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How to get there: It’s either 15 minutes from town by car or 30 minutes on the number 3 bus.
Best known for: Surfing. Lyall Bay beach, which stretches for a kilometre and a half between Wellington airport and the hills of Houghton Valley, is one of Wellington’s most popular surf spots. Most mornings the water is speckled with wetsuited residents, waiting for a wave. Beginners can get started with help from Wellington Surf Lessons.
Rosa Woods/Stuff
Surfers out in force in Lyall Bay.
Local landmark: The Maranui Surf Life Saving Club, clad in white weatherboard with simple red highlights. The club has stood astride Lyall Bay beach for over a century; it was founded in 1911. Ever since, it has trained locals to save lives and smash surf competitions.