This clothing-optional beach is a good spot for scenic walks and wildlife spotting. At the western entrance of Wellington Harbour, picturesque Breaker Bay beach is part of the Oruaiti Reserve.

This clothing-optional beach is a good spot for scenic walks and wildlife spotting.

At the western entrance of Wellington Harbour, picturesque Breaker Bay beach is part of the Oruaiti Reserve.

Because of its orientation towards Raukawa Moana or the Cook Strait, southerly gales and intense storms can batter the area. As a result, erosion is an issue along the coastline.

New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster, the 1968 sinking of the Wahine ferry, leading to 53 deaths, occurred near Breaker Bay. Wahine Memorial Park and Ataturk Memorial Park sit at the southern end of the suburb of Breaker Bay.

While not the most popular spot for swimming, it is often a good spot for watching dolphins and orcas. Penguins also nest in the area.

Parking is available at a large car park on Breaker Bay Road, just a short walk from the beach. A track up the escarpment to the ridgeline is a popular, short hike. Another route goes the length of the beach to the harbour entrance before following the coastal track beneath the cliffs and back via the ridge.

At the top of the ridge is a site, along with the old gun emplacements and bunkers of Fort Dorset.

Location details

Jurisdiction Wellington City Council
Permits required Yes, apply for a permit
Location descriptors Bays, beaches, boathouses, boatsheds, cliffs, rock formations, sea, ocean, seaweed, coastal walks, ocean views, coastal cliffs, seaside towns, coastal erosion, coastal villages.

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