Looking at sites for information on the beaches that can be chosen.
Makara Beach
Location: Southwest coast
Getting there: Drive from Wellington via Karori, or Johnsonville via Ohariu Valley
Getting there: Drive from Wellington via Karori, or Johnsonville via Ohariu Valley
Suitable for: Walking, fishing and diving
Brief description: The stony beach has a large car park with a small boat ramp near the mouth of Makara Stream. The 6km Makara Walkway (managed by the Department of Conservation) starts at the beach and follows the coast before a gradual climb to the cliff tops, where there are spectacular views of Mana, Kapiti and the South Island. Further along the cliffs are WW II gun emplacements at Fort Opau. The return walk follows the coast from Opau Bay. A 2-hour coastal walk to Boom Rock can be made after crossing Makara Stream.
Parking: Large car park behind beach
Toilets and changing facilities: Toilets beside car park
Accessibility: Coastal walk can be uneven, track to gun emplacements steep in places
Dogs: The beach is an off-lead dog exercise area
Features: The stream estuary is an important native ecosystem and is gradually being restored by the Makaracarpas, a local environmental group. The tiny Makara Foreshore Reserve behind the beach was an area of sand dunes until 1942, when they were bulldozed after fears invading Japanese could hide in them. This destroyed an ecosystem now extremely uncommon in the Wellington region, but rare plants are gradually re-establishing themselves.
Friends groups: Makaracarpas
Brief description: The stony beach has a large car park with a small boat ramp near the mouth of Makara Stream. The 6km Makara Walkway (managed by the Department of Conservation) starts at the beach and follows the coast before a gradual climb to the cliff tops, where there are spectacular views of Mana, Kapiti and the South Island. Further along the cliffs are WW II gun emplacements at Fort Opau. The return walk follows the coast from Opau Bay. A 2-hour coastal walk to Boom Rock can be made after crossing Makara Stream.
Parking: Large car park behind beach
Toilets and changing facilities: Toilets beside car park
Accessibility: Coastal walk can be uneven, track to gun emplacements steep in places
Dogs: The beach is an off-lead dog exercise area
Features: The stream estuary is an important native ecosystem and is gradually being restored by the Makaracarpas, a local environmental group. The tiny Makara Foreshore Reserve behind the beach was an area of sand dunes until 1942, when they were bulldozed after fears invading Japanese could hide in them. This destroyed an ecosystem now extremely uncommon in the Wellington region, but rare plants are gradually re-establishing themselves.
Friends groups: Makaracarpas
Lyall Bay Beach
Location: South coast, Lyall Bay, Lyall Bay Parade
Suitable for: Walking, picnics, dog walking, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and kayaking
Brief description: Lyall Bay is Wellington’s most popular surf beach. It is home to two surf lifesaving clubs, and many of the activities here are surf-related. Lyall Bay also has a playground.
Parking: Beachfront parking along Lyall Bay Parade
Toilets and changing facilities: At Lyall Bay Surf Club; changing rooms closed 1 June - 31 August
Accessibility: Lyall Bay has a small access ramp at the airport end of the beach
Dogs: The airport half of the beach (eastern end) is Wellington’s most popular off-leash dog exercise area. Dogs are not allowed in the western end of the beach at any time.
Suitable for: Walking, picnics, dog walking, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and kayaking
Brief description: Lyall Bay is Wellington’s most popular surf beach. It is home to two surf lifesaving clubs, and many of the activities here are surf-related. Lyall Bay also has a playground.
Parking: Beachfront parking along Lyall Bay Parade
Toilets and changing facilities: At Lyall Bay Surf Club; changing rooms closed 1 June - 31 August
Accessibility: Lyall Bay has a small access ramp at the airport end of the beach
Dogs: The airport half of the beach (eastern end) is Wellington’s most popular off-leash dog exercise area. Dogs are not allowed in the western end of the beach at any time.
Dog Exercise Map - Lyall Bay Beach (67KB
PDF)
Features: The remnants of once extensive sand dunes are being restored with plantings of pingao and spinifex. It is a short walk from the beach to Dorrie Leslie Park on the western side of the bay, and beyond the airport at Moa Point a coastal walkway leads to Tarakena Bay and the Eastern Walkway. There's a popular cafe upstairs in the Lyall Bay Surf Club building.
Friends groups: Lyall Bay Dune Protection group
Features: The remnants of once extensive sand dunes are being restored with plantings of pingao and spinifex. It is a short walk from the beach to Dorrie Leslie Park on the western side of the bay, and beyond the airport at Moa Point a coastal walkway leads to Tarakena Bay and the Eastern Walkway. There's a popular cafe upstairs in the Lyall Bay Surf Club building.
Friends groups: Lyall Bay Dune Protection group
Princess Bay Beach
Location: South coast, near Houghton Bay, The Esplanade
Getting there: Queens Drive: No 3 bus to Hungerford Road then walk along
coast, or No 23 bus to Houghton Bay and a 5-minute walk
Suitable for: Swimming, short walks. The large rocky point near the beach is a
good place to explore rock pools.
Brief description: Princess Bay has a sheltered sandy beach and is a popular place to
swim in summer. Tucked between Houghton Bay’s headland and Te Raekaihau
Point, it has good views of Taputeranga Island. On a clear day you can see the
peaks of the Kaikoura Range in the South Island. The bay is part of the
Taputeranga Marine Reserve, which aims to return the marine habitats to a more
natural state and increase the size and abundance of fish.
Parking: Large car park next to changing room and beach
Toilets and changing facilities: Large changing rooms and toilets
Accessibility: Short walk to beach
Dogs:
Dogs are not allowed on the beach at any time:
Dogs - Restricted Beach Exercise Areas
Features: A short coastal track leads to Te Raekaihau Point. Across the road
there is an entrance to Te Ranga a Hiwi Track, which runs along the ridgeline
above Te Raekaihau Point and connects with View Road.
Fires: At Princess Bay, you can have an open fire or non-gas barbecue if
you have a fire permit.
Sourced from: http://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/beaches-and-coast/southern-suburbs/island-bay-beach
Island Bay Beach
Location: South coast, The Esplanade
Suitable for: Walking, swimming, diving, and snorkelling
Brief description: Island Bay is at the end of the City to Sea and Southern walkways,
and near the centre of Taputeranga Marine Reserve. Just east of the Bait House,
divers and snorkellers can follow offshore reefs on a marked dive trail and see
a wide variety of marine life. Divers can also explore the wreck of the navy
frigate HMNZS Wellington, which lies east of Taputeranga Island. Shorland Park
is just over the road and has plenty of play equipment, BBQs, picnic tables and
toilets. A swim raft is moored in this bay during summer months.
Parking: Car park near Marine Education Centre and on The Esplanade
Toilets and changing facilities: Island Bay Surf Club (summer only) and Shoreland Park
Accessibility: Easy access
Dogs:
Dogs are allowed on the beach at the pier to eastern end of the beach - summer
restrictions apply:
Summer Restrictions
Features: The western end of Island Bay beach is less developed and has
remnants of the original sand dunes. The Island Bay Coast Care Group has
planted native sand dune vegetation such as pingao there in recent years.
History: Taputeranga, the island that gives the bay its name, was the site
of a small pa used as a refuge by Ngati Ira following the Te Atiawa occupation
of the area. The sheltered bay later became a centre for Italian, Greek and
Shetland Islander fishing communities. Fishing boats still moor here and land
their catch near the Bait House, which now houses the Island Bay Marine
Education Centre.
Beach Clean up Event (possible image ideas)
No comments:
Post a Comment