Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. It is located on the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. Being a compact city, Wellington encompasses various landscapes. Waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbor, and colorful timber houses on surrounding hills are a few of them. The iconic Wellington Cable Car takes you to the Wellington Botanic Gardens, from Lambton Quay. “Windy Wellington”, a very right nickname has been given to the city and this name comes from the fact that strong winds cut through the Cook Strait. Read further to find out the things to do in Wellington.
14 Interesting Things To Do Wellington
Wellington has a lot to offer as it is a happening place. Here are the nine things that you must try, when in Wellington.
- Martinborough Gourmet Wine Tour
- Lord of the Rings Tour
- Guided Wellington Electric Bike Tour
- Palliser Bay
- Head to the Seal Colony & Farm Tour
- Spend an evening at Weta
- Wellington Cruise Excursion
- Wild Wellington Full Day Tour
- Wellington Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
- Visit The Te Papa Museum
- Shopping On Cuba Street
- Cable Car Ride
- Take A Stroll In The Botanical Garden
- Hike Up To The Mt Kaukau
1. Martinborough Gourmet Wine Tour
Image Credit: PhotoMIX-Company for Pixabay
Framed by the rugged mountains of the Tararua range is the Wairarapa valley. This is a lush green, pastoral stretch of vineyards, and farmland. Soaking up the idyllic vibe with a whole day-long exploration of the area’s renowned wineries and the charming village of Martinborough is one of the unique things to do in Wellington.
Location: Wellington Railway Station, Pipitea, Wellington 6011
Pricing: 145 $
Highlight: Introduction to Martinborough’s renowned food & wines and enjoy the completely guided tastings at family-owned estates & boutique wineries
Must Read: 10 Best Temples In New Zealand For Witnessing The Country’s Vibrant Culture
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2. Lord of the Rings Tour
Image Credit: JEFFH1219 for Pixabay
The huge fans of Lord of the Rings unite on this tour. This is a tour of the stunning New Zealand countryside. Many of the popular movie series was filmed here. You can visit locations you remember from the movies and can explore the stunning natural environment. You can also learn the secrets of how the films’ epic scenes came to be.
Location: Wellington City Center (Hotel Pickup), 145 Wakefield Street, Wellington 6011
Pricing: 62 $
Highlight: New Zealand nature’s panoramic view from Mount Victoria.
3. Guided Wellington Electric Bike Tour
You can begin your tour in the morning by picking up your bike on Wellington’s waterfront. The electric bike would be easy, making the journey best for bikers who are confident on both mixed and regular road riding. Learn about the buildings surrounding the heart of the city before passing by the Museum of New Zealand, “Te Papa”. This museum is known to display art, Maori history, and regional culture.
Location: Switched On Bikes, Queens Wharf Queens Wharf, Wellington 6011
Pricing: 81 $
Highlight: Great way to see Wellington’s sights on the Electric bike which allows easy ride everywhere.
Suggested Read: Paragliding In New Zealand: 5 Best Places That Let You Soar High!
4. Palliser Bay
Kick start your day early while exploring the Wellington Harbour. Gather facts and amazing stories while learning the area’s history. Head to Cape Palliser Bay, a place to get near the seals in the largest fur seal colony of the North Island. It is a great thing to do in Wellington with kids or your beloved.
Location: Wellington i-SITE Visitor Information Center, 111 Wakefield Street, Wellington 6011
Pricing: 158 $
Highlight: Palliser Bay Lighthouse astonishing views with totally amazing lunch at a local café in charming Lake Ferry, will take your breath away!
5. Head to the Seal Colony & Farm Tour
This is an excellent opportunity to click some photographs of New Zealand’s largest wind farm. Here you would be able to touch the gigantic turbines which harness the wind to generate electricity. Then march to a family-owned Sheep & Beef farm. This place is a home to over 3,000 wild goats.
Location: Wellington City Center (Hotel Pickup), Wellington
Pricing: 74 $
Highlight: Get to walk in New Zealand’s unique natural environment
Suggested Read: 10 Trails Where You Can Go Hiking In New Zealand
6. Spend an evening at Weta
Begin the fun and adventure with a guided drive from the Wellington CBD to Weta Studio Tours in Miramar. A glimpse of iconic Wellington film sites pointed out here can be captured or glimpsed once. Take a selfie with the life-size sculptures and explore the mini-museum at Weta Cave.
Location: Wellington i-SITE, Corner Victoria and Wakefield Street, Wellington 6011
Pricing: 94 $
Highlight: Delicious 3-course dinner at CoCo at the Roxy Cinema
7. Wellington Cruise Excursion
The awesome morning of exploring begins after you are picked up from your cruise ship. The history of the town and the famous events that have taken place here will be explained in detail by your guide. On the way, the cultural landmarks such as the base for the Lord of the Rings movies, the National Museum of New Zealand, and Wellington City Art Gallery can be seen and glared at!
Location: Centre Port Wellington, Aotea Quay, Wellington
Pricing: 49 $
Highlight: Guided tour of Wellington
Suggested Read: 15 Waterfalls In New Zealand That’ll Leave Your Speechless
8. Wild Wellington Full Day Tour
This 2 hours guided tour, around Zealandia with a specially trained guide, helps in discovering the wonders of New Zealand’s flora and fauna. Native birds like Tui, Kereru, Kaka, Kakariki, Takahe, Bellbirds, North Island Robins, and other intriguing creatures such as Tuatara and Weta are very much easy to be seen and so we suggest you keep your eyes open. Relax in the Rata cafe having lunch overlooking the sanctuary while listening to the beautiful sounds of New Zealand’s unique wildlife.
Location: City Center Hotel Pickup, Wellington
Pricing: 152 $
Highlight: Stunning views of Wellington coastline and South Island
Suggested Read: 10 New Zealand Restaurants To Taste The Country’s Culinary Masterpieces
9. Wellington Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Image Credit: MannyvonKannen for Pixabay
The stunning views, cool architecture, eclectic suburbs, and beautiful coastal scenery, all these can be enjoyed while enjoying the complete knowledge about Wellington’s unique culture, history and city life. Enjoy our Mt Victoria photo stop, where you can get off and shoot pics, and then get back on the same minibus 5 minutes later to continue exploring other places.
Location: Wellington i-SITE Visitor Centre Bus Stop, 145 Wakefield Street, Wellington 601
Pricing: 29 $
Highlight: Convenience to hop off wherever & hop on again later
10. Visit The Te Papa Museum
This museum has some really unique features and counts as one of the things to do in Wellington, aside from the fact that it is also one of the things to do in Wellington for free. Enrich your knowledge about New Zealand’s history in a fun and interactive way.
11.Shopping On Cuba Street
The hipsters are going to love this street, Cuba street features some quirky apparel in its stores, chic cafes, restaurants and op shops. Take a moment to pose for a quick selfie in front of the detailed sculptures and soak in the good vibes.
12.Cable Car Ride
A cable car ride should be on every tourist’s to do list, for instance, take this cable car ride to the Botanic Garden and enjoy the views over the business district. It is one of the top things to do in Wellington.
13. Take A Stroll In The Botanical Garden
Tsoak in the good vibes at this 25 hectares of garden, enjoy the aroma of fresh blooming flowers and take a stroll with your better half to spend some quality time. There’s also free gigs in the summer, water features and a treehouse to catch spectacular views from the top.
14. Hike Up To The Mt Kaukau
Mt Kaukau is the highest visible mountain in Wellington and the climb to the mountain top would involve breathtaking views of the cityscape. You can either opt for a shorter trail or go to the mountain as part of the Northern Walkway.
Further Read: 10 Churches in New Zealand That Are Absolutely Captivating Pieces Of Architecture
Excited yet? Book your trip to New Zealand with TravelTriangle and have a great time exploring the city of Wellington. The city has a lot of things to offer to all its visitors. So, plan soon and have a great time exploring the place with your friends and family.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Things To Do In Wellington
What is Wellington known for?
Known as the culinary capital of New Zealand, Wellington is famous for its tucked-away bars, quirky cafes, award-winning restaurants and great coffee.
Is Wellington the windiest city?
Wellington, New Zealand is the windiest city in the world with an annual average around 16 knots/hr (18 miles/hr).
Why is Wellington called Wellington?
From the 1990s Wellington has rebranded itself as the country’s creative capital. In November 1840 a communication was received from the director of the New Zealand Company saying it was their desire that their chief settlement at Port Nicholson be named in honour of the Duke of Wellington.
What can you do in Wellington for free?
Some of the free things to do in Wellington includes going to Te Papa, wandering at the Cuba Street Galleries, take a free tour of the parliament, take a look at the cable car museum and also visit the Weta Cave.
What can you do in Wellington for a day?
There are many things to do in Wellington if someone is visiting for a day which also includes visiting the Te Papa museum, checking out the Weta Cave and also go shopping at the Cuba Street.
Is Wellington worth visiting?
Wellington is one of the best cities to visit which is located at the Southwestern tip of the North Island. This also gives the scope to visit the South Island to visit which is naturally beautiful and worth a visit.
What is there to do in Wellington at night?
Some of the best things to do in Wellington at night includes exploring the eclectic night markets, enjoying a late-night board gaming session, taking a night tour of Zealandia and stargazing at the Space Place.
Is Wellington safe?
New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world and on the same page Wellington is also considered one of the safest cities in the world. The crime rate on the streets is very less.
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