How to get to Breaker Bay Beach and is it safe for swimming today - Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA)
Location: Western entrance of Wellington Harbour, Breaker Bay Road
Suitable for: Walking, picnicking, watching ships enter and leave the harbour, and admiring the ocean views
Brief description: This picturesque sandy cove is part of the Oruaiti Reserve (formerly known as Point Dorset Recreation Reserve). A short track to the beach starts at the large car park on Breaker Bay Road. Halfway along the beach a wide track rises up the escarpment to the ridgeline. Alternatively, walk the length of the beach to the harbour entrance, then follow the coastal track beneath the cliffs and return via the ridge. The Eastern Walkway begins at the nearby Pass of Branda and has excellent views of the harbour entrance and Pencarrow Head. The return trip along Breaker Bay Road is a pleasant coastal walk.
Parking: Car park at Breaker Bay Road.
Toilets and changing facilities: None
Accessibility: Uneven ground on beach and steep slopes on headland walks
Dogs: Dogs must be kept on a leash
History: The top of the ridge above the beach was a Pa site. The remains of gun emplacements and bunkers can be found on the ridge near the Pass of Branda and on the coast inside the harbour entrance.