Wellington is New Zealand’s vibrant capital, home to the country’s parliament, creative culture and a coastal gateway that leads to the South Island. Nestled between rolling hills and the sea, Wellington offers a unique blend of natural beauty and urban charm, with plenty to see and do.
In comparison to Auckland and Christchurch, the population is substantially lower and the city has a more relaxed vibe. This city, which is located at the most southerly point of the North Island, actually only replaced Auckland as the capital in 1865.
How to get to Wellington
Wellington airport is smaller than many of the other airports in New Zealand, but it does receive international flights from Australia and nearby Pacific nations. My preference however, would be to include it as part of a larger New Zealand trip, discovering all that this country has to offer.
I travelled from the north, flying from the UK into Auckland and gradually moving down the North Island via Intercity Bus and hire car. The final leg that I did was from Lake Taupo, which was definitely a long ride that spanned almost seven hours, but with New Zealand’s spectacular countryside to accompany you, it’s absolutely stunning.
Tip for arriving in New Zealand: Pick up an eSim card before you travel so you can stay connected.
Where to stay in Wellington
There are plenty of hotels in Wellington.
- Haka House Wellington is nice, clean and really budget friendly.
- Waterloo Backpackers is cheaper and although it doesn’t have the same modern feel, it’s still a very pleasant stay.
Wellington itinerary
Summary – Wellington 3 day itinerary
Day 1:
- Cable car
- Botanic Gardens
- Cable Car Museum
- Space Place
- Te Papa Museum
- Wellington Harbour
- Shopping
- Dinner at Aunty Mena’s Vegetarian Cafe
Day 2:
- Wētā Workshop
- Duck Island Ice Cream
- Mount Victoria
- Filming locations from Lord of the Rings
- Dinner at Ngon!
Day 3:
- Breakfast at Myrtle
- See the seals at Red Rocks
- Lunch at Beach House & Kiosk
- Old St Paul’s Cathedral
- New Zealand parliament building
- Dinner at Sal’s Pizza
Day 1: Wellington Botanic Gardens and cable car
Wellington has plenty to do within its rolling hills and the historic Wellington Cable Car is a great way to experience the views. They run every 10 minutes and cost $6 NZD one way.
At the top you’ll find the entrance to Wellington Botanic Gardens, the Cable Car Museum and Space Place, a planetarium and space museum.
Entry to the Botanic Gardens is free and it’s great to look around, while enjoying the scenic coastal views. They also have a fantastic cafe too, with plenty of options for breakfast and lunch.
Afternoon: Te Papa Museum and harbour
The harbour is great to walk around, while enjoying a coffee from one of the nearby cafes or visiting quirky shops like Shipwreck Trading. Here you will also find Te Papa Museum, which offers a blend of New Zealand’s art, history, science, and Māori heritage. It costs $35 NZD for international visitors.
Where to get dinner in Wellington
Aunty Mena’s Vegetarian Cafe is so cool, with graffiti on the walls and plenty of delicious vegan options.
Day 2: Lord of the Rings and city views
There are many places to experience the Lord of the Rings legacy in New Zealand and Wellington is very much one of these, especially as it’s home to franchise creator Peter Jackson. Wētā Workshop is a world-renowned creative workshop.
Founded in 1987, Wētā is not only famous for crafting items for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, but also Avatar, District 9, Black Panther, and King Kong.
Great place for a sweet treat: Duck Island Ice Cream
Afternoon: enjoying the views from Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria Lookout is a fantastic place to admire views across the city. You will find the city and harbour on one side and the airport and open sea on the other.
After watching the ferries to the South Island leaving the harbour, you can trek down and discover some of the filming locations from the Lord of the Rings films. “Hobbit Hideaway” and “Road to Ngazi” are quite hard to find even with Google Maps but you’ll definitely find benches along the way which contain famous quotes from the film, including Samwise Gamgee’s, “If I take one more step, it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.”
Where to get dinner on day 2 in Wellington: Ngon! offers many Asian cuisines, including Vietnamese, Thai and Korean dishes. They have some fabulous vegan and vegetarian options too.
While travelling in Wellington, you can use custom lanyards to keep your essentials organised and secure, preventing the accidental loss of items like your passport, transit pass, attraction tickets, or room key.
Day 3: Hunting for seals at Red Rocks and finding more of Wellington’s historical charm
Red Rocks are just over half an hour away by bus from Wellington city centre. Metlink Bus Route 29 will take you there and typically costs $4NZD cash.
Where to get breakfast in Wellington: At Myrtle you’ll find some great pastries and coffee, it’s also just a stone’s throw away from one of the Metlink Bus Route 29 bus stops.
Once you arrive at Owhiro Bay (Happy Valley Road), you’ll find a well signposted walk where you may see many of New Zealand’s seals if you are fortunate enough. There are also penguins, kiwi birds (which are nocturnal) and more, but these are less likely to be seen.
You can also read about the local wildlife along the way. Even if you don’t see much wildlife, the rocks and the rugged coastline are absolutely stunning.
A great place for lunch is the Beach House & Kiosk.
Afternoon: Old St Paul’s
In the afternoon, you can discover Old St Paul’s, a beautiful gothic revival cathedral built in the 1860s. There is also New Zealand’s parliament building that looks like a UFO.
Dinner at Sal’s Pizza: I had a slightly unhealthy obsession with this chain while in New Zealand, but the pizza was so good.
Moving on from Wellington and the ferry to the South Island
Wellington offers so many different options for where to go next, as it is so central and is best placed as part of a trip travelling either up or down New Zealand. I chose to travel down from Auckland.
After Wellington, I travelled to the South Island exploring Kaikoura and then Christchurch. To do this, you have to hop on the ferry from Wellington to Picton first.
The journey is just over two hours long and can be a bit choppy but offers fantastic views as you approach the South Island. Tickets can be booked via Direct Ferries and costs around $135-$160 NZD.
After arriving at Picton you can take the InterCity bus, car hire or train to explore the wonders of the South Island.
The time in Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington is in the New Zealand Standard Time zone (NZST), the city is typically 12 hours ahead of UTC (GMT) or 13 hours ahead during Daylight Saving Time.
Weather in Wellington
Wellington is windy all year, which is something to bear in mind. A windbreaker was a life saver for me while walking up some of the hills.
The warmest weather here is between December and February, with average temperatures between 15°C and 21°C. The winter (June to August) is milder than the UK and doesn’t typically drop below 6°C.
This is a guest post from Tim Jones from Wildness and Wellbeing, a podcast and blog with a focus on how the outdoors can help your mental health. Tim travelled New Zealand last year.
