Your Insider's Guide to Eastbourne and Days Bay

Take some time out at the Pause Yoga Studio, tucked away in the serene bush of Days Bay. The architectural award-winning studio is designed to make visitors feel as though they are inside a tree looking out over the bush and the Wellington harbour. The experience is breath-taking, and not just because of the yoga!

For those wanting to get out and get active, there are plenty of hiking opportunities in the East Harbour Regional Park (including the well-known Butterfly Creek trail) as well as the multi-purpose trail out to Pencarrow Lighthouse. Whether you want to tread gently or hike hard, there are options for everyone, including bike hire from Wildfinder. Expect wide-spanning vistas, plenty of lush native foliage and various other landscapes along the way. 

One such store is Goldie, a beautiful home and lifestyle store for design lovers. With a focus on quality products designed to make daily life a little better through good design, Goldie offers a thoughtfully curated range of design-led products for the home, lifestyle and little ones. Featuring a seamless blend of Danish and New Zealand design labels, expect brands like Ferm Living, Audo Copenhagen, and OYOY Living alongside Kiwi favourites such as Citta, Nature Baby, Sophie and Yu Mei.

Somewhere people can rely on for their fix of both art and beauty is Studio Toru, a unique 3-in-1 jewellery workshop, retail area and gallery exhibition space housed in one of Eastbourne’s original settler cottages. Works are produced by a variety of contemporary New Zealand jewellers, along with ceramics, sculptures, paintings, prints and textiles created by both local and national artists, emerging and established. At Studio Toru, the vision is to create a welcoming, inclusive and uplifting space where people can discover and be inspired by exquisite artwork and jewellery. It is a place where the creative juices can’t help but flow, and fresh ideas are constantly brewing.

The Cove is a Days Bay store offering a curated range of premium lifestyle brands. Much-loved brands include iKOU, Boody Eco Clothing, and Dock & Bay, and all are perfect for self-care, souvenirs, or gifts for someone special. Quality goods combined with friendly staff offer a calming respite from the often busy beach just across the road.

Renowned as one of the best butchers in the whole of Wellington, Eastbourne Quality Meats is operated by a husband-and-wife duo from the heart of Eastbourne village. Many of the meats are prepared onsite (such as the sausages, thick-cut pancetta and manuka smoked bacon) and their black pudding is literally award-winning. It may not be what you came for, but it’ll be hard to leave empty-handed!

Sweet tooths will love the sound of Chocolate Dayz Cafe, a rustic cafe in Days Bay with an outlook that is near impossible to beat. Overlooking the beach, the views are worth a visit alone. Add in some freshly brewed coffee and the crowd-pleasing salmon Benedict and you’ll never want to leave. Neighbouring Sea Salt Cafe and Eatery offers a similar view but with a more evening-focused menu, centring on European cuisine.

For those with families, the Days Bay Pavilion is always hard to beat. Offering ample play areas, scooped ice creams, outdoor tables and even the occasional gig, the Days Bay Pavilion really does cater to all wants and needs. Again, it’s just across the road from the beach but it also offers plenty of green space of its own.

Eastbourne’s Hive Cafe is a spacious spot that prides itself on being genuine; baking everything fresh every day, and having particularly friendly staff. There is certainly enough space for everyone, whether you want to take a seat inside, upstairs or in the spacious and relaxing courtyard. Coffees are brewed with locally roasted Karamu beans and the cabinet includes goodies such as ham off the bone baguettes and almond croissants.

Another Eastbourne mainstay is Tartines French Cafe. Bringing a small slice of French culinary delight to the Hutt, Tartines is a popular cafe and deli located in the heart of the village. Tartine’s menu is designed to be authentic, with traditional delights such as French onion soup, beef bourguignon, crepes and galettes on the menu. The deli offers shelves laden with chutneys, preserves and oils, and the delectable cabinet overflows with delicately made tarts and pastries. And the icing on the cake? Tartines boasts a beautiful and sunny conservatory, which always manages to feel warm and inviting.

If you’re on the move (pre- or post-hike perhaps), Eastbourne Bakery will cater for all your basic bready needs. There’s a huge assortment of sourdough options, pastries (including sweet and savoury croissants and scrolls) and, of course, Flight coffee. Doing simple things well, Eastbourne Bakery is unlikely to leave you disappointed.