Petone Promenade

From East to West the Petone Promenade extends over 3.5 Kilometers along the foreshore. This is where the early Wellington Settlers landed and Presbyterians held their first service in New Zealand.
As a result the streets adjoining the Esplanade on the northern side are named for the interesting names of the Settler ships. Some of these street names are duplicated in Wellington City. See the Te Papa link for the story about "Britannia, the town that never was," to learn why.
Before that the Atiawa Iwi had a pa here.
For the most part of the year a challenging location meteorologically, with the predominant northerly wind shooting down the valley to this windswept stretch of beach, alternatively a southerly could be belting up the harbour. So don your windproof attire and join the parade and walk or cycle along the harbour edge. The path is wide and landscaped. Divert on to the long wharf to see if the fish are biting and admire the views across the water to the City and Harbour entrance.
Past the wharf are the Heretaunga Boat Club, the Petone Rowing club buildings, the Seashore Cabaret Café and the obligatory concrete block toilet and changing block.
Continue on to the Petone Settlers Museum, past carparks where you will often spot an icecream van and always a coffee seller. At the eastern end is a children's playground and refreshment stand and while the road turns into Waione Street, the beachfront continues on to a little reserve name McEwen park.
The Esplanade is a favourite place for locals to park and eat their fish and chips, and in summer some of the hardier ones are seen swimming. For visitors, more a strolling or swift walk type of beach than a sunbathing spot. Hutt City Council have been motivated to make use of their ‘main beach’ and have scheduled events and activities in this area but often the weather has the last laugh.