Wellington
Things to do in Wellington
Getting around
- The best way to explore Wellington is on foot. The central city is only two kilometres in diameter, meaning you can walk from one side to the other in under 30 minutes.
- Wellington has an excellent public transport system. Metlink has an easy-to-use journey planner to help get you anywhere within the Wellington region using buses, trains or ferries.
- Be sure to pick up a Snapper card from Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre. It’s the cheaper and faster way to pay.
- Electric scooters and ebikes are a quick and fun way to get around. Find Flamingo and Beam scooters at various locations throughout the central city.
Restaurants/Cafés/Breweries
There are too many restaurants, cafes, bars and coffee spots to choose from, but we have highlighted a few favourite locations that are in easy walking distance from Tākina.
- Kisa - 195 Cuba Street, Te Aro
- Damascus - 4/100 Tory St, Te Aro
- Olive - 170 Cuba Street, Wellington
- Charley Noble - 1 Post Office Square, Te Aro
- Apache - 122 Wakefield Street, Te Aro
- Ombra - 199 Cuba Street, Te Aro
- 1154 Pasteria - 132 Cuba Street, Te Aro
- Egmont Street Eatery - 11 Egmont Street, Te Aro
- August Eatery - 75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
- Ortega Fish Shack - 16 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria
- Highwater - 54 Cuba Street, Te Aro
Wellington is renowned as the craft beer capital of New Zealand. Wellington CBD has a selection of breweries to choose from:
- Fork & Brewer - 20 Bond Street, Te Aro
- Fortune Favours - 7 Leeds Street, Te Aro
- Whistling Sisters Beer Co - 100 Taranaki Street, Te Aro
- Choice Bros Ghuznee Street - 62 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro
- Heyday Beer co - 264a Cuba Street, Te Aro
- Garage Project – 68/70 Aro Street, Aro Valley,
Local highlights
Wellington waterfront
Walk or run around the stunning Wellington waterfront, located waterside of Te Papa Museum.
Cable car
Catch Wellington’s famous cable car. The historic cable car travels from Lambton Quay up to the Botanical Gardens where there are great views of the city and harbour.
280 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central
Image courtesy of 100% Pure New Zealand
Wellington Zoo
Enjoy animal antics at Wellington Zoo - New Zealand's oldest zoological park.
200 Daniel Street, Newtown, Wellington
Image courtesy of Wellington Zoo
Wētā Workshop
Wellington, New Zealand, is home to an entire community of creative Wētā Workshop artisans who’ve brought life to such films as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, Avatar, and many others. Wētā Workshop is your gateway to filmmaking creativity. Join the guided tours and learn about the making of movie effects, from armour to weapons, creatures to costumes, make-up to miniatures, and more!
Tours depart from the Wētā Cave at 1 Weka Street, Miramar, Wellington
Image courtesy of Weta Workshop
Mount Victoria
Walk or take a bus from the city to the summit of Mount Victoria for a 360-degree panorama of Wellington. Enjoy stunning city and harbour views.
Image courtesy of WCC
Te papa
Te Papa is the innovative national museum and a world leader in interactive experiences.
Te Papa is open every day 10am–6pm (except Christmas Day).
Admission is free for everyone, but charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and events.
55 Cable Street, Wellington
Image courtesy of Zealandia