Don’t Miss

All aboard for an urban adventure

You will find plenty to see and do within Wellington's compact downtown area.

• Take a tour - discover former Lord of the Rings filming sites with one of Wellington's tour companies
• A restored, historic cable car travels from downtown Wellington up to the Botanic Garden, where there are sweeping views of the city and harbour
• Downtown Wellington's four unique quarters offer great shopping, bars, cafes and restaurants - all within easy walking distance
• Walk or take a bus from the city to the summit of Mount Victoria for a 360-degree panorama of Wellington
• Mountain bike through the re-generating native bush of Makara Peak, a nationally acclaimed mountain bike park
• Hire some inline skates or a bicycle rickshaw and zoom down to Oriental Bay and back

Arts and Culture

• Set on the city waterfront, Te Papa is New Zealand's innovative national museum. Visitors can gain an insight into the New Zealand way of life - past and present. Entry is free for most exhibitions
• Wellington has a strong theatre culture. See a live show and concert any night of the week
• The Museum of Wellington presents the intriguing tales of Wellington in an interactive and entertaining way. Free entry
• Explore many of the boutique art galleries peppered throughout the city

Heritage

• Enjoy a tour of Parliament Buildings which provide an insight into New Zealand's political heritage
• The inner city suburb of Thorndon is New Zealand's oldest suburb. Visit the country's oldest operating hotel and second oldest pub, the Speight's Ale House
• Visit Katherine Mansfield Birthplace, childhood home of one of New Zealand's most famous writers. The house has been intricately restored to match the descriptions in her stories
• Old St Paul's is a magnificent, gothic style cathedral built from New Zealand native timbers

Get close to nature in and around the city

The best way to appreciate the beauty of Wellington's natural environment is to get out there.

• Visit an inner city slice of native paradise at Zealandia - The Karori Sanctuary Experience, home to some of New Zealand's rarities including kiwi
• Enjoy animal antics at Wellington Zoo - New Zealand's oldest zoological park
• Harbour cruises operate between the city and Days Bay, where you'll find seaside cafes and quality craft shops
• You can also catch a ferry to Matiu/Somes Island in the middle of Wellington harbour - a conservation project with a colourful history
• Hire a sea kayak and paddle around the picturesque bays of Wellington Harbour
• Walk around the stunning waterfront and follow the Wellington Writer's Walk - poetry and book excerpts are part of the scenery
• Take a four-wheel drive tour to the south coast and see a colony of New Zealand fur seals
• Take a bush walk in Otari-Wilton's Bush, New Zealand's only botanic garden dedicated solely to native forest

Relax and indulge on the Kapiti Coast

Northwest of Wellington is the Kapiti Coast, where you can enjoy golden beaches and a gourmet lifestyle.

• Kapiti Island Nature Reserve sits just off the coastline - it's one of New Zealand's leading conservation islands
• Tempt your taste buds at Lindale Tourist and Agricultural Centre, where you'll find local Kapiti cheese and ice cream tasting
• Visit Southwards Car Museum, for the Southern Hemisphere's largest collection of antique and unusual cars
• Take a food focus and visit market gardens, a chocolate factory, a cooking school and olive groves
• Test your culinary skills at the Ruth Pretty Cooking School. Ruth Pretty is one of New Zealand's best-loved chefs. Running a purpose built cooking school from home, she shares recipes, cooking ideas and entertaining secrets in the rural tranquillity of Te Horo
• The Tasman Sea coastline offers a multitude of outdoor activities, including exceptional birdwatching

Explore the Vineyards

Spend some time tasting world class wines in the Wairarapa region, an hour and fifteen minutes outside

• Explore the boutique wine village of Martinborough, a wine lover's paradise by bicycle.
• Stop and sample some of the wines that are on offer, especially the Pinot Noir.
• Indulge in a gourmet lunch at one of the award winning wineries

Exploring the region's other urban centres

Hire a car, catch a bus or a train to the Hutt Valley or Porirua, Wellington's other main urban centres

• Spend some time at Pataka and discover Pacific Art and Culture in Porirua
• The New Dowse, in Lower Hutt, is a constantly changing mix of exciting, innovative exhibitions and events.
• Increase your knowledge of New Zealand culture on a Maori Treasures of Wellington tour, which offers a hands-on experience with maori arts and culture
• Staglands Wildlife Reserve in Upper Hutt is home to a wide range of exotic and native wildlife
• Kaitoke Regional Park is a popular local reserve in Upper Hutt for tramping, picnicking and swimming. It played the part of Rivendell in the Lord of the Rings trilogy
• Visit Experience Stansborough to journey from the farm and the flock to the world of fashion and films, including Lord of the Rings and Narnia