Explore Wellington

Wellington's worth exploring. Here's where to start.

Wellington punches above its weight. World-class food, a proper arts scene, the best coffee in the country (ask any Wellingtonian), and a waterfront that's hard to beat on a clear day. Our team know the city well - here's what we'd send our own family to do.

Where to eat.

Wellington has more restaurants per capita than New York, and a lot of them are genuinely excellent. From waterfront cafes to laneway spots you'd walk past without knowing, here's what our team keeps going back to.

 

Prefer to eat in? Rock Salt Bar & Grill is right here on site - open every night for dinner, and every morning for breakfast.

What to do in Wellington.

  • Te Papa Tongarewa - New Zealand's national museum, free entry, right on the waterfront. Worth at least a half day.
  • Wellington Waterfront - Walk, cycle, or just sit and watch. One of the best urban waterfronts in the country.
  • Courtenay Place - Wellington's main strip for bars, restaurants, and live entertainment.
  • Sky Stadium - Catch a Hurricanes game, All Blacks test, or major event. We're minutes away.
  • Mount Victoria Lookout - A short drive for panoramic views over the city, harbour, and hills.
  • Wellington Botanic Garden - The cable car up is worth it on its own.
  • Cuba Street - Wellington's most characterful street. Good coffee, independent stores, and street food.
  • Zealandia - A genuine urban wildlife sanctuary - kākā, tuatara, and more, right in the city.
  • Wētā Workshop - Behind-the-scenes tours of one of the world's leading film effects studios.
  • Interislander or Bluebridge ferry - If you haven't done the Marlborough Sounds crossing, add it to the list.

Getting around Wellington.

Wellington is a compact city and genuinely easy to navigate. Free parking is on site at Capital Lodge, so you can drive into the city when it suits and walk or take a short bus ride the rest of the time. The CBD is about 10 minutes by car. Most of the key attractions - the waterfront, Te Papa, Courtenay Place - are within easy walking distance of each other once you're in the centre.