![Part 2 of a 5 part panorama depicting Croydon Preparatory School and grounds, at Days Bay, Eastbourne, [ca 1928]In the foreground are Claude Skelley (left) and Courtenay Hall (right). Mrs Skelley stands at left back. Taken by an unidentified photographer.](https://prod-images.planyourroadtrips.com/img/city-images/days-bay-nz--412815-1749072/1-Croydon_School_panorama_1928_pt2.jpg?w=1080&q=80&f=webp)
film location
Weta Workshop, Miramar, Wellington
The effects house behind Middle-earth; its Wellington workshop tour displays original props, weapons and creature designs.
7 km · about 15 min drive
OceaniaNew ZealandWellington Region
Days Bay
Wellington Region, New Zealand · Oceania
About Days Bay
Days Bay is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Parkway, 10km from Mount Victoria Lookout, Wellington.
Days Bay is in Wellington Region, New Zealand, with about 2,200 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Parkway, about 4 km away.
Days Bay (Māori: Oruamatoro) is a residential area in Lower Hutt in the Wellington Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is walled on three sides by steep bush-clad slopes. Most of its level land is occupied by the 6.5-hectare Williams Park and an independent boys' primary school, originally a part of WilliamsRead more
Park.
Wellington shipowner, J H Williams, bought land in Days Bay near the end of the 19th century to create custom for his smaller vessels, building a wharf and turning the bay into a sports and resort development for day-trippers and holiday-makers. Williams sold his interest in 1905 and the new owners split off building sites on unneeded land. The Eastbourne Borough Council bought the ferries in 1913 and the accommodation, Days Bay House, was sold to Wellington's Croydon School. The following year the Wellington City Council with central government support and public subscription bought the resort for the benefit of the public though without its accommodation and, in view of the large cash contribution by the founder's mother, named it Williams Park.
Days Bay's ornate wooden late-Victorian Pavilion, providing teas on its deep verandahs, a restaurant, evening dances and outdoor concerts was very popular until it was totally destroyed by an early Sunday morning fire in October 1952. It was eventually replaced by a small building. Better road access was achieved, a bus service provided and the ferries lost custom and Williams Park lost some of its visitors. Suburban electric trains up the west coast and the rise of private cars in the second half of the 20th century opened new options for Wellingtonians.
Since public ownership in 1914, aside from the maturing of trees, no waterslide and a new small pavilion, more than a century has elapsed and Williams Park has changed little.
Where to Stay in Days Bay
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Days Bay.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Days Bay.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Days Bay?
Within an hour or so of Days Bay: Weta Workshop, Miramar, Wellington (7 km), Mount Victoria Lookout, Wellington (10 km), Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (11 km), Putangirua Pinnacles (Paths of the Dead) (33 km).
Are there any good drives near Days Bay?
The nearest famous roads are Queen Charlotte Drive.
Where is Days Bay?
Days Bay is in Wellington Region, New Zealand, about 4 km from Parkway.
Road trip
Drive to Days Bay
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Days Bay. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 2,180
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Wellington Region
- Timezone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Coordinates
- -41.2815, 174.9072
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in New Zealand
Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.
Full driving guide for New ZealandTags
Worth the detour from Days Bay
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Mount Victoria Lookout, Wellington
196 m summit lookout reached by a sealed road above central Wellington, giving a panorama of the harbour and Cook Strait.
10 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
New Zealand's bold national museum, renowned for its interactive exhibits, Maori taonga, and a colossal squid specimen.
11 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Putangirua Pinnacles (Paths of the Dead)
The eroded badland spires on the Wairarapa coast are the Dimholt Road approach to the Paths of the Dead in Return of the King.
33 km · about 40 min drive
museum
Southward Car Museum
One of the Southern Hemisphere's largest collections with over 400 vehicles spanning a century of motoring.
44 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Days Bay
- Right hereMount Victoria Lookout, Wellington196 m summit lookout reached by a sealed road above central Wellington, giving a panorama of the harbour and Cook Strait.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Days Bay.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Days Bay.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.