Not only does Wellington have some of the best shopping locations, coolest streets, and entertaining clubbing scenes and street culture that you can truly immerse yourself in, but seeing a Wellington sunset truly can’t be beaten. From just north of Wellington city to Wellington CBD you can catch a gorgeous orange sunset from almost anywhere in Wellington, you just need to know where to go and that’s where this list comes in!

I lived in Wellington for 4 months and I was able to scope out some of the best spots to see the sunset in Wellington. And to be honest, the Wellington region has given me some of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. Thankfully unlike in Auckland, I didn’t have to travel very far to view the magnificent glow of orange or pink staining the sky.

How to see the Wellington Sunset

You will need a car to get to most of these locations unless you’re willing to spend the majority of the day jumping between public transport to see the sunset on the West Coast. And don’t forget a windbreaker or a jacket of some sort, Wellington has a reputation for being windy for a very good reason! To find the best Wellington sunset spots all you have to do is travel to the west coast, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west in New Zealand so it should go without saying what direction you need to travel in.

Whether you’re wanting a sunset above the wild waves or a golden hour bouncing off the city skyscrapers, check out the list below of some of the best places to see a Wellington sunset!

Pukerua Bay Beach, Porirua

Pukerua Bay was the first place I got to experience a Wellington sunset in all its glory. This rocky beach is where you will find a picturesque landscape of waves smashing against jagged rocks sitting just above the surface of the ocean. The beach of Pukerua Bay stretches along the Western side of state highway 1 between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, north of Wellington city.

If you miss the turn-off for the town, you can continue north along the highway and pull into any of the left-hand parking bays along the coast. There is a large parking area just as you come down the hill along the coastline, from here you can walk down onto the rocks and explore the small rock pools that are left during low tide and wait for the beautiful Wellington sunset beyond the horizon.
Pick up some takeaways from Pukerua Bay to enjoy while watching the sun dip behind the ocean.

Paekakariki Hill Road Lookout, Paekakariki

Paekakariki Hill is one of the highest lookouts north of Wellington, it’s worth a look if you want to get a good birds’ eye view of most of the coastline. The narrow road winds up the side of the hill until you reach the summit with a large wooden platform overlooking the edge of the hill. The view from here gives you a fantastic opportunity to see the pink or orange glow of the sunset in Wellington and watch it light up the western coastline of the North Island

How to get to Paekakariki Hill Road Lookout

Travel towards Paekakariki on state highway 1, you are only able to turn into Paekakariki Hill Road traveling south on SH1, but if you are traveling north then continue for a short distance to the next offramp and turn around at the roundabout. These directions might sound confusing, but once you get to the road you will see what I mean.

Titahi Bay, Porirua

Titahi Bay is the perfect place for a beachfront picnic while you watch the Wellington sunset dip below the surf. Titahi Bay makes for ample opportunity for any novice photographer who wants to try out their zoom lens as the rough surf is usually swarming with surfers regardless of the season. 
If you prefer having a bird’s eye view over the wild waves there are several side streets on the cliffs above Titahi Bay that give you the perfect cinematic view out towards the Tasman, which also means you don’t have to leave your car if the wind is likely to knock you off your feet.

If the wind is far too strong, head over to Rocky Bay which might allow a bit more shelter, depending on the direction the wind is coming from, and vice versa if the wind is strong at Rocky Bay!

Getting to Titahi Bay

Beach Road, S Beach Access Road, and Bay Drive are all amazing places to get different perspectives of the sunset in Wellington. Whether from up high or down low on the beach itself to scaling the rocks on the southern side of the beach, if it’s a clear night you’ll no doubt get some amazing views for a memorable Wellington sunset.

Rocky Bay, Porirua

Rocky Bay is Titahi Bay’s wild neighbor; Titahi Bay is popular for surfing but Rocky Bay you probably wouldn’t want to take your chances, the reason is in the name! Rocky Bay is my favorite place to be for sunset, golden hour hits differently when the landscape is left wild and free with very few manicured lawns in sight.
If you are struggling to find a park for a view along Titahi Bay, head up onto Richard street to the small lookout where you get almost a 180-degree view over Rocky Bay. Check the speed of the wind though, I had trouble getting out of the car thanks to the 30km gusts over the bay.

Getting to Rocky Bay

Rocky Bay is one of the best places to see the sunset in Wellington and is probably one of my personal favourite locations. Terrace Road and Richard Street are two of the best locations for seeing a Wellington sunset over Rocky Bay, or even if you want a killer picnic location, just watch out for the wind and the unfenced clifftops!

Mt Victoria, Wellington City

A 360-degree view of a Wellington sunset, what could be better? You’re getting the best of both worlds when it comes to cityscape sunset photography and nature photography. Mt Victoria is a great place to see either sunrise or sunset, and to feel the force of Wellington’s every Wellington’sday gale force winds.
The drive up the side of Mt Victoria is windy and the road is narrow. Plenty of people live on the side of the mountain which makes for an interesting drive since many of the resident’s cars are parked on the road. You don’t have to be a skillful driver to drive up Mt Vic, but you do have to be a careful one.

Wellington Botanic Garden, Wellington City

The Wellington Botanical Gardens is one of the best places in Wellington central to see a sunset, so if you’re staying in Wellington city and don’t have the time or ability to travel far out of Wellington then make your way towards the Wellington Cable Car on Lambton Quay. The car will take you to the top of the Wellington Botanical Gardens where you can stroll around and see the different views across the North Island city. Bring your zoom lens or some binoculars to watch the planes dip in behind the hills to land at Wellington airport.

Wellington Cable Car

The Wellington Cable car runs all year round including public holidays. Their opening hours differ depending on the day so make sure you check their website for details and updates. A $9 return ticket will take you straight to the top Wellington Botanic Gardens through a series of small tunnels where you can view the sunset from several different locations on the hill. The tunnels give an entertaining experience with each tunnel lit up with a series of bright fluorescent lights lighting up the cab like a rave.

Castle Point Lighthouse, Castlepoint

Saving only the best until last, Castle Point Lighthouse is a great place to see the sunset in Wellington, but an even better location for a sunrise! Sitting near the very top of the Wellington region on the east coast, this remote location 70km east of Masterton is a living piece of artwork. The lighthouse sits on a rocky peninsula out from the beach with a concrete pathway that snakes up from the beach on an easy upward slope. if you’re lucky you might see a few seals either in the ocean below or sunbathing on the rocks.

The path leads to the top of the cliff above the lighthouse before leading down to the rocky cliffs. From here you can weave your way back towards the lighthouse by a path surrounded by vegetation. Be careful of the cliff edges, as much as it’s tempting to grab that photo for the ‘gram, no photo is worth falling into the wild ocean below!

The lighthouse at Castle Point fire became operational in 1913 costing a little less than 10,000 pounds, it is 23 metres tall and sits 52 metres above sea level. And is one of the last manned lighthouses to be established in New Zealand, where the last lighthouse keeper waved goodbye to his duties at Castlepoint in 1988.

How to get to Castle Point Lighthouse

Castle Point Lighthouse is a 2.5hour drive from Wellington CBD; follow state highway 1 towards Lower Hutt where you will join up with state highway 2. Follow SH2 up through Greytown and several other towns until you reach Masterton. Turn onto Te Ore Ore Road and follow the Masterton-Castlepoint Road for around an hour until you reach the small beachfront town where the Lighthouse sits pride of place on the rocky peninsula, you won’t be able to miss it!

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Whether you’re coming down to Wellington for a week or a weekend, you need to check out one of the locations above for one of the best sunsets in Wellington. Even if you don’t have a vehicle while you’re down here you can easily make it to one of the central Wellington locations on foot or by public transport.