In a nutshell
- Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country’s political center. You can cover the city’s top highlights in one to two days.
- Here we share the best things to do in Wellington along with personal tips for each highlight — so you know exactly what’s worth your time.
- Our absolute must-sees are the Cable Car and the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum. On warmer days, don’t miss one of the beaches — Oriental Bay is the easiest to reach from the center.
- For accommodation, we recommend The Cobbler Hotel and the Marion Hostel.
The 10 Most Beautiful Wellington Sights on a Map
For a better overview, we’ve put together a map of the most beautiful Wellington attractions for you.
The Best Sights in Wellington
You can cover the main things to do in Wellington in one day. That said, we recommend staying two days in the city so you can take your sightseeing at a more relaxed pace.
Wellington Cable Car
What you need to know: The Wellington Cable Car is the only active cable car in New Zealand and connects the city center with the Botanic Garden up on a hill. At the top, you can also visit the Cable Car Museum and the Carter Observatory. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The red cable car is a true Wellington institution — riding it is a genuine must. We’d only suggest visiting the museum if you’re spending more than one day in the city.
Personal tip: Visit the cable car first thing in the morning. If you walk there from central Wellington, stop for breakfast at Neo Eatery on the way — the coffee is seriously delicious!
Get tickets for Wellington’s Cable Car
12 NZD (6.10€) round trip
Wellington Botanic Garden
What you need to know: The cable car drops you off right at the next highlight in Wellington — the Botanic Garden. From the upper station, numerous small paths wind through the garden, where you can discover a huge variety of plants.
Is it worth it? Totally. The Botanic Garden is free and is a great spot for a leisurely walk after your cable car ride.
Personal tip: Just wander and let the garden lead you — but make sure you don’t miss the rose garden on the other side of the hill. Families will also find a playground.
Te Papa Tongarewa Museum
What you need to know: The Te Papa Museum is one of the best things to do in Wellington — full stop. It covers a wide range of topics about New Zealand in a vivid, fascinating way: natural history, the Battle of Gallipoli, Māori culture, volcanoes, tsunamis, and so much more.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Even we — and we’re not big museum people — were completely blown away. It’s also great for families, with plenty of interactive exhibits for kids.
Book tickets: Admission costs NZD 35 (around €18). Buy tickets in advance on the Te Papa website. You book for a specific day but can enter at any time. If you hold a New Zealand visa, entry is free.
Cuba Street
What you need to know: Cuba Street is Wellington’s main shopping and dining strip. It’s partly a pedestrian zone and partly a regular road. Alongside plenty of restaurants and shops, you’ll also find the Bucket Fountain and a colorful crosswalk on Dixon Street.
Is it worth it? Definitely for eating out and grabbing a drink. Otherwise, it’s a pretty typical street.
Personal tip: This is a great spot for lunch — try the New Zealand restaurant Olive, for example. If your hotel is nearby, come back for a drink in the evening — it’s a different vibe after dark.
Hannahs Laneway
What you need to know: Hannahs Laneway is listed on Google Maps as Hannahs Factory. It connects Eva Street with Leeds Street and is home to a number of trendy bars.
Is it worth it? Honestly, when we walked through during the day, we found it pretty underwhelming. We can easily imagine it coming alive at night though, with some really cool bars.
Personal tip: For photography enthusiasts, a detour to the David Bowie Graffiti Art Wall is worth it — a really cool photo op.
Mount Victoria
What you need to know: Mount Victoria is the best viewpoint over Wellington. From Cuba Street, it’s just under 3 kilometers and 180 meters of elevation gain to the Mount Victoria Lookout.
Is it worth it? Oh yes. The panorama is truly stunning and Mount Victoria is a great way to escape the city and get into nature.
Personal tip: If you still have energy left, make a detour to the Hobbit’s Hideaway on Mount Victoria — it’s a filming location from The Lord of the Rings.
Weta Cave
What you need to know: The Weta Cave is located on the Miramar Peninsula. You’ll find exhibitions featuring props and models from The Lord of the Rings films. You can browse the displays on your own, or book a guided tour or workshop. The workshop is definitely the better option — you’ll learn so much about how the films were made.
Is it worth it? Yes, especially for Lord of the Rings and film fans. The workshop is seriously fascinating.
How do you get there? From the city center, bus line 2 gets you to the Weta Cave in about 20 minutes. You can pay cash to the driver (NZD 3.56 per trip). Alternatively, you can drive — just be aware you’ll need to find street parking.
Book the Weta Workshop Wellington
The Most Beautiful Beaches in Wellington
There are many beaches around Wellington. Here are what we consider the three most beautiful beaches that you can easily reach from the city center.
Oriental Bay Beach
What you need to know: Oriental Bay Beach is the most centrally located beach in Wellington — just a 20-minute walk from the city center. The water isn’t warm even in summer, but it’s a great spot for relaxing and a quick cool-down.
Is it worth it? Yes. If you’re only in Wellington for a short time, Oriental Bay is the best beach for a quick trip from the center. Just keep in mind that it’s a typical city beach.
Personal tip: The Argentine Café Aya! right on the beachfront serves absolutely delicious empanadas.
Breaker Bay
What you need to know: Breaker Bay Beach is a beautiful natural beach near Wellington, located on the Miramar Peninsula. It feels wilder than Oriental Bay, with rocks all around. Be careful when swimming here — the currents and waves can be strong.
Is it worth it? Yes. We especially recommend Breaker Bay if you’re spending a few days in Wellington.
Personal tip: Do the short hike from the beach to Point Dorset — it’s a kind of headland at the beach and the views are fantastic.
Scorching Bay
What you need to know: Scorching Bay sits in the north of the Miramar Peninsula and is one of the most beautiful beaches near Wellington. Because it’s tucked into a sheltered bay, the water is calm and great for swimming.
Is it worth it? Definitely. The beach is wonderful for relaxing and watching the ferries go by — a perfect spot to spend an afternoon.
Personal tip: The restaurant Scorch O Rama has a lovely view of the beach and serves great food.
Where to Stay in Wellington
We recommend spending two nights in Wellington during your New Zealand road trip. Here are our hotel picks in Wellington’s CBD.
Hidden Gems in Wellington
Honestly, we don’t have a huge list of off-the-beaten-path spots for Wellington, as we only spent a short time in the city during our trip exploring the most beautiful places in New Zealand. That said, here are a few cool ideas that most visitors miss.
#1 Take a City Tour of Wellington
A city tour is a great way to cover the most important sights while getting insider tips from a knowledgeable local guide — two birds, one stone.
Book a city tour of Wellington
#2 Makara Beach Walkway
The Makara Beach Walkway is a coastal trail in the northwest of Wellington. It’s easy to incorporate into your North Island road trip on the way to or from Wellington.
Head to Makara Beach and hike the trail as far as you feel like going. The scenery is absolutely stunning!
#3 Catch an Event at Sky Stadium
New Zealand is a rugby nation — but not only that. Cricket and numerous other sports are hugely popular here too. The largest stadium in Wellington is Sky Stadium.
The stadium hosts not only sporting events but also concerts. On the Sky Stadium website you’ll find a calendar of upcoming events and can buy tickets.
Since most tourists never think to catch a game or show here, it’s a genuinely under-the-radar experience and a great way to mix with locals.
Getting to Wellington
Wellington sits at the very southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island. That makes it a natural stopover for exploring New Zealand when traveling between the North and South Islands — or vice versa.
Getting There by Car or Bus
If you’re already on the North Island, the best way to reach Wellington is by car. Parking in the city center can be tricky, though. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, your best bet is a parking garage.
Here are some parking options:
Alternatively, you can travel from larger New Zealand cities by Intercity bus. The Intercity terminal is conveniently located at Wellington Station.
Getting There by Ferry
If you’re coming from New Zealand’s South Island, the best option is the ferry from Picton to Wellington. Operators Interislander and Bluebridge run multiple crossings daily, and you can bring your vehicle on board.
The ferry terminals in Wellington are close to the city center. By car, you can reach downtown in just a few minutes. On foot it takes a bit longer — but free shuttle buses are also available from the Interislander terminal to Wellington Station.
Also read all our tips for the Wellington–Picton ferry
Getting There by Plane
If you’re flying to Wellington, you’ll land at Wellington International Airport. Keep in mind that most international flights to New Zealand arrive in Christchurch or Auckland.
Wellington is served mainly by domestic flights. From the airport, the Airport Bus gets you to the city center in about 30 minutes. You can pay by credit card, Snapper Card, or cash.
Alternatively, you can pick up a rental car at the airport or take a taxi.
