Karaka Bays
Waterfront wonderland, if you can afford it
Overview
Home to the rich and famous (a movie star favourite), Karaka Bays offers a unique, absolute waterfront Wellington lifestyle. Scorching Bay is easily Wellington’s best suburban beach and is very popular on warm summer days. Housing styles range from quaint cottages to multi-storey mansions. Whatever home you desire, you’ll need a small fortune to buy here. Prices for even quite modest homes are in excess of a million dollars.
Best Suited To
Successful business owners, sea lovers, movie stars.
Population Profile
A seaside haven away from the bustle of the city, Karaka Bay is home to well-heeled, middle aged Wellingtonians, together with a strong presence of international folk, many of whom arrived on the back of the burgeoning Wellington film industry. It’s also a short journey to Wellington airport – handy for regular international travelers.
Census statistics tell us that locals are predominately of European heritage (over 91%), well-educated and on above average incomes. Cultural diversity is, unsurprisingly low. Karaka Bays is also popular among artists and creatives who draw their inspiration from the sea.
Typical Homes
Waterfront homes (Karaka Bay Road) are an interesting and eclectic mix, from early 1900s villas to high-end modern homes. Sites are normally compact, level platforms adjacent the street, rising steeply onto the hillside behind. Any property with a generous amount of level land is fought over by owner occupiers or developers wishing to subdivide. Nearly all homes along the waterfront now appear renovated. This is an area where the value of the land makes it hard to overcapitalise on building improvements.
Streets on the hillsides above the bay (Napier Street, Fortification Road, Tai Paku Paku Road) were developed from the 1960s onward. Homes here are of interesting and varied architectural style, enjoying the panoramic views of the outer Wellington Harbour.
Amenities
The only shop in Karaka Bay is the well-known Scorch-o-Rama Café. Situated in the most perfect spot opposite Scorching Bay, this café has been operating for many years, under various incarnations. The place is pumping on a hot summer day, and it pays to get here early if you want a waterfront seat. More retail services are available in nearby Seatoun.
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Worser Bay School is the local primary school, set just south of Karaka Bay. The higher hillside streets of Karaka Bay also fall, to some extent, into the zone for Miramar North School. The closest colleges are mostly private and include Scots College in Strathmore, Rongotai College in Rongotai, St Patrick’s College in Kilbirnie and St Catherine’s College in Kilbirnie. State funded colleges are located closer to the central city.
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Scorching Bay Domain is set opposite Scorching Bay beach. This offers an attractive and quite sheltered grassy area to sit while admiring the views south and east over the harbour. Overton Park is a small area of hillside land surrounded by mature native trees, about halfway along Karaka Bay Road. Worser Bay is another popular sandy beach with a yacht club alongside. Grab an ice cream from Scorch-o-Rama and find yourself a nice spot on Scorching Bay beach.
Real Estate Trends
It’s hard to find a bargain here. Development is limited by the steep topography and prices are correspondingly high. Old houses that need everything done can be picked up, on rare occasions, from around $900,000. The majority of homes sell in the $1.3 million to $2 million price bracket. Prices here can fluctuate depending on the strength of the film industry and what, if any production, is underway.
Best Streets
Karaka Bay Road is the choice spot for those wanting to live right on the waterfront, although these homes lose the sun early in the afternoon, due to the steep hill behind. Fortification Road, Nakaroa Road, Napier Street, Pretoria Road, Glenville Road and Tai Paku Paku Road all offer elevated vistas over Karaka Bays and the outer harbour.
House Prices
Small homes on Karaka Bay Road from $900,000 (rare).
Larger homes, 1960s and later, on the elevated hillsides, from $1.3 million.
Travel Times
Central city – driving, 15 minutes non-peak, up to 30 minutes peak.
Airport – driving, 10 minutes non-peak.
Hutt Valley – driving, 25 minutes non-peak.
Weather
The area is particularly sheltered from prevailing northerlies, as the land rises steeply behind the suburb to the north and west. Homes against the hillside suffer from shading, particularly in winter. A blast from the south (which happens three or four times a year) may be felt as parts of the suburb are exposed to this direction.