Wellington

Wellington

Situated at the southern end of the North Island, Wellington, New Zealand, was recently named "the coolest little capital in the world" by Lonely Planet.

Surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy, Wellington is a compact city with a powerful mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine. Fuel your visit with strong coffee and world-class craft beer – Wellingtonians are masters of casual dining, with plenty of great restaurants, night markets and food trucks.

Things to do

Relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach and delve into the many museums, art galleries and theatre shows that make up the city’s pulsing cultural scene. If you’re into the outdoors, Wellington has action-packed adventure activities like mountain biking and sea-water kayaking, as well as beautiful walks around the harbour and surrounding hills. Try the visually stunning Makara Peak track, as well as the City to Sea walk where you can experience the best of Wellington's waterfront. Ride the cable car up the hill to Kelburn for amazing views over the city and enjoy an ice cream at the top.

On the waterfront itself you’ll find Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, New Zealand’s national museum. Te Papa, as it’s colloquially known, means ‘our place’ and is one of the best interactive museums in the world.

A gourmet food experience

Wellington buzzes with delicatessens, cafes and restaurants – it’s a city that enjoys gourmet food and fine wine. Known as the culinary capital of New Zealand, Wellington is famous for its tucked-away bars, quirky cafes, award-winning restaurants and great coffee. Head to Courtenay Place or Cuba Street to get amongst the good stuff. 

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogy

A must for any Lord of The Rings fan, Wellington, New Zealand is home to Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop and the Weta Cave, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at movie making magic. It’s also a great base for day tours to experience “Middle‑earth” scenery. 

Close to Wellington

If you want to visit the South Island, Wellington is the city where you can board the inter-island ferry with or without a car. This 3 hour ferry ride offers daily services and is one of the most spectacular in the world. Leaving regularly from Wellington, the ferry takes passengers past the magnificent scenery of the Marlborough Sounds, before berthing in the picturesque town of Picton at the top of the South Island.

Classic New Zealand Wine Trail

A must-stop on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail - an adventure that takes you through some of New Zealand's top wine-producing regions - Wellington is a great place to start your wine-tasting journey.  Marlborough, Wairarapa and Hawkes' Bay are all a few hours' drive or ferry-ride away from Wellington and offer unforgettable winery experiences.