Oriental Bay / Mount Victoria

Oriental Bay is Wellington's postcard — a golden crescent of sand backed by Oriental Parade, where art deco apartments and grand Moderne buildings like the Olympus command harbour views and premium prices. In summer, the beach fills with swimmers and sunbathers, while the Carter Fountain shoots illuminated jets of water across the harbour at night. Freyberg Pool, a heated saltwater complex on the waterfront, offers year-round swimming. Behind the Parade, Mount Victoria rises steeply through native bush — its summit lookout delivers Wellington's most famous 360-degree view, spanning the harbour, the city centre, and the Rimutaka Ranges. The forested slopes were used by Peter Jackson to film the Hobbiton Woods scenes in The Lord of the Rings. Majoribanks Street at Mt Vic's base offers an intimate dining strip with restaurants like Salty Pidgin and Martha's Pantry. Property ranges from NZD 750,000 for one-bedroom apartments on Oriental Parade to NZD 3 million or more for harbourview houses on Mt Victoria's slopes. The combination of beach lifestyle, bush setting, and a five-minute walk to the CBD makes this Wellington's most coveted residential address.

Oriental Bay / Mount Victoria, Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand