{"id":536983,"date":"2026-07-21T14:19:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/536983\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T14:19:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T14:19:11","slug":"the-lyall-bay-day-plan-what-to-see-do-and-visit-in-wellington-seaside-suburb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/536983\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lyall Bay day plan: what to see, do and visit in Wellington seaside suburb"},"content":{"rendered":"

Breakfast at Maranui Cafe<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no better place to start the day than at Maranui. This beloved local institution sits right above the beach, serving generous breakfasts alongside one of the best ocean views in the city. The vibe inside is colourful, relaxed, and a little bit quirky \u2013 vintage decor, sun pouring through massive windows, and the hum of locals catching up over coffee. Grab something hearty like their famous breakfasts or a cabinet treat and settle in while watching the first surfers of the day paddle out.<\/p>\n

\" Locals fill Maranui Cafe’s sunny dining room over breakfast. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

Take in the sights on a beach walk<\/p>\n

After fuelling up for the day, head down to the beach for a stroll along this very popular stretch of sand. This is one of Wellington\u2019s most active surf beaches, so keep an eye out both for beginners wobbling through their first lesson and experienced locals carving through the morning swell. Need a quick pit stop for a second coffee (we won\u2019t judge) or a sweet treat? Pop in to Onep\u016b, just off Lyall Parade, for a quick recharge before heading to the shops.<\/p>\n

\" Onep\u016b’s bright storefront tempts walkers off Lyall Parade. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

MIDDAY<\/p>\n

Shop and explore<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not all waves and sand \u2013 Lyall Bay punches well above its weight when it comes to interesting independent stores. Start with the Real Aotearoa gallery store, where you\u2019ll find thoughtfully curated New Zealand-made art and gifts that celebrate local makers. A few steps away down an unassuming alleyway, you\u2019ll find Ocean Hunter, which caters to all your spearfishing and freediving needs, along with the surfer\u2019s paradise that is Real Surf \u2013 stocking boards, wetsuits, and everything needed to get out on the water for the past 30-odd years.<\/p>\n

\" Boards and wetsuits line the walls at Real Surf Co. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

From there, wander through the cluster of creative businesses at Lyall Bay Junction. Browse contemporary abstract pieces at Jane Blackmore Gallery, admire designer Tymone Winter\u2019s latest creations at Empire of Genius, or browse authentic European smoked meats at The Polish Sausage Company.<\/p>\n

\" Contemporary works on show at Jane Blackmore Gallery. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

Lunch at The Botanist<\/p>\n

For lunch, head over to The Botanist, one of Wellington\u2019s most renowned plant-based eateries. The plant-filled interior and sweeping views over the bay add to the laid-back coastal atmosphere, providing the ideal ambience for digging into some seriously exquisite eats. The menu leans heavily toward vibrant vegetarian and vegan dishes, with plenty of creative, colourful plates \u2013 think vegan shakshuka, gochujang scrambled eggs, and edamame avocado toast.<\/p>\n

\" Plants and greenery set the scene at The Botanist. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

AFTERNOON<\/p>\n

Try on a new look <\/p>\n

Keen to freshen up with a brand new haircut \u2013 or something even bolder? If you\u2019re in the mood to shake up your look, step into Bay City Tattoo and Barbershop, home of Wellington\u2019s famous TikTok barber, Ken Aperila. With Jaco Schmidt, the duo brings a combined 30-plus years of industry experience, so you know you\u2019re in safe hands. Even if you\u2019re just popping in for a browse, you can indulge in the relaxed, creative atmosphere, which adds yet another element to Lyall Bay\u2019s eclectic character.<\/p>\n

\" Ken Aperila offers fresh cuts at Bay City Barber. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

Check out Wonderland Chocolate<\/p>\n

For the perfect afternoon treat, drop by the Wonderland Chocolate shop and factory at Lyall Bay Junction, home to this iconic Wellington brand. The small-batch chocolate makers here are passionate about ethically sourced cacao and creative flavour combinations \u2013 and it\u2019s not hard to see why their range has such a fervent following, in the capital and beyond. Drop in to taste a few samples, chat with the team about how the chocolate is made, and pick up a few beautifully packaged chocolate blocks or bags to take home.<\/p>\n

\" Small-batch treats are packaged at Wonderland Chocolate. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

EVENING<\/p>\n

Gin tasting at Southward Distilling<\/p>\n

As the day winds down, make your way to Southward Distilling for a gin-tasting session with a difference. You\u2019ll find a range of experiences to suit your tastes \u2013 try Gin 2.0, a journey through the \u201cwilder side\u201d of Southward\u2019s range, where you can sample gins outside their core range, such as seasonal, limited, and collab releases. Or for something even more hands-on, book yourself in for a Blend Your Own Gin session, which includes a guided tasting of Southward\u2019s core range, a sharing platter, and a promise of bad jokes and good times \u2013 and of course, your very own 500ml gin to take home.<\/p>\n

\" Southward’s lounge offers gin tastings with sea views. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

Finish with a beer and a bite<\/p>\n

Cap off the day at the local favourite, Parrotdog Brewery & Bar. The spacious taproom is the envy of small towns across the country, pouring a rotating lineup of Parrotdog beers, from crisp lagers to hoppy IPAs \u2013 perfect accompaniments to a juicy burger, fried chicken, or other guilty pleasures. Grab a fresh pint, order some bites to share, and reflect on a day well spent by the sea.<\/p>\n

\" A crispy chicken burger and cold pint at Parrotdog. Photo \/ Neat Places\" Families and dogs soak up the sun at Parrotdog’s taproom. Photo \/ Neat Places<\/p>\n

This story originally featured in Neat Places.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breakfast at Maranui Cafe There\u2019s no better place to start the day than at Maranui. This beloved local…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536984,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[5263,95,1561,264569,17379,5972,6309,78,93710,130,111,139,69,2170,2751,105772,10534,4499,213,17294,18694,1361,223,61,9863,52,6923],"class_list":["post-536983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-all","tag-and","tag-bay","tag-chocolates","tag-coffee","tag-day","tag-do","tag-in","tag-lyall","tag-more","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-plan","tag-sand","tag-seaside","tag-see","tag-small","tag-sports","tag-suburb","tag-surf","tag-that","tag-the","tag-to","tag-visit","tag-wellington","tag-what"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/536984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}