Breaker Bay
A wild south coast retreat
Overview
Consisting of just a single street (Breaker Bay Road), this wild stretch of Wellington’s south coast appeals to those who long for a waterfront lifestyle without an extreme price tag. A vocal and active residents’ association makes it appealing to those who enjoy a tight knit community. Facing due south and shaded in winter, the Breaker Bay climate is not for the faint hearted. However, the rewards include long stretches of often empty beach, the sound and smells of the ocean, and an area which has seen significant price rises in the last 20 years.
Best Suited To
Sailors, fishermen, writers and other creatives, frequent flyers due to proximity to the airport, those who seek a wild and natural environment.
Population Profile
Breaker Bay contains a mix of age groups, although 35+ singles and couples of European decent tend to dominate. The area is low in ethnic diversity, due, we suspect, to the lack of services, meaning that a car is almost an essential to live here. The area is popular among creative people who draw inspiration from the sea. The area features a higher than average number of older workers and pre-retirees, having either lived here all their lives, or done well enough in other areas to allow them to purchase here.
Typical Homes
Breaker Bay remains the compact seaside village that it started out as. The oldest homes are from the early 1900s, although the majority of dwellings were built from 1920 to 1960. Many homes have undergone extensions, renovation and upgrading, as the area is affluent and income levels are high.
There remains, however, a shabby-chic feel to this seaside locality. Glitz and glam is generally frowned upon in Breaker Bay. There are a few new dwellings (most people tend to add on to existing homes), and these tend to be constructed in a modest style, in reverance to the coastal environment.
Amenities
Breaker Bay lacks shopping services. The nearest are in Seatoun, a 10-15 minute walk to the north-east. There are no schools within Breaker Bay. The nearest primary school is in Seatoun. The nearest secondary schools are in Kilbirnie, about a 10 minute drive to the west.
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Being one of the rare Wellington suburbs that is absolute waterfront, people tend to gravitate toward Breaker Bay for the spectacular scenery, fresh air and open space. At the northern end of the suburb, Breaker Bay beach is long and gently curved, perfect for strolling or dog walking. The beach faces south and is exposed to any wild weather from this direction. However, on warm summer days with the wind blowing from the north, the beach is very sheltered and pleasant. You should be aware, the far eastern end of the beach is known to be popular with nudists.
Other local amenities include a small park with children’s playground. The steep hills behind Breaker Bay contain a number of walking tracks. These tracks enjoy a spectacular outlook over the outer Wellington Harbour.
Real Estate Trends
Breaker Bay started off as a quiet fishing village – modest cottages huddled along the shoreline, facing bravely into the force of the Wellington southerly. It essentially remains this today. This is one of the reasons that people are still attracted to the locality. It certainly doesn’t shout ‘money’. Having said this, house prices here are well above average, simply because there are just so few homes available.
Breaker Bay has always played second fiddle (in price anyway) to nearby Seatoun, which enjoys a better aspect to the sun and more amenities. But I think you’ll find that Breaker Bay residents are happy with the status quo. Renovating the original cottages is a popular activity, extending and re-configuring to get better sea views.
Best Streets
There is only one street in the whole suburb, Breaker Bay Road!
House Prices
Three bed house from $950,000
Four bed house from $1.1 million
Travel Times
Central city – driving, 15-20 minutes.
Airport – driving, five minutes around the south coast road.
Hutt Valley- driving, 25-35 minutes.
Weather
Breaker Bay is very sheltered from Wellington’s prevailing northerlies. This is due to the steep hill behind the suburb. Unfortunately, the hill casts significant shade over the houses below. This is particularly noticeable in winter, when the sun is further north.
Southerly storms here are something to experience! Large southerly swells occasionally close the road while sea-borne debris is cleared. These irregular storms are normally short lived, a day at the most, and followed by beautiful clear skies – perfect for beachcombing.