Unless you’re planning to strictly visit New Zealand’s South Island, Wellington should be a must-visit city on your list. If you are visiting both islands and arriving through Auckland, you’ll go through Wellington to reach the South Island (unless you plan to fly there). We took the ferry from Wellington to Picton through the Cook Strait, which connects the Tasman Sea in the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean in the southeast, and is considered one of the roughest, most dangerous, and unpredictable stretches of water in the world. Our ferry ride was pretty smooth (so I wouldn’t worry too much unless you run into rough weather). Butif you have time, I highly recommend exploring Wellington. There are so many things to do and sights to see, but below are my top things to do in Wellington.
Mount Victoria
My favorite views of Wellington, the harbor, and the neighboring ocean were from the Mount Victoria lookout, which was simply stunning and panoramic. There’s a decent-sized park and plenty of hiking trails, and you can also see the planes landing at Wellington International Airport! We went in the early morning before our 8 AM ferry to the South Island, and it was so serene and peaceful. It was fairly easy to drive to, and you can spend as little or as much time as you’d like. I definitely recommend spending some more time here, and perhaps bringing a picnic lunch to enjoy the views on a day with excellent weather.
New Zealand Parliament and Beehive
The New Zealand Parliament and adjacent Beehive (Te Whare Mīere) buildings are some of the most iconic in all of New Zealand, renowned for their architecture. The Parliament building is open to the public, and the public galleries of the debating chamber are also open to the public at any time when the House is sitting. There’s also a gift shop and a visitor center (in the Beehive, which is the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament buildings), and you should book your visit in advance as they are still government buildings. We didn’t go in, but we did see both from the outside and the Beehive, in particular, was incredible and so cool to look at.
Wellington Cable Car
For more of the city’s best views, ride the Wellington Cable Car! It takes just five minutes, you’ll enjoy fantastic views, and you’ll also have easy access to the Botanic Garden, Cable Car Museum, Space Place (at Carter Observatory), and Zealandia (a couple of which are on my list below). There are five different stations along the route, and cars run every 10 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long. Single tickets for adults are $6.50 NZD ($3.70 USD), while return (round-trip) tickets) are $12 NZD ($6.84 USD). There are discounted tickets for children between five and 15 years of age. The Kelburn Lookout station gives you access to many things, including the next three items below.
Space Place and Carter Observatory
I love the stars and star-gazing, and if there’s an opportunity to see the planets and the night sky, I usually take it. If you have time to check out the Space Place, you’ll have access to interactive exhibits and galleries, a full-dome planetarium, and a chance to observe the stars through the historic Thomas Cooke telescope. The last planetarium show starts at 8 PM, and the telescope viewings start approximately one hour after sunset. Admission to Space Place costs $16 NZD ($9.11 USD) for adults, and is closed on Mondays.
Zealandia (Te Māra a Tāne)
If you search Zealandia, you’ll get results for the planet’s secret eighth continent, completely submerged underwater. But, in Wellington, Zealandia is a wildlife sanctuary, and according to their website, it’s “the most biodiversity-rich square mile of mainland New Zealand in terms of the species living wild here. More than 40 different species of native birds have been recorded in our sanctuary valley, 24 of them endemic.” They’re open every day, except for Christmas, and if you want to see many of the country’s rarest species of animals, this is the place to visit. You can explore on your own or do a guided tour, or you can also explore Zealandia at night.
Wellington Botanic Garden
For even more pristine nature experiences, the Wellington Botanic Garden is beautiful, and a must for any nature-lovers visiting New Zealand (which, let’s be honest, is probably most of you, because why else are you traveling to New Zealand?). With easy access from the cable car, you can easily spend a few hours here along your 30-minute cable car loop walk (save it for your way back to the cable car station).
Wellington Waterfront and Oriental Bay
Though New Zealand is surrounded by water, the waterfront and the walk along Oriental Bay were among my favorites in the entire country. The place we stayed in the night before our ferry ride was located right along the water, and the views in the morning were breathtaking. The water is calm enough to paddleboard if you’re so keen, but rent a bike and explore everything that it has to offer. Just take a second to hear the waves crashing gently against the shore, while the rest of the world is quiet.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Te Papa is New Zealand’s national museum, and is “home to over two million objects across art, natural history, New Zealand histories, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and Pacific cultures”. It’s an incredible museum with so many galleries and exhibits, things to do and see, and you could spend a full day here. This is such a great opportunity to learn more about the nation’s history and culture. You can explore on your own, or you can do a guided tour (there are several to choose from, depending on what you’re most interested in). Admission for New Zealand citizens and residents is free, and they’re also open every day except for Christmas. But if you are outside of New Zealand and still want to check it out, they have a digital museum online.
Did I miss any of your favorite spots in Wellington? Let me know down below!
And if you’re looking for vegan-friendly food options in Wellington, I’ve got you covered.
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