Lyall Bay
Events
Lyall Bay
Lyall Bay is one of Wellington’s most popular beaches. It is very accessible to all Wellington people and is on the main bus route. Surfers are the largest beach user at Lyall Bay and can be found here year round if there is a swell running. The beach is generally safe for swimming during summer although cold. Swimmers should remain around the centre of the beach where conditions are safest and the Lifeguarding Service is provided.
Ratings
Activities and facilities
Activities
- Dog walking
- Scuba diving
- Shell fish gathering
- Wind/kite surfing
Facilities
- Boat launching
- Car parking
- Changing facilities
- Food and beverage kiosk
- Playground
- Public toilets
- Shower
Forecast provided by SwellMap.com
Tides
Safety at Lyall Bay
We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Lyall Bay. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand Beaches. More ►
Patrolled Beach

Stay safe - swim beween the flags.
Patrol Hours
Lyall Bay will be patrolled by Surf Lifeguards every Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday from 12:00 pm to 6:00pm between 4 December 2021 until 6 March 2022. Week day patrols from 11:00am to 6:00pm from 20 December 2021 until 28 January 2022.
Hazards
Click a safety symbol for more information on the risk
4 simple rules to keep you safe
We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Lyall Bay. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand beaches and looking out for each other. More ►
The Water Safety Code:
- Be prepared
- Watch out for yourself and others
- Be aware of the dangers
- Know your limits
Location
Lyall Bay is located 5 kilometres south of central city Wellington. The bay is 1.6 kilometres in length with grey sand and the entire beach is backed by a seawall. Both Maranui and Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club are located at this beach. There is a large boulder seawall along the eastern headland and this is the location for the Wellington International and domestic airport. The bay is backed by residential housing and this extends around the western headland towards Houghton Bay. The beach has a large permanent residence and gets many beach users from the Wellington District. The beach is popular year round although the water remains relatively cold.
Public Transport
Beach Water Quality
Many councils provide the results of their weekly monitoring. This lets people know what the most recent bacteria levels were. Remember, even sites with low risk can be unsuitable to swim at from time to time and we recommend that you avoid swimming for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.
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