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Story: Beach culture

Days Bay water chute

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Days Bay water chute

At Days Bay on Wellington Harbour, about 1900, people could visit a zoo, explore a castle or slide down this water chute. The British seaside tradition featured music halls, piers with slot machines and merry-go-rounds. Elements of this commercial seaside appeared in New Zealand in the early 20th century.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-075377; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Beach culture – Beach recreation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16/days-bay-water-chute (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 2 March 2009.