15 cool & unique things to do in Wellington
Get to know New Zealand’s cool little capital with these must-do activities.
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There’s a line from Jack Kerouac’s On The Road which is about San Francisco, but could just as easily, in my mind, be about Wellington; “the fabulous white city… on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond, and smoke and goldenness in the late afternoon of time.”
New Zealand’s capital city, population roughly 210,000, is undeniably pretty, with wooden houses stacked on steep hillsides, framed by native bush above and wrinkled sea below.
If you’re lucky enough to be in town on a sunny day, it won’t be long before you hear the local refrain; “you can’t beat Wellington on a good day.”
They’re not wrong, those locals.
It’s hard not to love a city where kaka, our native parrots, screech overhead, coffee is good and strong, and you’re never too far from the coast.
The Wellington harbour, as seen from the Interislander ferry on a very rainy March day
There’s also the fact that more so than any other New Zealand city, Wellington is cool. Wellingtonians are cool, and you’ll see more personal style here than in most other New Zealand cities. Eclectic fashion and hair styles are the norm, as are very discerning tastes in coffee and food. Wellington is the seat of New Zealand’s government, so locals are dialled in to politics (and many work in the numerous government agencies in the Thorndon business area).
The edginess of Wellingtonians is also a vague sort of stubbornness.
Wellington sits in the Roaring Forties, a latitude known for delivering howling gales that make wearing floaty dresses or carrying an umbrella nigh impossible. It takes a certain type of person to stick out the weather, hanging in there for the good days when the city is bright with promise.
Wellington at a glance
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED IN WELLINGTON: One night is usually enough to explore some of the best things to do in Wellington.
If you only have one day in Wellington, get brunch and coffee from one of the city’s famous cafes in the morning, go for a stroll around the waterfront, stop by Te Papa museum and then head down Cuba Street.
After an afternoon of browsing book shops and record stores, you can have dinner at one of the great restaurants in the city, and round out your day with a cocktail or glass of local wine in a speakeasy bar like Puffin.
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
Start your day with coffee and a cheese scone
Walk the waterfront and visit Te Papa
WHERE TO STAY:
Stay in Te Aro, which is roughly the city centre and encompasses Cuba Street and Te Papa.
Start with coffee
When visiting Wellington, start your day like Wellingtonians do — with caffeine. Coffee culture is strong in the capital city, and locals take their morning brew seriously.
I’m no coffee connoisseur, but I love stopping by Havana Coffee Works, a colourful, retro roastery in an avocado-green art deco building. First opened in 1989, Havana leans into the Cuban theme.
The cosy little cafe has an eclectic, old-world style. While there, you can wander upstairs to look about the building, to see the beans being roasted in real time.
Zealandia
A stone’s throw from the central city, a predator proof fence wrapped around 225 hectares of native forest provides a safe haven for birds and reptiles so rare they are effectively extinct outside of sanctuaries. Zealandia is a core reason why Wellington is one of the few cities in the world where native bird populations are increasing.
The first fully-fenced eco-sanctuary in the world, Zealandia’s fence keeps out the hordes of cats, rats, stoats, possums, and other pests which plague New Zealand’s native birdlife to the brink of extinction. After the fence first went up, around 3 tonnes worth of possums were cleared from the area. The fence needed careful designs to make sure none could climb back in; research found that if one possum climbed nearly the top of the fence before it stalled, another could piggyback on top of it to make it all the way over.
Sanctuaries like Zealandia are small arks, carrying forward our precious birds until the day when they can (hopefully) exist again outside of predator proof fences.
A free electric shuttle runs from the city centre and the top of the cable car (and the cheerful driver gives a lovely introduction to the sanctuary on the drive). Once you arrive, explore the network of trails in the sanctuary at your own leisure, or join a two-hour guided tour. There’s a good chance of spotting kaka, a noisy native parrot, at feeding stations, flightless takahē stomping around in the grass, and the ancient tuatara, a “living fossil” that is exceptionally difficult to spot, even from metres away in the research area.
Other birds include tieke/saddlebacks, which only live in eco-sanctuaries, and the exceptionally rare hihi (thought to have only 2000 individuals left nationwide) which you can spot at the hihi feeding stations.
Visit for a night time tour, and you might see the kiwi who live in the sanctuary.
On a self-guided day visit, I spent around two hours in Zealandia, but you could easily stay for longer, sitting quietly somewhere to see what you can see. When I went, there were quite a few people on the trails, and the noise made birds somewhat difficult to spot (if you’re very keen on birdlife, Kapiti Island had much better bird spotting opportunities).
But, I was lucky enough to see three tuatara, the first time I have laid eyes on these fascinating little guys – that in itself made the visit worth it for me, along with the knowledge that the ticket price helps fund essential conservation work.
Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s National Museum
The sprawling building on Wellington’s waterfront is easily one of the best attractions in the city. Narrative-based and interactive, Te Papa doesn’t feel like a museum as much as a colourful walk through New Zealand’s environmental, cultural, and social history.
The te reo Māori name, ‘Te Papa Tongarewa’, translates literally to ‘container of treasures’. The museum houses a wealth of exhibitions from New Zealand’s natural history and environment (where you’ll find a personal favourite of mine, the colossal squid – the only one on display in the world) to Mana Whenua, which tells the stories of Māori life and heritage through taonga (treasures) such as waka (canoes), carving, weaving and even a full-sized wharenui, or meeting house.
Other exhibitions, such as that on the Treaty of Waitangi, give excellent background on New Zealand history, and how the nation of today came to be.
One of the major highlights of Te Papa is the long running Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition. The brainchild of New Zealand film icons Sir Peter Jackson and Wētā Workshop, the exhibition details New Zealand’s military history in WWI via the stories of eight ordinary New Zealanders. Massive sculptures capture each individual in a moment of time, in exceptional detail, right down to every single hair on their heads.
The Cable Car
Even more so than the hilly, coastal setting, creative flair and Victorian architecture, the Cable Car invites comparisons with San Francisco.
The red Cable Car has been making its clanking journey Running from Lambton Quay up a steep hillside to Kelburn and the Botanic Gardens for more than 120 years. The 5-minute trip will save your legs on the hills (it culminates at 120 metres above sea level) but it’s mostly worth doing for the novelty value.
From the top of the Cable Car, enjoy the view (and photo opportunities) of the city, explore the Botanic Gardens, catch the free shuttle to Zealandia, or walk to Graze Wine Bar in the Kelburn shops for dinner.
Walk the Wellington waterfront
Roughly two kilometres long, built on former wharf structures, the Wellington waterfront has plenty of open space to enjoy views of the harbour. Locals head here to run, walk, jump into the water, or just sit on one of the weathered wooden benches next to the sea.
Oriental Bay boat sheds
The hulking TSB Arena more or less marks the northernmost place to begin walking the waterfront. From there, head south towards the sprawl of Te Papa, a central feature of the waterfront.
Along the way, keep an eye out for the typographical sculptures of the Writers Walk; tributes to the city from 23 writers, including Katherine Mansfield, James K Baxter, and Elizabeth Knox.
If you’re game for a cheap thrill, check out the Taranaki Wharf Jumping platform. Located outside Te Papa, on top of the historic Taranaki wharf piles, the 7.5-meter-tall steel spiral staircase has two jumping options (the drop depends a little on the tide – at low tide, the jump looks a lot more intimidating).
The water looks a little murky, but is usually safe for swimming. To be sure, check LAWA before you jump in.
Continuing along the waterfront, the Oriental Bay boat sheds are a pretty pop of colour. At the corner of the Clyde Quay Wharf and Clyde Quay Boat Harbour, there’s a good chance of spotting white-fronted terns. If you’re interested in photography, this is a neat spot to check out.
Wētā Workshop
You don’t have to be a movie nerd to appreciate Wētā Workshop – I admit that I’m not, but I still enjoyed the behind the scenes tour. I imagine you would enjoy it even more if you’re a fan of films like Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Avatar.
The story of how the workshop came to make props, creatures and costumes is interesting in itself, but getting to see glimpses of artists shaping swords and other cool things is fascinating. There is a huge amount of creativity simmering away in Wētā Workshop, and it’s inspiring to see even a small part of it.
For me, seeing the artists at work – and learning that these niche jobs even exist – was the highlight, over and above playing with the props from various films. There’s obviously a lot that they can’t show you, but what you do get to see is interesting.
Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe
New Zealand’s only dedicated pinball arcade, this shop – which bills itself as having “interactive mechanical artworks” – is full of flashing lights, sound, and fun.
Games are $2 each, so stepping inside to play on one of the twenty odd machines is a budget-friendly way to escape the weather on a bad day. The shop is open into the evening, and has a fridge well stocked with local beers.
Further afield — day trips and things to do in wider Wellington
Kapiti Island
Driving to or from Wellington on State Highway 1 along the coast, and you’ll see the hulk of Kapiti Island lying out there in the sea mist.
It’s only 20 minutes by boat from the mainland, but feels like it’s a century away. In some ways it is; one of New Zealand’s oldest nature reserves, the island was first established as a sanctuary in 1897, although possums weren’t completely eradicated until 1986, in a herculean trapping effort. Rats were eliminated from the island in 1996; from that point onwards, birdlife on the island has thrived. Some birds, like the tieke/saddleback, nest in holes in tree trunks and are particularly susceptible to rats. Without rats, their populations have boomed, and the alarm-like call of the saddleback rings out almost constantly on the island.
Now, the island is almost a glimpse of how noisy and alive New Zealand’s forests would have been before human arrival.
Kāpiti Island Nature Tours is run by the Barrett whānau (family) who have been present on the island for the past 200 years. The family still privately owns a slice of the island, and plays an integral role as kaitiaki (guardians).
The company runs a ferry for day trips, and accommodation for overnight stays. I caught the ferry over for the day with Kapiti Island Nature Tours, and hiked the trails to the island's summit at 521 metres.
The birdlife on the island is some of the most abundant I have ever seen. Small flocks of whiteheads moved through the canopies. In places I could hear the distinct call of the hihi, and saw brief glimpses of both males and females.
But the highlight for me, was seeing for the first time the blue-grey ghost with the haunting song; the kōkako. You’re more likely to hear than see the kōkako. The songbirds are poor fliers and stick to tree canopies, but their sonorous, organ-like voices ring like bells through the forest. The kōkako has the longest known duetting of any songbird in the world.
For birdlife, and a conservation story that is a resounding success, the trip out to Kapiti Island is absolutely brilliant.
For lunch, eat a roti canai on Cuba Street
You can’t visit Wellington without going for a stroll down Cuba Street, the bohemian heart of Wellington.
On this eclectic strip, you can browse vintage shops like Ziggurat, and Hunters and Collectors, or look for new vinyl at independent record stores.
Don’t forget to look out for the clanking bucket fountain, an icon of the city.
Cuba Street is also one of the great dining streets of Wellington city. This is where you’ll find local favourites like Scopa Pizzeria, Kisa, and Olive.
Explore Wellington’s literary history, and go book shop hopping
One of my favourite things to do in Wellington is stroll around the waterfront, where you’ll see quotes from notable New Zealand writers, as typographical sculptures. The Writers Walk is beautifully done, with the words paying tribute to the city and sea.
“I love this city, the hills, the harbour, the
wind that blasts through it. I love the life and pulse and activity, and the warm decrepitude ... there’s always an edge here that one must walk which is sharp and precarious, requiring vigilance.”
If you feel inspired to pick up new reading material after your waterside walk, head to independent book store Unity Books, or visit Ferret Bookshop for quality second-hand books.
Pegasus Books, an independent bookstore on Cuba Street — photo credit WellingtonNZ
“I saw the Maori Jesus
walking on Wellington Harbour.
He wore blue dungarees.
His beard and hair were long.
His breath smelt of mussels and paraoa.
When he smiled it looked like the dawn.”
Check out some of Wellington’s live music scene at San Fran
Wellington has a thriving live music scene, and one of the most popular venues where you can get amongst it is San Fran. From up-and-coming local artists to the big name internationals, this is a Wellington music instituion..
San Fran do a free gig every Wednesday night called Eyegum with local up and coming musicians. The genre is leans toward indie pop but it's a different lineup every week, so it’s a cool way to check out the scene on a budget.
Some other awesome music venues in Wellington:
Pyramid Club, for experimental music
Moon in Newtown
Jack Hacketts for Blues on Friday and Saturday nights
An awesome local tip: Follow theimage04 on Instagram for a brilliant Wellington gig guide. They post weekly with a schedule of what's happening/gigs at all the main venues in town and any other events happening elsewhere (that they know of)
Take a day trip to Martinborough, a wine village near Wellington
Poppies vineyard
Wine tasting at Poppies
Martinborough is the North Island’s cutest little wine village.
It takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to drive from Wellington to Martinborough. On the way, I usually stop in Featherston for a cheese scone at C’est Cheese.
Martinborough is a sweet little village. Around 20 vineyards are clustered around Martinborough village centre, so you can walk or cycle to a whole range of vineyards.
My favourite spot to visit in Martinborough is Poppies winery — a local favourite thanks to its platter lunches and stellar white wines. You can stroll in for a tasting anytime, but you should book ahead to get a lunch spot.
I loved how laid back the tasting was at Poppies. It felt friendly and down-to-earth, while the wines were fabulous (my favourite was the dry Pinot Noir Rose).
If you’re up for turning this day into a longer day trip, carry on down to the rugged coastline along the very bottom edge of the North Island.
Make a pit stop for coffee and cake at The Land Girl cafe in blink-and-you-missed-it Pirinoa. It’s the perfect amount of quirky, with upcycled outdoor seating where you can enjoy country views, and even some vintage clothing treasures to browse.
The Putangirua Pinnacles are a key stop along the coast. These unique rock formations have an eerie appearance like fairy chimneys. You can walk through the pinnacles up a rocky streambed, or up to a ridgeline for views of the rock formations amidst the forest.
The road to Cape Palliser follows the pebbled coast around the southern Wairarapa.
It’s dotted with one-way bridges, slowing you down in preparation for the pace of life in Ngawi, a quirky fishing village wedged between a cliff and gravelly beach.
Bulldozers tinted orange from salt spray sit in a haphazard line along the water’s edge, their rusted hulks waiting to drag homecoming fishing boats from the ocean.
Rogue sheep trot across the road, unbothered by passing cars.
Continuing past Ngawi, you’ll feel as if you’re reaching the end of the world. In some ways you are; this is the southernmost point of the North Island.
The road becomes narrow and potholed, dipping in and out of fords and clinging to the rocky cliff in places.
On the way to the lighthouse is the largest fur seal colony in the North Island.
The seals are everywhere, hopping between bushes and lugging themselves over rocks, wafting pungent smells as they go. They are often sprawled right by the parking area, so take care and make sure you keep at least a 20-metre distance.
The Cape Palliser lighthouse is the last stop on the road. Boldly candy striped in red and white, it has stood at its fantastic vantage point since 1897.
Climb the 253 steep steps to enjoy views of the harakeke-covered hills and surf surging onto shingle beaches below.
Visit the National Library to see New Zealand’s founding documents
One of the best things to do in Wellington is completely free.
Visit the National Library Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, opposite the New Zealand Parliament buildings, to see the New Zealand's founding documents. He Tohu is a permanent exhibition of three constitutional documents that shape Aotearoa;
He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni — Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1835). Created by Maori leaders/rangatira in 1835 to show the world that New Zealand was an independent Māori nation.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi (1840). The founding agreement between Māori and the Crown. It is displayed facing toward the doors of parliament across the road, to constantly challenge the government and hold them accountable.
Women’s Suffrage Petition – Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine (1893). New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote, and at He Tohu you can see the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition, Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine.
The hand-crafted room where these documents are kept is inspired by traditional Māori waka huia, or canoes. It's lined with wood and has a curved ceiling.
The interactive exhibits give context to these important documents and insight into New Zealand's history.
Get the best views of Wellington from up Mount Victoria
The Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington is a must-do.
The view from the top of the mount (more of a hill, known to Wellingtonians as simply Mt Vic) is glorious. From here, you can appreciate the splendour of Wellington’s harbour location, with bush clad hills rising around the city and sweeping sea views.
It’s also a top spot for a picnic.
Before walking up the hill, swing by the famous chef wholesaler and gourmet goods paradise Moore Wilson’s on Lorne Street — it’s a classic Wellington grocery store, so you will truly be living like a local if you do this.
In true Wellington style, here you’ll find everything you need for a decadent picnic, including cheeses, meats, and baked sweet treats.
The Mount Victoria Lookout is about a 30 minute walk from the centre of the city.
Mount Victoria is also famous for its cameo appearance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as Hobbiton Woods. If you’re a LOTR fan, you can follow the Hobbit path to find the spot where Frodo and the other hobbits hid from the ring wraith.
Spot seals in the Red Rocks reserve
The coastal walk by Red Rocks reserve is gorgeous — a wild, rocky, windswept stretch of coastline, where you’ll be walking by the water.
Red Rocks Reserve is located in the Owhiro Bay area, about a 30-minute drive from Wellington's city centre.
The trail takes you past distinctive red and orange-hued rocks, which were formed from ancient volcanic activity.
Seals laze on the rocks, quite unbothered by the people walking by.
On clear days, you can even see as far as the South Island.
The walk is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours return, depending on how far you choose to go. It's around 6.5 km (4 miles) from the Owhiro Bay car park to Sinclair Head and back.
Take the iconic Cable Car up to the Botanic Gardens
One of the most fun things to do in Wellington is to catch the fire engine red Cable Car that has been trundling up and down the Kelburn hillside since 1902.
You can catch the cable car from Lambton Quay, the main shopping street running parallel to the waterfront ($6 one way).
The cable car climbs around 120 meters in a short five minutes, saving you a hike up the hillside. Disembark at the Kelburn terminal; from here, you can walk through the Botanic Gardens.
Wellington Botanic Garden is situated on the hills above the city center, encompassing 25 hectares (62 acres) of landscaped gardens, forests, and natural bush.
From their location on the hill, you can enjoy views across the city to the harbour beyond.
For an even better view, head to the Te Ahumairangi Hill Lookout — about a one hour walk from the Cable Car Kelburn terminal through the gardens. as your final destination.
From the lookout, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view of the city.
Visit Wellington’s craft beer brewpubs
I’m not really a beer drinker, but in the capital I make an exception for the craft beer brewpubs; it’s an essential activity in Wellington.
The city boasts the most craft beer breweries per capita in New Zealand, earning its reputation as the craft beer capital of the country. It's a haven for beer enthusiasts with its diverse range of breweries and bars.
The craft beer culture is strong in Wellington, and the city’s breweries encapsulate a lot of the grungy, creative charm of the capital.
On the funky Hannah’s Laneway, a block over from Cuba street, you’ll find Fortune Favours spread across two stories of an old industrial building.
Near the upper end of Cuba Street is Heyday, a pastel green brewpub in a former car battery shop. There are tables out the front, so on a fine day you can sit in the sunshine and enjoy cold brews.
Garage Project is another local favourite. Their brewery in Aro Valley features a rotating selection of unique and experimental beers,
The wood-panelled taproom has a laid-back vibe and on tap are around 20 beers. Try a tasting flight for the full experience.
Over in Lyall Bay, one of Wellington’s best beaches, is ParrotDog, another good spot.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope you’re looking forward to exploring Wellington, our funky little capital city.
If you’ve enjoyed my recommendations, you might want to check these out as well before you go:
