By car

The Walnut Tree B & B is conveniently located on Eastbourne’s major road – Muritai Road @ number 335. We’re 21kms or about 25 minutes drive from Wellington City – (avoiding early morning and evening rush hour when the journey may take 50-60 minutes.)

If you are travelling from Wellington it’s basically a matter of following the coast around the harbour all the way. Take State Highway 2 to the Hutt Valley, exiting at Petone. Follow the signs to Eastbourne (and the region’s only Top Ten Motorpark) along the Esplanade until the Hutt Park roundabout. Take the Eastbourne exit ( 12o’clock)  head 100m to next roundabout continue straight ahead past the Seaview oil tanks and continue following the gentle coastal drive for 5kms. Continue on this main road past the Eastbourne shops. From here it’s about 1.5kms to our home. We have a high brick fence and large trees.

If arriving by car please pull into the driveway, parking on the small shingle space to the right.

See http://maps.google.co.nz/ for directions and a photo of our home. The Google street photo for our address logs onto no334.  Just swing the camera around across the street to find our place – brick fence, teal garage door no.335.

By Bus

The Valley Flyer bus service stops right outside our driveway. If you are travelling out from Wellington look for the distinctive purple and orange buses. Take route no 81 – direct to Eastbourne via Petone ( approx 45 minute trip) or 83 via Petone and Lower Hutt ( 1 hour approx).  If you are travelling at peak times there is also an 85 Eastbourne Express service which travels straight to Eastbourne ( 40 mins). Just ask for stop no. 9854 or Muritai Road at Konini Street. This excellent service runs throughout the day and evening providing no-hassle direct service to Wellington City and Lower Hutt. From these locations you can take connecting buses or trains to other parts of the city including the airport or a train to the wine trail in the Wairarapa or north to the Kapiti Coast.

The bus will take you right into Courtenay Place in Wellington, the heart of the restaurant and entertainment district and a 5 minute walk to Wellington’s number one tourist attraction, The Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. En route you will pass through historic multi-cultural Petone, Wellington’s original settler suburb with its quaint and quirky shopping and cafés. The route through the city takes you past the main Railway Station and Parliament Buildings along Lambton Quay – Wellington’s Golden shopping mile, which includes the iconic ‘Kirkcaldie and Stains’- New Zealand’s premier department store.

One way adult fares to Eastbourne start at $5.50. For an unlimited day’s travel on all city buses, including the Airport Flyer from Petone,  just ask the driver for a Star Pass – $12.00 per day. Tickets can be purchased from the driver on the bus – cash only. If you are staying for a while in the Capital it may be worth your while to purchase a Snapper card ( pre-loaded Smart Card for buses). These are available from Bookshops and convenience stores or any transport facility. You will find a full range of up- to- date fare and timetable information in your room and we are able to help with any extra details you may wish to know.

For more details re bus and train travel go to www.metlink.org.nz

By Ferry

By far the most relaxing way to get to Eastbourne from Wellington is to take the Dominion Post East West Ferry. This truly scenic harbour crossing takes you from Queens Wharf in the heart of Central Wellington to Days Bay. From here it’s a 2 km walk along the road to our place, or for $1, catch the bus and be dropped off at the front gate.  As a service to our guests we are also happy to arrange a free pick-up and drop off to the ferry.

It’s a gorgeous 25 minute trip where you can enjoy splendid views of the City, beautiful Oriental Bay and see the Eastern Bays and hills from the best possible vantage point.

On board you can enjoy a coffee, wine or beer and read the newspaper. Selected sailings each day stop at Matiu/ Somes Island, a scientific and historic reserve and sanctuary for endangered native birds and wildlife. See www.doc.govt.nz/matiu for more information about visiting Matiu/Somes Island

The ferry service runs from 6.30 a.m.-7pm weekdays, weekends 10-7. Adult fares are $10.00 one way. More information is available on www.eastwestferry.org.nz