Things to do in Miramar, Wellington

The Miramar Peninsular in Wellington is small in size but huge in worldwide impact. Nestled away in this coastal suburb is Weta Workshops – the heart of New Zealand’s famous movie-making magic. Here, visitors take tours of the props and practical effects departments best known for bringing films like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Avatar’ to life.

But even for non-movie buffs, the natural magic in Miramar boasts beautiful beaches, hilly scenery, and lovely coastal tracks. Miramar was where I spent my 5-week stay in Wellington, cosied up high on the steep roads feeling perfectly peaceful, other than the occasional sound of planes leaving from the nearby airport.

While there are many great things to do in Wellington City centre, the capital of New Zealand, don’t miss these Miramar gems.

*Post to be updated in Feb 2022 after I’ve left Wellington. And can borrow a laptop. Formatting blogs on the phone is hard 😉 thanks!*

THE EASTERN WALKWAY

For just a 2.5km walk, the Eastern Walkway sure packs in a lot of sights.

Beginning at Tarikena Bay, you begin by walking to the Atuturk Memorial. From here, you’ll see wonderful views over the Wellington Harbour as you continue around the winding coastal track.

You can do this walk as a loop or end at Breaker Bay. Breaker Bay Beach is a truly stunning gem. The waves are stronger than Scorching Bay (below) but it’s quieter and arguably more magical. One thing to note is that Breaker Bay is a clothing-optional beach. Plenty of walkers pass through it though, so don’t be alarmed. You can stay here to sunbathe or just wonder through.

Left hand image: Ataturk Memorial Park. The memorial is to Kemal Mustafa Ataturk, first president of the Republic of Turkey. The memorial looks out over the Cook Strait. This location was chosen due to the similarities to the landscape of the Gallipoli Peninsular.

Right hand image: View of Breaker Bay from the Eastern Walkway.

You can also combine this with a walk to Oruaiti Reserve below, as the two walks are connected.

ORUAITI RESERVE

I loved this walk! You’ll pass a Māori historical sites – Oruaiti Pā – old fortifications from WWII, and of course more wonderful views over the North Island‘s southern coast. ‘Point Dorset’ is one such fantastic view over Breaker Bay below and the Wellington Harbour beyond.

The site of Oruaiti Pa, a history Maori Settlement (below, left).

These gun emplacements at Fort Dorset (below, right) were installed to protect the entrance to the harbour. The fort was used by the Defence Force from 1905 and expanded in the 1930s in preparation for WWII.

While in the area, the coastal Seatoun suburb has some cute shops and cafes to enjoy. Personally, I got a takeaway cafe and vegan treat from Arcimbaldi cafe and took it down to the beach. Blissful!

THE ‘WINDY WELLINGTON’ SIGN

Not much to say about Wellington’s ‘Hollywood’ sign also located in Miramar Peninsular. It’s blowing away cuz Wellington is the Windiest City in the world. Get it?

THE ROXY CINEMA

New Zealand’s movie making capital deserves a great cinema, right? The original building screened silent pictures as far back as 1928. The Roxy’s opening party, in 2011, was attended by the cast and crew of The Hobbit – including some of the fantastic artisans and designers from Weta Workshop.

Get a snack from The Roxy Cafe to take into the movie, or go early and enjoy the restaurant’s award-winning menu ‘Coco at the Roxy.’ (It’s advised to book in advance!)

WETA WORKSHOPS

Once upon a time, model-making enthusiast Richard Taylor dreamt of building fantasy worlds using practical effects. Soon after, he met Peter Jackson, an unknown nerd-fantatic who wanted to make monster movies. From humble beginnings, in this tiny studio, no one could have predicted that they’d soon be world-renowned for their rich and detailed visual interpretation of Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

To be clear, they don’t make movies at Weta Workshops. They make the cool stuff you see in the film.

While you can take a free look inside the small Weta Cave museum, ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ movie fans would be mad not to pay the $49 ticket fee for a tour of the workshops. Here, you can learn about the making of props, costumes, and ‘bigatures’ seen in many movies.

If you’re a fan, this is a great activity to combine with the other Lord of the Rings movie locations in Wellington, too!

MAUPIUA WALKWAY

This easy, 1.4km walk has more of those stunning views. You’ll see plenty of locals walking their dogs here, and with only a 40m elevation gain, it’s an excellent way to stretch your legs.

SCORCHING BAY BEACH

Often considered one of the best swimming beaches in Wellington, don’t be surprised if the white sands of Scorching Bay get a little crowded on hot days. That said, even in the height of Summer, the small coves and rock pools neighbouring the main beach remained more peaceful. As always, be careful of tides and don’t swim off New Zealand beaches if you’re unsure of the conditions.

Scorching Bay Beach is also a great place to take a kayak. You can also walk up to Fort Ballance for great views back over the beach, or continue south for a stroll around Karaka Bays.

If you need a good meal, Scorch-o-Rama Cafe is a Wellington fav. With its colourful, comic book-themed interior or ocean view outdoor seating, you’re spoilt for choice in terms of setting. The menu also has comic-inspired meals. It’s good quality food too, and has vegan and gluten-free options.

Even more things to do in Miramar, Wellington:

• Miramar Fairy Village
• Massey Memorial
• Point Halswell Lighthouse