Last updated October 2026
Sunshine Bay is a small coastal suburb on the eastern shore of Wellington Harbour in Lower Hutt, about 12 kilometres from central Wellington. It forms one of the Eastern Bays that make up the wider Eastbourne area, sitting between Māhina Bay and Days Bay along Marine Drive.
The bay is known for its wilder, more exposed character, with a narrow gravelly beach, steep escarpment and sparse housing tucked against the hills. Residents and visitors value the harbour views, coastal vegetation and quieter pace compared with busier bays nearby. It remains fully accessible via the sealed coastal road and local bus services.
Practical Information
- Ward or local board
- Harbour Ward; Eastbourne Community Board (Hutt City Council)
- Getting there
- Marine Drive is the sole road access from Seaview and Petone; Metlink buses serve stops in the bay en route to Eastbourne and Days Bay; East by West Ferries dock at nearby Days Bay wharf from central Wellington
- Main shopping
- Local cluster around Sunshine Service Station on Marine Drive; main retail and services on Rimu Street in Eastbourne
- Schools
- Wellesley College (independent boys’ primary, Days Bay); Muritai School (state primary, Eastbourne)
- Nearby landmarks
- Days Bay and Williams Park; Māhina Bay; Eastern Bays Shared Path (Tupua Horo Nuku); Wellington Harbour foreshore
About Sunshine Bay
Sunshine Bay occupies a shallow, angled indentation on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour. Steep coastal escarpment drops to a moderately sloping gravelly beach with rock outcrops, and the road runs tightly between the hillside and the water.
Housing is sparse and concentrated mainly at the northern and southern ends, with a more developed cluster around the service station at the southern end. The landscape feels wilder and more exposed than neighbouring bays, with coastal vegetation including pōhutukawa and native revegetation.
The suburb sits within the traditional rohe of Te Ātiawa and Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika. The wider Eastern Bays carry a strong cultural narrative linked to the tupua Ngake, whose actions in tradition shaped Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour) and Te Awa Kairangi (the Hutt River).
The shared path project through the bays is named Tupua Horo Nuku in recognition of this story. Pre-colonial Māori settlement focused on nearby bays and headlands rather than dense occupation of every cove.
European development followed the coastal road and the growth of Eastbourne as a day-trip and residential destination. Sunshine Bay itself stayed lightly built, retaining a residential edge of driveways, low walls, garages and mixed planting along Marine Drive.
Gravelled parking bays and a bus shelter serve locals and passers-by. Recent works on the Eastern Bays Shared Path have improved walking and cycling resilience and seawall protection while aiming to respect the bay’s natural character.
Today the suburb offers a quiet harbour-edge lifestyle. People live here for the sea views, relative seclusion and easy reach of Days Bay amenities and the Eastbourne village centre. The beach is modest and exposed; swimming and recreation often shift to more sheltered spots nearby. The setting suits those who want coastal living without the density of larger suburbs.
Getting Around
Marine Drive is the only road in and out, linking north through the other Eastern Bays to Seaview, Petone and the Hutt Valley, and south toward Eastbourne proper. The route is scenic but exposed to weather and can feel narrow.
Metlink bus services stop in Sunshine Bay, connecting to Lower Hutt and Wellington. The East by West ferry from Days Bay provides a direct harbour crossing to the central city, popular with commuters and day visitors. The Tupua Horo Nuku shared path improves safe walking and cycling along the bays.
Getting Outdoors
The bay itself has a narrow gravel beach and rock outcrops at the base of the escarpment, with steps in places giving access from the road. It is more exposed than Days Bay, so conditions vary with wind and tide.
The surrounding hills hold regenerating native bush and walking tracks that form part of the wider East Harbour network. Nearby Williams Park in Days Bay and the continuing coastal path offer more facilities and longer outings. Harbour views and coastal birdlife are constant features of daily life here.
History and Heritage
Like the rest of the Eastern Bays, Sunshine Bay sits in an area of long Māori occupation focused on resource-rich bays and defensive headlands. European settlement intensified after the 1855 earthquake raised harbour shores and improved access.
Eastbourne developed its own borough identity before amalgamation into Lower Hutt, and the bays retained a mix of holiday baches and permanent homes. Sunshine Bay kept a lower-density pattern. The Sunshine Service Station and roadside residential edge mark the main built focus. Ongoing shared-path and seawall work continues the long process of making the single coastal road more resilient.
Where to Learn More
Hutt City Council: Official information on Eastern Bays projects, community boards, transport and local services.
Eastbourne, New Zealand (Wikipedia): Overview of the wider Eastbourne and Eastern Bays area, including history, schools and ferry links.
Tupua Horo Nuku project documents: Bay-specific urban design plans and details for the Eastern Bays Shared Path, including Sunshine Bay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sunshine Bay?
Sunshine Bay is a small coastal suburb in Lower Hutt on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour, between Māhina Bay and Days Bay along Marine Drive, roughly 12 km from central Wellington.
Is Sunshine Bay part of Eastbourne?
Yes. It is one of the Eastern Bays that together make up the wider Eastbourne area under Hutt City Council and the Eastbourne Community Board.
How do you get to Sunshine Bay?
Drive via Marine Drive from Seaview or Petone, catch a Metlink bus that stops in the bay, or take the East by West ferry to nearby Days Bay and continue a short distance along the coast.
Are there shops in Sunshine Bay?
A small cluster of buildings including the Sunshine Service Station sits on Marine Drive. Full shopping, cafés and services are a short distance away in Eastbourne’s Rimu Street centre and at Days Bay.
What schools serve Sunshine Bay?
Nearby options include Wellesley College, an independent boys’ primary school in Days Bay, and Muritai School, the state primary in Eastbourne.
Is there a beach at Sunshine Bay?
Yes. A narrow, moderately sloping gravelly beach with rock outcrops lies just below the road. It is more exposed than Days Bay; many people use neighbouring beaches for swimming and longer stays.
Is Sunshine Bay good for walking and cycling?
The Tupua Horo Nuku Eastern Bays Shared Path runs through the area, improving safe walking and cycling along Marine Drive. Hill tracks and the wider East Harbour network add further options.
What is the character of Sunshine Bay like?
It is quieter and more sparsely settled than many Wellington-region coastal suburbs, with a wilder exposed landscape, harbour views, and housing concentrated at the ends of the bay.
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