[Wahlet]

What are your favorite places to go to get away from Wellington City for a day or a weekend without requiring the use of a personal car (walking, biking, or public transport only)? And second, how about with a car?

[buzztalks]

Scorching Bay. Despite the demise of the Chocolate Fish cafe, it's the nicest sand, safest swimming, good facilities (ie toilets, changing rooms). It's also had a re-vamp from the council with a new climbing frame for the kids. You can still get a coffee and an ice-cream, and you can get there by public transport.

[Smiler]

For a day - Karori wildlife sanctuary http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/ and yes Scorching Bay :nice1

or take a trip on the ferry over to Eastbourne, you can check out the beach and Day's Bay cafe. You can also stop off at Somes Island, which feels like a world away from the city.

For a weekend with a car? Greytown, Martinborough or anywhere in The Wairapa. Just the trip over the Rimutaka's is an adventure in itself!

Or you can visit Kapiti Island, but you'll need a permit to stay overnight, I think.

[SarahEDH]

A car is needed for this -- go to Castle Point (heading north out of Welly and then east at Masterton). Camping nearby, a cool lighthouse for photo ops and a beautiful warm lagoon for the kids to swim in. Not many places to eat but a decent enough cafe, if I remember correctly from my one visit --

[gpbenton]

If I want to go to the beach, I get on the number 3 bus that goes through Thorndon and out to Lyall Bay. I had a great walk from there round the headland to Island Bay yesterday evening. Paraparaumu beach is also a more distant option, but definitely accessible via train/bus.

If you want to cycle, along the Hutt Road and and up the Hutt Valley is flat. There is a trail along the side of the Hutt River that is free of traffic. There are also various parks up the Hutt Valley. You can take the bikes on the train for $3 each.

If you are into mountain biking, I'm told there are good trails from Eastbourne, and you can take your bikes on the ferry, but I haven't tried that yet.

For weekends, I've driven to Napier and Wanganui. People at work do drive to Taupo for long weekends, but it seems a bit far for me. In the Winter, someone at work went skiing/snowboarding for weekend in the Central North Island.

I've also flown to Christchurch and Queenstown for long weekends.