Wellington is one of the coolest places to visit in New Zealand. Of course, there is a ton to do nature-wise all over New Zealand, but what makes Wellington unique is that it is also a stunning city destination. So, if you’re craving a bit of human interaction and some city fun, there’s no better place to go than Wellington in New Zealand.
If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand’s capital, here are 25 super cool things to do in Wellington, New Zealand. Whether you’re staying just a few days or even months, these activities will easily keep you occupied during your stay.
We lived in Wellington for more than a year and can say with certainty that it is one of the best places to visit and live in New Zealand.
Psst! If you’re traveling to New Zealand, you’ll find our NZ packing list helpful!
1. Head to the Mount Victoria Lookout
When exploring any city, there’s something about heading to a lookout point to check out the views the city and its landscape have to offer. In Wellington, the most iconic viewpoint is the Mount Victoria lookout. Here, you can get a stunning panoramic view of Wellington, which makes for the perfect introduction to the city.
We highly recommend walking all the way up, which is just a half-hour walk but can be steep. We guarantee you will be sweating a bit once you get to the top. But the breeze at the top will instantly cool you down, so don’t worry! Plus, if you walk up, you’ll be awarded with some of New Zealand’s nature as well as an iconic Lord of the Rings filming spot. See if you can spot the tree roots the four hobbits hit underneath as the Black Rider went through! If you’d rather not hike up all, you can also drive up to the lookout.
2. Visit the Te Papa Museum
We’ve been to our fair share of museums in New Zealand, but none are so striking and beautifully curated as Te Papa Museum. This museum is an absolute MUST-VISIT for anybody stopping by Wellington. It offers very thorough but engaging exhibitions that can take days for you to properly explore. If you’re visiting only for a couple of days, you may not be able to see all the exhibitions, but you’ve got to at least stop by the highlights:
- Gallipoli: Experience the story of the Gallipoli campaign in WWI, featuring lifelike statues created by the Weta Workshop.
- Nature: Learn all about NZ wildlife and see the world’s only complete specimen of the famous Colossal Squid!
- Signs of a Nation: Learn about NZ’s founding document, The Treaty of Waitangi.
- Rongomaraeroa: Check out this 21st-century marae, featuring contemporary Māori art.
- Passports: Immerse yourself in the stories of people who migrated to New Zealand over the past 200 years.
Best of all? This museum is completely free to visit!
3. Go Brewery Hopping
One of our favorite activities to do in Wellington is, no doubt, going brewery hopping. Did you know that Wellington has the second-most breweries per capita in the world? Some of the beer you’ll try in Wellington is honestly some of the best in the world! Craft beer lovers are going to LOVE this Wellington activity.
With so many craft breweries out there in the city, where do you even begin? Here are some of the best breweries that you’ve got to check out:
- Heyday: Our personal favorite brewery; you have to get a flight to try the flavors they have on offer.
- Fortune Favours: You simply can’t go wrong with this brewery located in the middle of the city.
- Garage Project: This is another city favorite you can’t go wrong with.
- Whistling Sisters: Great food and great beer in the middle of the city.
- Parrotdog: Located in Lyall Bay; a must-visit if you happen to be in the area.
- Fork Brewing: Great atmosphere and a great range of taps.
- Double Vision: Located in Miramar; a must-visit if you happen to be in the area.
- Malthouse: Great atmosphere and a fantastic beer selection.
Wellington loves beer so much that if you happen to visit Wellington in the middle of winter, around the end of August, you’ll be pleased to find a beer festival called Beervana. Beervana is an absolute MUST if you happen to visit Wellington around the time of this 2-day festival, where you can try amazing beer and eat good food.
4. Birdwatch in Zealandia
You can’t leave Wellington without stepping foot into the urban-fenced sanctuary of Zealandia. Zealandia is an incredibly unique eco-sanctuary that takes you back to a world before any human stepped foot into New Zealand. This sanctuary has a 500-year plan to restore the valley to the way it was before even the Maori arrived in New Zealand.
New Zealand has no native land mammals. And over the years, this gave birth to some of the more unique wildlife in the world. New Zealand is home to many endemic birds, many of which do not fly due to a lack of predators.
Head over to Zealandia, and you can either book a tour or go for a self-guided walk around the sanctuary. You could easily spend hours here feeling one with nature and discovering so many species of birds, including keas, kiwis, kakas, tuis, and kererus. You’ll also be able to see some tuataras (a lizard-like reptile) here as well!
To get to Zealandia, you can get a free shuttle from the top of the Botanic Garden (#7 on this list). Or you can walk around half an hour from here to the sanctuary.
5. Visit the Wētā Workshop
Nestled in Wellington, New Zealand is one of the world’s foremost special effects and prop company, Wētā. And for those that are curious about how this company created special effects for blockbuster films like Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and King Kong, you’ve got to stop by this studio just outside of downtown Wellington, in a picturesque area called Miramar.
Here, you can take a tour of the workshop, learn all about movie effects, and interact with some famous movie props as well. We highly recommend booking a tour beforehand in order to get behind the scenes. If you don’t, you can still rock up to Wētā Cave and simply tour the small museum and gift shop.
6. Ride the Cable Car
One of the most iconic pictures you’ll see of Wellington is a red cable car. Cable cars used to be the public transportation mode for all of Wellington, but they’ve since been replaced by buses. No worries, though; you can still ride one of these cable cars!
The Wellington Cable Car starts at Lambton Quay and is a quick 5-minute ride to the top. Tickets cost $9 NZD for return, and the cable car runs every 10 minutes.
This cable car is an awesome way to climb up the hill and view some absolutely stunning views of Wellington at the very top. The top is also the start of the Botanic Garden, which is a great place to walk around on warmer days.
7. Wander Around the Botanic Garden
After you ride the cable car, it’s only natural that you wander around the Botanic Garden. And don’t worry; this activity is completely free! You’ll likely start your walk at the hill where the cable car drops you off with a view of the city below. After admiring the view, start exploring and check out its well-manicured gardens and greenhouses. You’ll even find winding paths that head into the native bush. The Wellington Botanic Garden is a popular activity, but it is large enough that you can easily find some solitude amongst nature.
Keep an eye out for events at the Wellington Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden often hosts concerts, festivals, and more. If nothing is on, simply head over with a couple of cans of Pals (a NZ seltzer you’ve got to try!) and drink while taking in the views and breathing in the fresh air.
8. Spend a Night in Martinborough
If you happen to have an extra night to spare during your trip to Wellington, we have the perfect weekend getaway for you. In fact, you can technically even turn this into a day trip—as long as you have a sober designated driver, that is!
Martinborough is a small town located in the Wairarapa region. The drive here can be pretty daunting, so only dare if you are comfortable driving on winding roads and driving in the mountains. But once you arrive, you can wash all your worries away with some delicious wine. After all, this is what Martinborough, a wine micro-region in New Zealand, is known for.
But Martinborough is not like other wine regions you may be familiar with. Here, you’ll park your car and rent some bikes (we recommend booking through Green Jersey). Since all the wineries in the region are relatively close to one another, you can easily bike your way from winery to winery all day long! At each winery, you can get a wine tasting for just $10 NZD (generally refunded if you buy a bottle).
Some of our favorite wineries in the region are:
- Palliser Estate
- Ata Rangi
- Poppies
- Colombo (stop here for some amazing pizza halfway through the day!)
- Moy Hall
- Schubert Wines
But whichever wineries you end up going to, you really can’t go wrong!
9. Do the Stairway to Heaven Hike
One of our favorite hikes in the Wellington region is the Stairway to Heaven hike, also called the Paekākāriki Escarpment Track. This unique trail is actually part of the Te Araroa trail, which is a walking trail that spans the entirety of New Zealand. While this trail is well-marked and well-signed, be warned: It’s a pretty difficult hike that features more than 400 stairs (as you might be able to guess from its name).
If you are scared of heights, we recommend skipping this hike, as during some parts of the hike, you’ll be on a very skinny trail with a daunting drop-off right below. But if you are up for this challenge, this hike offers the most incredible coastal views and of Kāpiti Island.
10. Go Cafe Hopping
As digital nomads in New Zealand, we were always on the lookout for a good place to work and drink a tasty cup of coffee, and Wellington never disappointed! Wellington has an amazing cafe scene as well as a brewery scene. So, if you like to cafe hopping and trying new brunch places, there’s no better place to be. While in Wellington, you must have a flat white (while many Aussies will say otherwise, Kiwis will say flat whites were invented in NZ!) and a delicious cheese scone. We don’t know what it is about scones in Wellington, but we have discovered that cheese scones are infinitely better in Wellington than in any other city in New Zealand.
Here are some of our absolute favorite cafes in Wellington that we recommend checking out:
- The Hangar: Delicious coffee with good vibes
- Maranui Cafe: Our favorite cafe in the Lyall Bay area of Wellington
- Midnight Espresso: An iconic cafe on Cuba Street
- Black Coffee: Our favorite cafe in the Newtown area of Wellington
- Pour and Twist: For the best pour over coffee
- Raglan Roast: No frills but amazing coffee
- Beach Babylon: Great place for brunch right by the beach
- Egmont St Eatery: Amazing place for brunch
11. Eat Your Heart Out
After all the beer and coffee you’ll be drinking, you’ve got to also have a bite to eat! And you’re in luck, as Wellington has a pretty awesome food scene that will curb all of your cravings and more. From laksa and curries to burgers and fish, Wellington has something for everyone. If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry. Welly has a pretty good vegetarian and vegan food scene as well!
Here are some of our favorite Wellington eats that we recommend to everyone who visits this city:
- Chow: One of our favorite Asian-fusion restaurants
- Rasa: Great place for Malaysian food; we recommend getting the laksa
- The Botanist: Amazing vegetarian food
- Cicio Cacio Osteria: A small but vibe-y Italian restaurant
- Mr. Go’s: Another favorite Asian-fusion restaurant
- Pizza Pomodoro: The Italian pizza in town
- Great India: One of the best Indian restaurants in the city center
- Dragons: The place to go to for yum cha
- The Old Quarter: Amazing Vietnamese-fusion restaurant
- Rita: Features a new 3-course menu every night
If you happen to be in Wellington in August, you’ll be visiting the city during the month-long Wellington on a Plate festival. During this time, there are plenty of food-related events that are super fun to attend. But beyond these events, one of the best things about this festival is Burger Wellington. Restaurants all over the city compete to create the best burger. Go all around the city, try as many burgers as you can, and put in your votes!
12. Walk Down Cuba Street
The most iconic street in all of Wellington is the pedestrian-friendly Cuba Street. Even if you’ve not done any research prior to walking around Wellington, you will have likely walked down this street. Cuba Street is filled with trendy shops, amazing restaurants, and cute bars. Feel free to pop into any locale that tickles your fancy! There are plenty of street performers at any time of day as well, especially during the evenings and weekends.
Of course, you’ll also need to snap a photo of the Wellington-famous bucket fountain. Why is it there, and what is its purpose? No one knows. But don’t walk by too close, or you’ll get splashed!
13. Bar-Hop on Courtenay Place
Ready to have a few drinks and a little boogie? Wellington features some of the best nightlife in New Zealand. It’s a student city with plenty of young people who love to have a good time. And, of course, that means there are a lot of bars to check out in the city center. The most famous bar street in Wellington is Courtenay Place.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong when it comes to the locales on Courtenay Place. You can easily tell which bar is popular and which one is better to ignore as you walk by and check out the crowd inside. But if you’d like a destination, here are some of the best bars to check out on Courtenay Place (and some just off this road):
- Dirty Little Secret: The best rooftop bar in Wellington, hands-down
- The Library: Blink, and you’ll miss this bar; features the best cocktails
- The Residence: Head here if you want to play some pool
- Mishmosh: One of the more popular bars on Courtenay Place
- Shady Lady: One of the more popular bars on Courtenay Place
- Sassy Loves Cash: One of the more popular bars on Courtenay Place
- Lulu Bar: Perfect for a slightly older crowd
- El Barrio: Not on Courtenay Place, but great if you want to dance to Latin music
- Ivy Bar: Great LGBTQIA+ bar on Cuba Street, often featuring drag nights
- Cavern Club Bar: Rock ‘n’ roll–themed bar just off Courtenay Place
14. Walk Along the Waterfront
On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than walking along the Wellington waterfront and taking in the views, watching the ferries and boats glide by. On the waterfront, you’ll find cute bars, beanbags, and pop-up markets. You’ll even pass by the iconic Man in the Wind statue as well as the Wellington sign, which is missing an “i” (that’s where you’ll stand), perfect for photos.
If you can brave the cold water, you’ll find some good swimming spots during the walk along the waterfront, including a diving platform at Taranaki Street Wharf.
15. Hang Out at a Beach
When you continue on your waterfront walk, at some point, you’ll stumble upon Oriental Bay Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Wellington, thanks to its proximity to the city center. The swimming conditions are safe, and the beach is incredibly nice and family-friendly. If you want a break from the sun, you can always head to one of the cafes by the beach. Our favorite is Beach Babylon!
Beyond Oriental Beach, you should also check out Scorching Bay, Princess Beach, and Lyall Bay. A bit further afield, Days Bay is also lovely.
16. Go Shopping on Lambton Quay
If you feel like shopping during your stay in Wellington, the best area to roam around is Lambton Quay. Walk down this street from top to bottom or bottom to top and check out all the shops this street has to offer. There are plenty of shops in this area, but if you’re not sure where to start, the Old Bank Arcade is a cute mall in the area with a diverse range of shops.
If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat as you shop, I highly recommend stopping by Where’s Charlie? for some quick Vietnamese food.
And while you’re here, why not head all the way up to see the Beehive, New Zealand’s Parliament Building?
17. Marvel at the Pinnacles
Another Lord of the Rings filming location alert! The Putangirua Pinnacles are an almost 2-hour drive from Wellington, but the trek is super worth it. Here, you can marvel at the unique rock formations that formed the background of the Paths of the Dead scene in The Return of the King.
There are a few different walking tracks you can choose from; some are beginner-friendly, while others require steep climbing. These walks can range from 45 minutes to hours.
Quick note: Unfortunately, the Putangirua Pinnacles are currently closed until further notice. So, keep an eye out for news if you’re keen to check out these rock formations.
18. See Seals at Cape Palliser
While you are checking out the Pinnacles, why not head to the Cape Palliser area? Cape Palliser is the southernmost point of the North Island and is, in fact, even more south than the northern parts of the South Island! This is a great place to camp (or take a simple day trip) and check out the seal colony, particularly if you happen to be around during the breeding season from mid-November to mid-January. At this time, especially if you see baby seals around, you should always keep a safe distance from the seals.
After walking along the coast and admiring the seals for a bit, turn your sights up and climb up to the lighthouse for a stunning view. To get to the top, you’ll need to climb more than 250 steps.
19. Check Out the Live Music Scene
Wellington has a fun live music scene that you should absolutely check out in the evenings. Some of the most popular live music venues are:
- The Rogue & Vagabond
- The Library
- The Fringe Bar
- Valhalla
- Moon
- San Fran
- Meow
- Jack Hackett’s
Make sure to check the events of the bar you are heading to on Instagram beforehand so that you catch the gig you want to see, as live music does not play at the bars 24/7. You can even check upcoming events at other bars throughout the city that may host gigs every now and then.
Of course, you can even spot some live music on the streets!
20. Take a Trip Out to the Red Rocks
You’ve got to explore the rugged coast of Wellington by heading out to the Red Rocks from Owhiro Bay. According to Maori legend, these red rocks were formed by Kupe, an explorer, clamping his hand on a shellfish, which caused him to bleed and stain the rocks. This is an easy, flat 2 to 3-hour walk along the coast.
If you happen to be visiting in the winter between May and October, you might be lucky enough to spot some fur seals sunbathing on the rocks! But remember: don’t get too close! And if you pop by on a clear day, you may be able to see the high mountains of the South Island on the horizon.
21. Visit the City Gallery Wellington
Want to see some art? Head over to the City Gallery Wellington, a contemporary art space. The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in front of the building is the creepy-looking hand sculpture on the roof glaring down at you. This is Quasi and a great indicator of what you may find inside the space.
The City Gallery showcases a huge range of exhibitions. What you see will depend on when you go, with the space boasting both local and international art.
Best of all? Admission is free.
22. Watch a Movie at The Roxy
There’s no better place to watch a film in Wellington than at The Roxy. But what makes The Roxy so special? This art deco space is decorated with Weta Workshop-sponsored artworks and statues, including statues of Gandalf and Gollum. If you have a look around, you might even find an Oscar statue!
Despite the cinema having a very retro feel, the Italian leather seats are super comfortable, making it the best place to watch any new blockbusters and indie films. If the red scalloped curtains that ascend and descend before and after each movie don’t do it for you, we don’t know what will.
23. Do a Chocolate Factory Tour
If you’ve already spent some time in New Zealand, you may be familiar with the NZ-famous Whittaker’s Chocolate brand. But when in Wellington, why not try some Welly chocolate? The Wellington Chocolate Factory creates delicious and ethically-sourced chocolate that you absolutely must try.
But for an experience of a lifetime, go to the Wellington Chocolate Factory to do a tour where you get to make your own Wellington Chocolate Factory bars to take home. This is a super fun experience where you learn all about making chocolate from scratch. But the most fun part is, of course, decorating your chocolate with the many toppings they have for you to choose from!
24. Have Fun at a Wellington Festival
Wellington has a vibrant festival scene, offering something for every type of traveler, no matter the time of year. Here are some of our favorite recurring festivals to look out for:
- Homegrown (March): The biggest festival in New Zealand celebrating Kiwi music.
- CubaDupa (March): A colorful festival celebrating color, art, music, dance, food, culture, and everything fun!
- Newtown Festival (March): A super fun neighborhood festival in Newtown similar to CubaDupa.
- Beervana (August): Festival for beer lovers to try different craft breweries around the country and world.
- Wellington on a Plate (August): A month-long food festival that restaurants participate in, hosting events and competing for the title of the best burger in Wellington.
- World of WearableArt (September-October): An annual design competition showcases the most incredible and creative outfits on a big stage.
- Wellington Jazz Festival (October): Several days of soul, jazz, and funk with both Kiwi and international stars.
24. Shop at the Harbourside Farmers Market
On a Sunday morning, head to the Harbourside Farmers Market, located right behind Te Papa. At this market, you’ll see bountiful produce, artisanal bread, homemade goods, and more. As you walk around from stall to stall, taste and sample all the different flavors of Wellington while enjoying the gorgeous view of the harbour behind you. At this market, you should also grab a bite to eat at one of the food trucks.
25. Watch a Rugby Game
Rugby is by far the most popular sport in New Zealand. So, why not experience the rugby culture by watching a live rugby match in Wellington? The city’s iconic Sky Stadium, also known as “The Cake Tin,” hosts thrilling matches, from local games to international showdowns featuring the mighty All Blacks.
Whether you’re a die-hard rugby fan or simply curious about the sport, there’s no denying the electric atmosphere of the stadium! So, grab a pie and a beer and cheer and scream along with the crowds!
Enjoy Your Time in Wellington
Wellington is easily one of our favorite places in New Zealand, and even after living there for over a year and braving the catastrophic winter weather, we always dream of going back. There are simply so many things to do in Wellington, from hiking to drinking craft beer to lazing on a beach. Take your time and enjoy your stay in the city!
Make sure to check out our guide on the best things to do in Rotorua for more New Zealand recommendations.
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