ISLAND BAY
Island Bay is a coastal suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, on the south edge of the city. Island Bay has a seashore location, adjacent Italian fishing past, and close community. Blending natural beauty, cultural heritage, and family facilities, Island Bay is an unusual part of Wellington identity.
Island Bay is on Wellington's south coast, approximately 5 kilometres from the inner city. The suburb opens onto the Cook Strait and is flanked on one side by craggy hills and on the other side by the sea. Island Bay was named after Tapu Te Ranga Island, a small island within the bay, which is a local landmark.
The coastline of the suburb has sandy shores, rocky coastlines, and seashores, hence suitable for swimming, fishing, and diving. It also meets the Tapu Te Ranga Marine Reserve, which was formed to safeguard the native ecosystem.
Island Bay has a strong history. Initially, it was a site of local Māori cultural significance, where they fished and gathered in the shore. European settlers arrived at the site in the middle of the 19th century, and by early in the 20th century, Island Bay was a hub for Wellington's fishing industry.
A migration of Italian immigrants, a number of them fishermen, developed in the suburb from the late 19th century. Their culture contributed to the development of the community and gave Island Bay its status as the hub of Wellington's fishing fleet.
Island Bay is a family-orientated suburb with a close-knit community atmosphere. Features include:
- Island Bay School – An established primary school.
- Church of St Francis de Sales – A big Catholic church representing the Italian heritage of the suburb.
- Shops and Cafés – A small shopping complex and restaurants on The Parade.
- Recreation Facilities – Parks, sports clubs, and the well-used Island Bay Pool (a seawater paddling pool).
The community activities, such as the Island Bay Festival and the Blessing of the Boats, celebrate the fishing and cultural heritage of the suburb.
Island Bay is connected to the inner city by The Parade, a long, straight road from the suburb's edge to Newtown and beyond. Public transport operates along it at regular intervals, so it is an extensively serviced commuter route. Pedestrian and cycling traffic is also considerable, with lanes incorporated in recent years.
The suburb is famous for the natural environment:
- Island Bay Beach – A protected sandy beach for recreation.
- Tapu Te Ranga Island – A rock island offshore that named the suburb.
- Marine Reserve – Tapu Te Ranga Marine Reserve offers diving, snorkelling, and sea life observation.
- Coastal Walks – Trails along the south coast connect Island Bay to Owhiro Bay, Red Rocks, and other natural features.
250 Shetland Islanders inhabited Wellington in the 1900s, with many of these families establishing themselves within Island Bay. Island Bay was chosen by the Shetland Islanders due to it's close proximity to the fishing Grounds in the nearby Cook Strait, with Island Bay also being reasonably sheltered from harsh conditions. The Weather of the Cook Strait was more familiar to the Shetland Islanders than the Italian population that also inhabited Island Bay at the Time.
Island Bay is a vibrant beachside suburb blending cultural history, coastal landscape, and neighborhood hospitality. Its Italian fishery history, heritage association, and natural landscape make it unique in Wellington. Today, it remains a residential community and resort for recreation and cultural festivals, retaining its heritage while offering a relaxed coastline lifestyle.