Island Bay New Zealand

Last month we took advantage of the (now closed) travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. Glad we brought all our stuff, cause we aren’t going back to Australia anytime soon!

We’ve been living in Island Bay, a beautiful neighborhood of Wellington with views over the Cook Straight and the towering mountains of the South Island. We chose this neighborhood because many of our friends live nearby but I’ve fallen in love with the scenery. Raw nature abounds, as it does everywhere in New Zealand. It’s the start of the City to Sea walkway, the Red Rocks Coastal Walk, and the Taputeranga Marine Reserve. 

We do get some ripping southerlies that feel like our apartment is going to blow away. And it’s a New Zealand winter so it’s damp and cold, inside and outside… but I honestly like this weather. 

Urban Hiking Kunanyi / Mt Wellington

Hobart is my favorite city in Australia. I love the weather, I love the walkability. Best of all it has a mountain you can summit from downtown. We didn’t go all the way to the summit of Kunanyi/Mt Wellington but we did manage to do an epic day hike right out the door of our Airbnb.

The first stop with any urban adventure is coffee. Ginger Brown was highly recommended by our friends and did not disappoint. Excellent coffee and cake. Full of caffeine and sugar we start our 2,000ft climb along the Hobart Rivulet. The well-manicured trail slowly gives way to a more rugged and rocky path as we climb higher.

At Junction Cabin we start our loop to see the Octopus Tree, Sphinx Rock, and head past the Lost Freight Cafe - a cafe in a shipping container. The Octopus Tree does look like an Octopus, Sphinx Rock is more of a stretch. The trail is mostly forested but we have occasional views of the city and harbor below. The skies are crystal clear and we can see for miles. 

We head down a fire road on the way downhill, much faster than the climb up. In the evening light wallaby’s start to bounce across the trail. Back in the city, we pass the Cascade Brewery. Tempting but we’re both wiped. The couch sounds a lot better!

If you go: