Local singer-songwriter Riiki Reid shares her favourite Wellington beaches, wine bars and vintage haunts
I love everything about the summertime: exposed skin, dewy sun-kissed cheeks, salty sun-bleached hair, the smell of a backyard barbecue and sand in every nook of your body. While many Wellingtonians escape the city, I believe the capital is left with all its charm for those who know that on a good summer's day, it’s a hard one to beat.
GET INTO NATURE
My favourite thing to do on a summer morning is seize the day and go for a walk. My go-to is Mount Kaukau; it’s about 40 minutes uphill, where the view at the top rewards you with 360-degree views of the South Island, overlooking the rolling hills into Mākara, Wellington Harbour, the city and up the North Island. If you’ve got more juice in the tank, from Mount Kaukau, you can embark on the Skyline Track or journey to Mākara for a full-day hike overlooking the ocean. Views are everything in the summer! If you’re after something flat and more casual, a stroll around Oriental Bay, Red Rocks, and Mana Boat Sheds is my favourite.
COFFEE, NIBBLES, CHITCHATS
In the city, some of the best outdoor spots for a coffee and a chat are Swimsuit and Volco on Egmont Street (the best bakery on the planet—you must try a bacon jam Danish from here). I don’t actually drink coffee (my hands are up), but I love matcha, so if you’re after a delicious one, head to Evil Twins on Willis Street or Pour and Twist and sit out on the lawn at Glover Park. Summer does scream for something fruity too; Dilly Dally is new on the block and does amazing fresh smoothies, salads and acai bowls. Slightly out of the city but always my top picks for summer lunch dates: Maranui Cafe and Scorch-a-rama, purely because these are all ocean-side.
FUN IN THE SUN
When looking for a fun social activity with your pals, Wellington has some epic hidden gems and summer staples to get amongst. Start with hiring kayaks from Fergs on the waterfront or heading over to Matiu/Somes Island on the East by West Ferry. If you’re after music, Gardens Magic is a free outdoor concert from Tuesday to Sunday in January at the Wellington Botanic Gardens. Thousands of people attend, getting there nice and early for the ultimate picnic spot. By sunset, the entire place is jam-packed every night. I go every year with friends and family, usually planned spontaneously on the fly, hours before the event starts. Fruit Cru is a fruit wine company who have a little garage down Holland Street. Each month, they throw an event called ‘Cellar Door Session’ where they sell their delicious summer potions, paired with a local foodie for bites, and a local DJ. Heading to the Sky Stadium for a football match with the Wellington Phoenix is also a lot of fun on a sunny day.
SCORE A NEW SUMMER WARDROBE
I am a big believer in finding the clothing item of your summer dreams from a pre-loved/thrift shop—because recycling is hot. I’m a lover of vintage finds and timeless pieces, whether that be scoring designer sunglasses, a cute beach bag, or a sexy new dress. These are the places I know I will never walk out empty-handed: She Preloved, Bizarre Bazaar, Dirty Laundry, and Preloved Charlies.
SWIM TIME
People forget that Wellington is a city surrounded by water. Oriental Bay is a city beach that gets very busy in the summer, but I promise you, if you venture out a little further, you will get to some of the best beaches. My favourite beach to swim in would have to be Scorching Bay. Everything you need is there: grass, sand, rock pools, a cafe, ice cream, and it backs onto a big hill, which makes it feel secluded. Some other notable beaches I circle over the summer are Princess Beach, Balaena Bay, Hataitai Beach, Plimmerton Beach and on the odd occasion, I grab my boogie board or surfboard for a paddle out with some friends at Lyall Bay.
GOLDEN HOUR WINES
In my expert opinion, this is the very best time of the day in summer. One of my favourite things to do at this time of day is head to Lyall Bay and pick up a fresh fish burger from Seaview Takeaways or Fresko, take it to the beach and watch the sky turn to candy with a group of friends. If you have access to a car, my favourite sunsets in Wellington are seen from either Plimmerton Beach, Mākara Beach or Whitireia Park. If you want to park up for a drink at golden hour, grab a table on the balcony at Regent, or head to Parrotdog for a beer outside. If you’re looking for a slightly more formal dinner spot, Ombra is my pick. When it’s warm, this little corner of Cuba Street will feel like a little lane in Venice and is perfect for people-watching.
SUMMER NOSTOLGIA
To end, these are the things I will forever romanticise about summer in Wellington. Driving around the all bays starting at Shelly Bay all the way around to Red Rocks blasting ‘Memory Box’ by Peter Cat Recording Co, parking up on the beach watching the sun say ‘goodbye’ from the boot of my car with my precious Sofi Dog in my lap at Plimmerton Beach, the smell of sausages and cooked veges from the BBQ my parents make for the family, plunging into the ocean at 4pm, the shimmer of fairy lights over the Botanical Gardens surrounded by thousands of people, hearing laughter, seeing smiles, holding my friends, being in love, living in my togs, watching the new years fireworks over the harbour from Mount Vic, boogieing till the sun goes down at Waitangi Park. I love you Wellington. I love you summer.
Thanks to Phoebe Brown for helping with the imagery.
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