Four Outdoor Pursuits to Round Off Autumn in Wellington
Enjoy the last of those crisp but clear days.
Autumn is the season of feeling excited about wearing your winter coat, of dusting off your enamel cookware and getting your slow-cook on, or swapping rosé for a cheeky red and stuffing your face with feijoas. It's also the season of getting out and about and enjoying the crisp but clear blue sky days, and here's our pick of the best outdoors pursuits for autumn.
TACKLE THE PAEKAKARIKI ESCARPMENT
The Paekakariki Escparpment walk is not for the faint-hearted or those with a strong sense of vertigo, but for everyone else it's a great way to spend a sunny autumn afternoon. The walk can be done as there-and-back walk for the fit and ambitious (read: show-offs). For the rest of us, the thing to do is to park at Paekakariki and take the train from Pukerua Bay back to your car once you finish the walk. The walk takes around two and half hours one way. Take plenty of water, warm clothes and treats; and don't forget your phone - you're definitely going to want to 'gram the view (and check the train timetable).
Wellington Botanic Gardens
KICK UP LEAVES AT THE BOTANIC GARDENS
Is there anything more romantic than a walk through the fallen leaves in autumn? Your cheeks are ruddy in the crisp air, you've excitedly worn your winter coat even though it's not quite cold enough for it yet, you kick through the piles of glowing orange, red and brown leaves and breath in the earthy compost smell. Take the Cable Car up the Wellington Botanic Gardens and have a wander. All that fresh air will make you thirsty, so you should probably stop off for a refreshment at the Sprig & Fern afterwards.
LEARN TO SURF AT LYALL BAY
Sure, you could learn to swim in summertime, but let's be real: we live in Wellington and the sea temperature changes negligibly season to season anyway. Plus, if you learn to surf in autumn think how good you'll be come summer time! Real Surf in Lyall Bay provide lessons for beginners and 'I've tried it once or twice' sorts. Their instructors are super helpful and you'll be so busy trying to stand up and ride the waves you won't even notice the cold (a good wetsuit also helps). The other good thing about learning at Lyall Bay is the extensive range of options for post-surf breakfast: we recommend Maranui or try out Botanist, the most recent addition to the Lyall Bay menu.
GET FISH AND CHIPS ON THE COAST
Fish and chips got fancy. Wellington now has an array of upmarket fish and chip shops, the kind of places where you can choose your chip (agria/kumara/crinkle?), your fish (terakihi/blue cod/snapper?), and your choice of batter (gluten-free/tempura/crumbed?). Island Bay has Salt & Batter, Seatoun has Huckle & Co, and The Chipperies in Mt Vic and Thorndon service the CBD. Most are open for lunch, so bundle up in your puffer jacket, place your order and go have an outdoors picnic by the sea. Don't forget the tomato sauce.
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