Top places to visit in Wellington

• Te Papa Tongarewa

  national museum · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  funicular · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A historic red funicular climbing from Lambton Quay to Kelburn for a classic city-and-harbour panorama beside the Botanic Garden.

• Wellington Botanic Garden

  botanic garden · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  hill lookout · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The definitive 360-degree lookout over Wellington's harbour, city and airport, reachable on foot or by car.

• Zealandia Te Mara a Tane

  eco-sanctuary · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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)

  government building · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The distinctive modernist Beehive and neighbouring Parliament House offer free guided tours of New Zealand's seat of government.

• Cuba Street

  bohemian quarter · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Wellington's bohemian heart, a pedestrian strip of vintage shops, cafes, bars and the beloved Bucket Fountain.

• Oriental Bay

  city beach · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Wellington's elegant beachfront suburb with a sandy swimming beach, palm-lined promenade and gelato strolls.

• Weta Workshop (Miramar)

  film effects studio · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Oscar-winning effects studio behind Lord of the Rings offers behind-the-scenes tours of props, weapons and creatures.

• Wellington Museum

  city & maritime · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A characterful museum in an 1892 bond store telling the city's maritime and social history, including the Wahine ferry disaster.

• Mount Kaukau

  summit walk · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  planetarium · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Wellington

Airport: Wellington (WLG)

How visitors arrive in Wellington

• Flight into Wellington Airport By air from Auckland and other NZ cities · common

  Wellington has a single airport terminal for domestic and international flights, with domestic links to the main New Zealand cities and Australia. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Cook Strait ferry from Picton By ferry from Picton (South Island) · common

  Interislander and Bluebridge ferries connect Picton with Wellington, with bus and rail links onward to Christchurch. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Drive via State Highway 1 or 2 By road from Auckland / Palmerston North · common

  SH1 arrives from the north via the Kapiti Coast and SH2 from Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Northern Explorer train from Auckland By train from Auckland · possible

  A long-distance scenic train links Auckland with Wellington on set days. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• InterCity coach By road from Auckland and North Island towns · possible

  Coaches from Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Hastings and Palmerston North arrive at the railway station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport Express bus

  The Airport Express (AX) bus runs between the terminal and Wellington Railway Station, stopping around the CBD; leave the terminal by Door E and follow the signs. Source: wellingtonairport.co.nz

• Metlink route 2

  Metlink route 2 is a regular city bus that stops on Hobart Street, a walk from the terminal. Check the bus reads Route 2 Seatoun, as Route 2 Miramar does not serve the airport. Source: wellingtonairport.co.nz

• Taxi or shuttle van

  Taxis and shuttle vans wait directly outside the terminal. Source: wellingtonairport.co.nz

• Uber from the app pickup zone

  Ride-hail apps such as Uber have a designated pickup zone on the ground floor of the terminal; follow the airport signs and check the app for the exact spot. Source: wellingtonairport.co.nz

Getting around

• Bus

  Metlink runs buses across Wellington and the wider region, with the central Golden Mile corridor served by many routes.

  Metlink tickets and fares

• Cable Car

  The Kelburn cable car links Lambton Quay with Kelburn, where the top terminal sits by an entrance to the Botanic Gardens.

  Wellington Cable Car

• Car Rental Self

  Walking is easier than driving in the centre, so a rental car suits trips further afield, such as the Kapiti Coast or the Wairarapa.

• Walking

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.

Best time to visit Wellington

• Jan 20°C
• Feb 21°C
• Mar 19°C
• Apr 17°C
• May 15°C
• Jun 12°C
• Jul 12°C
• Aug 12°C
• Sep 14°C
• Oct 15°C
• Nov 17°C
• Dec 19°C

More in New Zealand

• Queenstown
• Auckland
• Rotorua
• Christchurch
• Wanaka
• Taupo

Frequently asked questions about Wellington

What are the main places to visit in Wellington?

Places covered in our Wellington guide include Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Cable Car, Wellington Botanic Garden, Mount Victoria Lookout, Zealandia Te Mara a Tane.

Where should I stay in Wellington?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Wellington: Wellington CBD & Waterfront, Te Aro & Cuba Quarter, Oriental Bay.

How do I get around Wellington?

Ways to get around Wellington covered in our guide: City bus, Cable car, Self-drive car, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Wellington?

Scams reported to us for Wellington include Airport taxi overcharging. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Wellington?

Average daytime highs in Wellington run from 12°C in Jul to 21°C in Feb.

Which airport is nearest to Wellington?

The nearest airport to Wellington has the code WLG.