Last updated October 2026
Balaena Bay is a small, sheltered beach on the western side of Evans Bay, beside Evans Bay Parade and about 2 kilometres from central Wellington.
Wellington City Council describes it as an inner-harbour beach sheltered from both northerly and southerly winds, with a car park on the headland to the north and a rocky promontory to the south. It is used for swimming mainly by local residents, and it has changing rooms with toilets and a cold shower.
Greater Wellington Regional Council tests the water every week from November to March, and the site has a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, so it is usually fine for a swim but best avoided after rain.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–Mar by Greater Wellington. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Balaena Bay
Wednesday 28 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (266 per 100 mL from 73 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Evans Bay Parade, on the western side of Evans Bay, between Oriental Bay and Hataitai
- Distance from Wellington
- About 2 km from central Wellington
- Water
- Sheltered sea beach inside Wellington Harbour, tidal (nearest tide station: Wellington)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Dogs
- No dogs permitted (Wellington City Council)
- Facilities
- Car park, changing rooms with toilets, cold shower and drinking water; a playground about 400 m away
About Balaena Bay
Balaena Bay sits on the city side of Evans Bay, the large inlet that separates the Miramar Peninsula from Hataitai and Roseneath. Wellington City Council notes that it has a much larger beach than its neighbour, Hataitai Beach, a short distance further into the bay.
The beach is tucked between a headland car park and a rocky point, which gives it shelter from both of Wellington’s prevailing winds, and that shelter is a large part of its appeal on a sunny day.
The beach is a local spot rather than a destination beach. The council describes it as used for swimming by local residents, and it has long been popular for sunbathing as well as swimming. Facilities are compact: a car park on the headland, and changing rooms with toilets and a cold shower beside the sand.
Evans Bay is named after George Samuel Evans, an early Wellington settler, and the bay has a long working history. The Evans Bay Patent Slip, a rail-mounted cradle for hauling ships out of the water, was officially opened in March 1873, and a second slipway was added in 1922. The site is now a Category 2 Historic Place.
The sheltered western end of Evans Bay was also Wellington’s flying-boat base. Trans-Tasman flying-boat services began in October 1950, with a pontoon built in 1951 for passengers to board, and roadside garages along Evans Bay Parade served as a temporary terminal. The service ended in 1954 and the terminal closed in 1956.
Swimming and Water Quality at Balaena Bay
Greater Wellington Regional Council samples the water at Balaena Bay every week from November to March, and the results are published on LAWA. The site has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 73 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across all 93 tests between December 2019 and March 2025, 91% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually suitable for swimming, but contamination is more likely after rain, when stormwater and run-off reach the harbour.
Check the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result on LAWA before you swim. Greater Wellington advises waiting 48 hours after heavy rain before getting in the water, both in rivers and the sea, because stormwater can carry bacteria from animal waste and sometimes untreated sewage from overflows. Even at sites that usually test well, check the water quality after a heavy downpour.
The beach is sheltered, but it is not a pool. Keep a close eye on children, especially around the rocky promontory at the southern end, and keep watch for boats, as this is open harbour water. Wellington City Council does not allow dogs on Balaena Bay beach.
Getting There and Facilities
Balaena Bay is on Evans Bay Parade, the coastal road that runs from Oriental Bay around Evans Bay to Kilbirnie. Drive, cycle or walk around the point from Oriental Bay, and park in the car park on the headland at the northern end of the beach.
The changing rooms, toilets, cold shower and drinking water are right by the beach, and there is a playground within about 400 metres.
Hataitai Beach, another small sheltered beach used by locals for swimming, is a short walk further south along the parade, and Oriental Bay is around the headland to the north-west.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Greater Wellington Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term grade for Balaena Bay.
Wellington City Council: beach details for Balaena Bay, including parking, changing rooms and dog rules.
Greater Wellington Regional Council: swimming advice for the region, including what to do after heavy rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Balaena Bay?
Yes. Wellington City Council lists Balaena Bay as suitable for swimming, and it is used by local residents for a swim. Check the latest LAWA result first and stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Balaena Bay?
Balaena Bay has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 93 tests between December 2019 and March 2025, 91% were suitable for swimming. Water quality is most likely to drop after rain.
When is the water at Balaena Bay tested?
Greater Wellington Regional Council samples the beach weekly from November to March and publishes the results on LAWA.
Are dogs allowed at Balaena Bay?
No. Wellington City Council does not permit dogs at Balaena Bay.
Are there toilets and showers at Balaena Bay?
Yes. There are changing rooms with toilets and a cold shower by the beach, plus a car park on the headland.
Is Balaena Bay sheltered from the wind?
Yes. The council notes that the beach is sheltered from the north by the headland car park and from the south by a rocky promontory, which keeps it calmer than many Wellington beaches in a northerly or southerly.
How far is Balaena Bay from Wellington?
It is about 2 kilometres from central Wellington, on Evans Bay Parade just around the point from Oriental Bay.
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