Wellington, New Zealand: travel guide
The compact, hilly capital at the bottom of the North Island — home to Te Papa, the Beehive parliament, a historic cable car and a celebrated craft-coffee and arts scene. Windy harbour city and ferry port to the South Island.
- Country
- New Zealand
- Currency
- NZD
- Time zone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Nearest airport
- WLG
Top places to visit in Wellington
Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum · about 3 h
New Zealand's bold national museum on the waterfront, mixing Maori treasures, natural history (including a colossal squid) and immersive Te Taiao galleries.
Wellington Cable Car
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h
A historic red funicular climbing from Lambton Quay to Kelburn for a classic city-and-harbour panorama beside the Botanic Garden.
Wellington Botanic Garden
Nature · about 1.5 h
25 hectares of protected native forest, conifers and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden spilling down the hill from the cable-car top.
Mount Victoria Lookout
Viewpoint · about 0.8 h
The definitive 360-degree lookout over Wellington's harbour, city and airport, reachable on foot or by car.
Zealandia Te Mara a Tane
Wildlife · about 3 h
A fully fenced urban eco-sanctuary restoring pre-human NZ, where free-flying tui, kaka, takahe and (by night) little spotted kiwi thrive.
New Zealand Parliament (Beehive)
Heritage · about 1 h
The distinctive modernist Beehive and neighbouring Parliament House offer free guided tours of New Zealand's seat of government.
Cuba Street
Cultural · about 1 h
Wellington's bohemian heart, a pedestrian strip of vintage shops, cafes, bars and the beloved Bucket Fountain.
Oriental Bay
Beach · about 1.5 h
Wellington's elegant beachfront suburb with a sandy swimming beach, palm-lined promenade and gelato strolls.
Weta Workshop (Miramar)
Cultural · about 2 h
The Oscar-winning effects studio behind Lord of the Rings offers behind-the-scenes tours of props, weapons and creatures.
Wellington Museum
Museum · about 1.5 h
A characterful museum in an 1892 bond store telling the city's maritime and social history, including the Wahine ferry disaster.
Mount Kaukau
Viewpoint · about 2 h
Wellington's highest peak, a breezy tussock summit with the widest views over the harbour, city and the South Island on clear days.
Space Place at Carter Observatory
Museum · about 1 h
A planetarium and observatory atop the Botanic Garden with a full-dome digital theatre and historic telescopes.
Things to do
- Weta Workshop Experience Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from NZD 55 per person
- Zealandia by Night Tour Nature · 2.5 h · from NZD 95 per person
- Wellington Craft Beer Tour Food · 3 h · from NZD 120 per person
- Seal Coast Safari 4WD Adventure · 3.5 h · from NZD 149 per person
- Wellington Movie & Scenery Tour Cultural · 4 h · from NZD 129 per person
- Wellington Harbour Cruise Water Sports · 1.5 h · from NZD 45 per person
Day trips and tours
- Wellington Highlights & Weta Workshop Day 6 h · from NZD 195
Where to stay in Wellington
- Wellington CBD & Waterfront about NZD 220 per night
The compact heart of the capital along the harbour, steps from Te Papa, the waterfront and Lambton Quay.
- Te Aro & Cuba Quarter about NZD 200 per night
Wellington's bohemian creative quarter around Cuba Street, packed with cafes, bars and live music.
- Oriental Bay about NZD 260 per night
An elegant beachfront suburb minutes from town, with a sandy swimming beach and palm-lined promenade.
Hotels
- Ohtel 4.5-star · NZD 260 to NZD 420 per night
- Bolton Hotel 4.5-star · NZD 240 to NZD 380 per night
- InterContinental Wellington 5-star · NZD 300 to NZD 520 per night
- QT Wellington 4.5-star · NZD 250 to NZD 400 per night
- Naumi Hotel Wellington 4-star · NZD 200 to NZD 320 per night
- YHA Wellington 3-star · NZD 45 to NZD 150 per night
Where to eat
- Logan Brown Modern New Zealand · about NZD 120 per person
- Ortega Fish Shack Seafood, Spanish · about NZD 70 per person
- Fidel's Cafe Cafe · about NZD 25 per person
- Havana Bar Tapas, Latin American · about NZD 55 per person
- Loretta Modern New Zealand, Cafe · about NZD 48 per person
- Sweet Mother's Kitchen Cajun, Tex-Mex · about NZD 30 per person
- Charley Noble Eatery Grill, Modern New Zealand · about NZD 65 per person
- Field & Green European · about NZD 50 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Cable Car main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Airport taxi overcharging
Wellington Airport rank
A few unmetered or unofficial drivers quote inflated flat fares to the city.
How to avoid it: Use the official taxi rank, metered taxis, or a rideshare app with an upfront fare.