Lyall Bay
Encyclopedia
Lyall Bay is a bay and a suburb on the south side of the Rongotai isthmus
in Wellington
, New Zealand
.
The bay is a popular surf beach, featuring a breakwater
at the eastern end. It has also been the site of surf lifesaving championships, and is home to two surf lifesaving clubs. Lyall Bay is a very popular and safe swimming beach. The beach is only two thirds of its original size; the construction of Wellington International Airport
took away the eastern third of the beach.
The suburb consists of most of the southern half of the Rongotai isthmus, although Wellington International Airport and a small industrial area next to it are often considered to be part of Rongotai
. The isthmus was created by geologic upheaval as result of recurring earthquakes, the most recent occurrence being the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake
. Lyall Bay is predominantly a residential area, but also contains a part of Wellington's Southern Walkway, and the Southern Headlands Reserve. The south-western border has Te Raekaihau Point
as the dividing landform to Houghton Bay
. The suburb has few amenities, and is serviced by nearby Kilbirnie
. However, there is a primary school (Lyall Bay School) and kindergarten and a small range of shops and cafés, mostly on Onepu Road and along the waterfront. Lyall Bay is home to Fat Freddy's Drop
, a popular Wellington band.
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The bay is a popular surf beach, featuring a breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
at the eastern end. It has also been the site of surf lifesaving championships, and is home to two surf lifesaving clubs. Lyall Bay is a very popular and safe swimming beach. The beach is only two thirds of its original size; the construction of Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport
Wellington International Airport is an international airport located in the suburb of Rongotai in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. It is a secondary hub and focus city for Air New Zealand and its subsidiaries...
took away the eastern third of the beach.
The suburb consists of most of the southern half of the Rongotai isthmus, although Wellington International Airport and a small industrial area next to it are often considered to be part of Rongotai
Rongotai
This article discusses the Wellington city suburb of Rongotai. For the article about the New Zealand parliamentary electorate of the same name see Rongotai ...
. The isthmus was created by geologic upheaval as result of recurring earthquakes, the most recent occurrence being the 1855 Wairarapa earthquake
1855 Wairarapa earthquake
The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake occurred on 23 January at about 9 p.m. In Wellington, close to the epicenter, shaking lasted for at least 50 seconds. The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated to have been in the range 8.1-8.3, the most powerful recorded in New Zealand since systematic European...
. Lyall Bay is predominantly a residential area, but also contains a part of Wellington's Southern Walkway, and the Southern Headlands Reserve. The south-western border has Te Raekaihau Point
Te Raekaihau Point
Te Raekaihau Point is a rugged coastal landform in Wellington, New Zealand, adjacent to Princess Bay, between Houghton Bay to the west and Lyall Bay to the east on the south coast. One meaning of the name is "the headland that eats the wind"...
as the dividing landform to Houghton Bay
Houghton Bay
-Location:It is between Island Bay and Lyall Bay, on the rocky shores of the Cook Strait. It has a beach ach that skirts Princess Bay, used by surfers and divers.-Character:...
. The suburb has few amenities, and is serviced by nearby Kilbirnie
Kilbirnie, New Zealand
Kilbirnie , a suburb of Wellington in New Zealand, lies 3 kilometers to the south-east of the city centre. Travellers can reach Kilbirnie from the Wellington central business district either via the Mount Victoria Tunnel and Hataitai; over Mount Victoria; or around the coast...
. However, there is a primary school (Lyall Bay School) and kindergarten and a small range of shops and cafés, mostly on Onepu Road and along the waterfront. Lyall Bay is home to Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fat Freddy’s Drop is a seven-piece band from Wellington, New Zealand, whose musical style has been characterised as any combination of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, and techno. Originally a jam band formed in the late 1990s by musicians from other bands in Wellington, Fat Freddy’s Drop...
, a popular Wellington band.