the hub of Kapiti - Paraparaumu.

As you continue north, you are looking at lovely Otaihanga and Waikanae. But you're getting past the distance in driving time you wanted to be from the city -- Waikanae is about 45 - 50 minutes from Welly outside of rush hour. Taking the train it's close to an hour. (Also, north of Paraparaumu, the train only runs in and out once a day).

Here's an older thread on Kapiti (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5769) that might interest you.

And here's a pic we took of the Kapit Coast from the Paekakariki Hill Rd. :D

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t60/islandinthepacific/7f274e0e.jpg

[jess]

I should have mentioned that there are sandy beaches right around the city - Island Bay, Eastbourne. Housing is quite expensive, but if you can swing it and are not looking to be out of Welly, they're great.

[Kerry and David]

Jess

Thank you for the great information and fantastic picture, the scenery is certainly better than if I drive just out of the area where I live now!:D Can't wait to read more about the areas you have mentioned.
Thanks again
Kerry

[Keith C.]

On the topic of beaches around Wellington, does anybody know of some beach volleyball courts in the area?

[barryp]

I should have mentioned that there are sandy beaches right around the city - Island Bay, Eastbourne. Housing is quite expensive, but if you can swing it and are not looking to be out of Welly, they're great.

I guess we have different definitions of 'sandy beaches'. Eastbourne has zero shoreline at high tide and a couple of metres at low tide, so there's not much one can actually DO on the large part of those beaches. Days Bay is a little better but there's a ferry landing smack in the middle of the usable beach. Island Bay is lovely in a different way, but IMO has pebbles rather than sand along its shore. (Which is typically very rocky.) And there's roadway immediately alongside all of those beaches.

If you go to any of those places expecting a colder version of San Diego, you'll be very disappointed. Again IMO.

[Big Puku]

When thinking of beaches around Wellington, just don't picture Hawaii ok!

Outside of Wellington City, I would look at Plimmerton/Pauatahnui/Paremata area (there's a nice inlet that's good for watersports) or Pukerua Bay/Paekakariki - much further North and you'll have an hour commute each way (although Param is ok by train and Waikanae is great if you don't work in the CBD or mind the distance).

Matt

[jess]

I guess we have different definitions of 'sandy beaches'. Eastbourne has zero shoreline at high tide and a couple of metres at low tide, so there's not much one can actually DO on the large part of those beaches. Days Bay is a little better but there's a ferry landing smack in the middle of the usable beach. Island Bay is lovely in a different way, but IMO has pebbles rather than sand along its shore. (Which is typically very rocky.) And there's roadway immediately alongside all of those beaches.

If you go to any of those places expecting a colder version of San Diego, you'll be very disappointed. Again IMO. Yes, you are right. Thanks for pointing that out. I have been to Eastbourne once at low tide. We had a lovely walk. But a walk isn't the same as bringing kids to the beach - not so doable at Eastbourne with the road right there.

[IanW99]

Depends on what you are looking for in a beach and what water sports you are wanting to do?

Lyall bay is one of the best areas for surfing.
Paramata and Plimmerton are great areas for Kayaking and sailing.
Scorching bay has one of the best (sandy) beaches (Chocolate fish cafe)

Titahi bay has a decent beach (great for dog walks) and you really can't go wrong with the Kapiti coast.

Ian

[Kerry and David]

Thanks for all the comments, I haven't been to Hawaii but we do live 50 minutes from Bournemouth here in the U.K not quite the same I suspect!:D

The older boys want windsurfing and my 3 year old son wants to build some sandcastles! so I'm sure if I research in to you suggestions I can find something to meet everyones requests!

I have always wanted to live by the coast and would like to be able to walk to the beach at the end of the day to walk the dog and chill.:nice1

[Debbie P.]

Hi,

I'm in Bournemouth, and I didn't see many beaches in NZ that would match the quality of the sand we have here... although frankly, as the beach seems to be disappearing more each year and at least some of it has been taken over by gravel, you may not be that disappointed when you get to Wellington!

Wish I'd gone to Kapiti coast while I was there, as the beaches do sound better. Best place I found over there was Nelson - not much help, I know.

[Kerry and David]

Thanks Debbie,

Nelson would be an option for my husband and I, but I think the older ones would find it too quiet so hence coast loaction near a city!

After another family discussion we have decided to look at Chrischurch area too which we have visited before, Hubby flying out in April to check out both CHC and Wellington..

You are right Bournemouth does have a great beach haven't visited as much this summer as didn't fancy it in the rain:D

[Debbie P.]

After another family discussion we have decided to look at Chrischurch area too which we have visited before, Hubby flying out in April to check out both CHC and Wellington..

You are right Bournemouth does have a great beach haven't visited as much this summer as didn't fancy it in the rain:D

Lovely sandy beaches in Christchurch area, as I recall from our visit, so good luck with that. :nice1

Well, the beaches in Bournemouth seem to be getting reclaimed by the sea. Swathes of shingle, which the council are trying to cover up (literally) by piping sand in from the Sandbanks area. I don't know what effect the artificial surfing reef in Southbourne will have on sand patterns :( ... although I was interested to see that the project is being run by a NZ-er, and that the materials for the 'reef' are being developed in NZ and Australia, so it's obviously something that has been done in places over there.

[SueQiwi]

My husband and I live in Island Bay--it is absolutely lovely. The coastline is rocky and dramatic--but the town beach is very inviting and swimable and dog friendly! I have met a bunch of pups over there. I should mention it is a bit of a sandy-pebbly mix--not pure sand. But the views are amazing! I have never lived on the water before (we could never afford to back in the US) and it is exciting to see how the ocean changes everyday! Lyall Bay is nearby and great for water sports--we see surfers, windsurfers, kite surfers and more on a daily basis. Island Bay is great for SCUBA diving--people collect abalone right out front of our house. We take the bus to work in central Wellington everyday and it only takes 20 mins.