A quaint seaside village at the base of dramatic cliffs, Mākara is just 30 minutes from Wellington’s city centre. On its rugged western coast is a seaside village and a gently sloping, stony beach.

A quaint seaside village at the base of dramatic cliffs, and a location in Peter Jackson’s first feature film.

Mākara, with its farmland, gun emplacements, and wind farm, is just a 30-minute drive from Wellington’s city centre. On its rugged western coast is a seaside village and a gently sloping, stony beach.

Steep, green hills surround the inlet. The water is generally suitable for swimming, but piles of seaweed and driftwood dot along the beach. Children enjoy exploring the nearby rock pools.

Accessible via Mākara Road, it is also the starting point of Mākara Walkway. This loop climbs over farmland to Fort Opau, which was home to 100 soldiers during the Second World War.

There is a Ngāti Ira site on the western headland of Fisherman’s Bay.

The Mākara Stream flows into Ohariu Bay, an important trout fishery and spawning area. The stream also supports the only remaining salt marsh estuary on the Wellington Peninsula. This makes it an important site for shorebirds and native plant species.

The beach was a filming location for Peter Jackson’s first feature film, ‘Bad Taste’, in 1987.

Location details

Jurisdiction Wellington City Council, Department of Conservation
Permits required

Yes, apply for permit

Some private property, contact Screen Wellington
Location descriptors Bays, beaches, cliffs, estuaries, rock formations, sea, ocean, towns, rivers, streams, creeks, swamps, marshes, wetlands, seaweed, surf, marine life, coastal walks, ocean views, coastal cliffs, seaside towns, coastal villages.

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