Eastbourne, a suburb of Lower Huttcity in the southern North Island of New Zealand, had a population of 4,665 people as of the 2013 New Zealand census. An outer suburb, it lies on the eastern shore of Wellington Harbour, five kilometres south of the main Lower Hutt urban area and directly across the harbour from the Miramar Peninsula in Wellington city. A narrow exposed coastal road connects it with the rest of Lower Hutt via the industrial suburb of Seaview. Eastbourne has some 2000 residential homes spread over the seven main small bays of Point Howard, Lowry Bay, York Bay, Māhina Bay, Days Bay, Rona Bay and Robinsons Bay, although only the last two are commonly considered part of Eastbourne itself. There are also two smaller bays; Sunshine Bay and Sorrento Bay. Close to the sea and catching afternoon sun, the bays back onto steep hills, with the lower reaches having homes - many with spectacular harbour views. Higher up there is mainly native bush and trees. With a locally administered possum-eradication programme, much of the native bush has regenerated, including red-flowering northern rātā trees. The bush has numerous tracks running to and from them, including a track along the entire bays hills ridge. It also has sheltered swimming beaches that are a major attraction. A regular trans-harbour ferry service connects Wellington and Eastbourne, docking at the Days Bay wharf in Eastbourne and at Queen's Wharf close to down-town Wellington. Prior to its amalgamation into Lower Hutt, the Borough of Eastbourne comprised a separate town, with its own council and civic administration. The Eastbourne Community Board, a remnant of the former town council, remains vocal on local issues. Eastbourne has three local primary schools: Muritai School, San Antonio School and Wellesley College. At the end of Eastbourne beyond Burdan's gate there is a pedestrian-only coastal road which extends out to the Wellington Harbour entrance heads, where there are three lighthouses. This area, popular with cyclists, provides access to East Harbour Regional Park. The hills surrounding Eastbourne provide important habitat for indigenous biodiversity and contain some of New Zealand's rarest and most-endangered plant species.
Education
Muritai School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of. San Antonio School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of.
