A compact city surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy. You'll enjoy a powerful mix of nature, history, culture and cuisine. Fuel your visit with strong coffee and world-class craft beer. To give you a taste of what to expect from your visit to Wellington City, here's an overview of great itinerary ideas I've collated for you.
New Zealand's capital city and also known as our arts and culture capital. A special blend of heritage buildings, museums and galleries, fine food and live entertainment opportunities make this city a great place to visit in any season. Highlights can include:
Wellington Waterfront is ripe for recreation, a way to stroll from one side of the city to the other along the waters edge 🏙️
you're in the culinary and creative soul of the city when you arrive in Cuba Street, home to the iconic kinetic sculpture The Bucket Fountain 🛍️🎨🍽️
take the historic trip on NZ's only public running Cable Car and take in the fragrance of the Wellington Botanic Garden 🌼🌷
a tranquil retreat for both wildlife and visitors Matiu / Somes Island offers wildlife-rich tracks and historic sites 👟
offering sublime views of rugged coast the Seal Coast Safari provides encounters with kekeno/NZ fur seals 📸
iconic Old St Paul's Cathedral is one of the best examples of timber Gothic Revival architecture in the world ⛪
created by Sir Peter Jackson, The Great War Exhibition commemorates the first World War in a stunning array of movie-like sets at the National War Memorial 🎖️
try popular Aro Valley brewery, Garage Project Cellar Door + Taproom where 18 taps change weekly 🍺
a visit to The Beehive+ Parliament Buildings is popular with locals, but also offers insight into how we keep important buildings safe in earthquakes with base isolators 🇳🇿
Wellington City Walkways cover a wide range of landscapes and take in scenic views of the city and coast 👟
follow in the footsteps of hobbits, dwarfs, elves and men on a Wellington Rover Tour, providing the most comprehensive Lord of the Rings filming location tours 🎥
head to the lookout of Mount Victoria and be rewarded with stunning views over the city 📸
every Saturday The Wellington Underground Market showcases an eclectic range of stalls including the regions best artisans, designers, makers and bakers 🛍️
providing wonderful insight into the rich social and cultural history Wellington Museum showcases the city's colourful history 🔍
Wellington's beaches and bays don't disappoint - from favourites with the golden sand Oriental Bay and Scorching Bay to popular surf beach Lyall Bay and traditional fishing hub Island Bay 🌊
at The Weta Cave snap a selfie with life-sized sculptures, wander through a mini museum, and watch an exclusive documentary - it's a movie lover's paradise 🎬🤳
the world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary ZEALANDIA is home to rare and wonderful endemic New Zealand wildlife 🌲
home to New Zealand's most influential theatre-makers, Circa Theatre presents powerful and captivating original theatre 🎭
passionate about connecting people with animals and saving animals in the wild, Wellington Zoo offers fun for everyone 🐾
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's bold and innovative national museum and a recognised world leader in interactive and visitor-focused museum experiences 🇳🇿🔎
WELLINGTON CITY AT A GLANCE 🛏️ minimum 2 night stay recommended 📅 visit any time of year
📍 5.5 out of 10 visitors include Wellington City in their New Zealand itinerary
🌦️there is a chance of rain 3.5 days each week on average each year
👨👩👦👦Family fun scores well here with plenty to keep children entertained 🍽️Food + Wine experiences in this region were almost always mentioned as a highlight 🏳️🌈 LGBTQI+ friendly 👍
This part of New Zealand is home to:
Popular places: Lambton Quay, Cuba Street, Te Papa Tongarewa, Courtenay Place, Willis Street, Miramar Peninsula, Mount Victoria, Oriental Bay, Thorndon, Kelburn, Hataitai, Newtown, Island Bay, Lyall Bay, Brooklyn, Aro Valley, Wadestown, Khandallah, Karori, Tawa, Johnsonville, Makara Beach, Kilbirnie, Newtown, Northland and more...
Accessible by:
🚗 self-drive on a road trip
✈️ board a plane to land at 'The Middle of Middle Earth', Wellington's Airport (WLG)
🚌take a bus from Kapiti Coast, Manawatu, Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Ruapehu or Lake Taupo
🚆traverse by train from Kapiti Coast, the Wairarapa, Manawatu or Ruapehu
⛴️take a ferry to the South Island town of Picton in Marlborough
