Where to stay in Wellington, New Zealand (the best hotels and areas)
Welcome to the hotel edit; my guide to the very best hotels and places to stay in Wellington
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Arriving in Wellington is always a one-two beat; in the first moments, whether it’s driving down State Highway 1 and reaching the stretch of road alongside the coast, with the city laid out in front of me and the late afternoon light filtering down through the hills, or sailing into the fishhook-shaped harbour on the ferry, I’m reminded how beautiful Wellington is, and how much I love it there.
Then, not too long after that, I’m plunged into the narrow city centre streets trying to keep my cool as I make tight turns into tighter car parks. On my last visit, I busted the wing mirror of my car in less than 12 hours.
You are likely a better driver than I am, but even so, Wellington is a city where it’s easier to ditch the car and explore on foot.
The centre of Wellington is compact and, crucially, flat – unlike most of the rest of the city. That makes it easy to walk around the key central areas of the city. A car is handy to go further afield, but you’re unlikely to want to drive in the narrow, busy central streets; if you have a rental vehicle, the easiest thing to do is leave it parked (either valet or in a parking building, I don’t know of any hotels that provide free parking) while you explore on foot.
Cuba Street and intersecting Ghuznee Street are the heart of Wellington’s creative and food district. These are the most eminently wanderable streets in the centre, lined with vintage and second hand shops, record stores, and excellent cafes.
The northern edge of the city centre is Thorndon, a mostly business district home to The Beehive parliamentary buildings and high rise office blocks. There’s no shortage of lunch places and bars catering to Wellington’s office workers in this area, but weekends can be quiet compared to the vibrant Cuba Street.
A busy arterial road separates the waterfront from the rest of the city centre, but once you’re on the water side, there is easy walking from the hulking TSB arena on the northern end, to Oriental Bay. In between is Te Papa Tongarewa, in a prime spot overlooking the water, the Solace in the Wind statue (also known as the naked man), and the line of pretty boat sheds along Oriental Parade. It’s a beautiful stroll, in any weather; I love looking for the poetry and quotes of the Writers Walk.
I haven’t stayed in every hotel in Wellington, but I have passed through the city many times; I have driven back and forth to the South Island more times than I can count, and I’m always happy to pass through the capital.
As with all of my guides, this isn’t supposed to be the most comprehensive list of hotels in Wellington, but a curated selection of independent or otherwise unique places to stay.
A quick overview: Wellington’s best hotels
My top choice — The Intrepid Hotel
Fabulous location by the waterfront and Te Papa — QT Wellington
Excellent independent hotel — The Bolton
Cheap, cheerful, and practical — Astelia Apart Hotel
The Intrepid Hotel
LOCALLY OWNED | SMALL (18 ROOMS)
One of the most well-located hotels in Wellington, The Intrepid sits on Ghuznee Street, a stone’s throw from Cuba Street and all of the shops, bars, and restaurants this part of the city has to offer.
The grand, tiled entrance also leads to Puffin wine bar, so at first it seems as if you’re straying into a speakeasy rather than a hotel. The small reception desk abuts the wine shop part of Puffin, and the red-lit lift is just next to a glass door stenciled ‘bar,’ which leads to the velvet booths and colourful decor of Puffin – well worth a visit at some point during your stay.
Upstairs, the decor of the 18 rooms embraces the heritage of the building with industrial chic; pared back furniture, exposed brick and dark curtains. Whether you find the rooms gloomy or moody depends on perspective. I found the darker ambiance peaceful after the busyness of Cuba Street.
Unusually for a hotel room, The Intrepid has a separate toilet and a shower. Also unusual – the snacks and drinks in the room are all complimentary. Other delightful touches include the free laundry room, the ice machine, and filter coffee provided in the morning (although I do admit, with so many excellent coffee places within a few minutes walking distance, it wasn’t entirely necessary). There’s also an all day coffee and tea station on each floor, with sparkling water taps alongside. You may not love having to dip out of the room for refreshments, but robes are provided, so this didn’t bother me.
My room, 303, was on the top floor, and despite looking out over the street I wasn’t bothered at all by street noise (although rooms on lower levels may hear a little revelry on weekends).
In a nod to the history of the building as the former office and warehouse of Cadbury Chocolate, the turndown service includes a chocolate on your pillow (although they did show up asking to do this at 4.30pm on a sunny summer day, which felt a little odd – I just took the chocolate at the door) and a small room service card with an update on the weather for the next day.
Check out is a leisurely 11am; somehow, an hour more than the standard 10am feels much more relaxed, and I appreciated a later start on a Sunday morning, when shops along Cuba Street only started opening mid morning.
Of course, the hotel is not without some drawbacks; reception closes at 5pm; I didn’t love the shower curtain; and the blankets on the bed were on the thinner side. Balanced against every other part of my stay, though, these points are negligible. I loved checking into The Intrepid and would happily do so again.
A guide to the best areas to stay in Wellington
If you’re struggling to decide where to stay in Wellington, here is a quick breakdown of the key areas.
Wellington CBD and Lambton Quay
Wellington CBD (the Central Business District) is where the high rises tower over the harbour.
This is the main shopping and business district, home to corporate offices, government buildings, and the Wellington Cable Car. Lambton Quay is the main street.
This is also the area where you’ll find the railway station and the Bluebridge ferry terminal, so it can be a handy area if you want somewhere within a short walk or drive of either transport hub.
The Bolton
Why I recommend this hotel:
The Bolton is independent and family-run, a rarity for hotels these days.
What’s nearby:
Independently owned Belen Plant Bakery is a great spot for mid morning treats (or any time treats).
On this side of town, you’re close to the Beehive — it’s worth going for a walk around there to take a look at it.
Astelia Apart Hotel
The Astelia Apart Hotel is a very convenient choice if you want a budget option and you’re not too bothered about decor. If you have a rental car, as I did, this hotel is located opposite a parking building, so it’s easy enough to park overnight.
The downside to that is that some of the rooms are looking straight at the parking building — that was indeed my view from the room’s sofa.
Why I recommend this hotel:
I loved that the Apart Hotel had a washing machine and dryer in the room — this was the main factor in choosing this hotel last time I was in Wellington (I had just arrived from the South Island with a backpack full of grubby hiking clothes)
I also liked that the room layout mean the kitchen and dining area was separate from the bedroom. It was also handy having a decent kitchen set up, with good coffee making facilities.
Astelia is owned by the same New Zealand accommodation group behind the luxury Ohtel; I always like knowing a place is New Zealand operated.
What’s nearby:
Astelia is almost perfectly midway between the Cable Car and downtown Wellington, and Cuba Street with all of its restaurants.
Te Aro and Cuba Street
I love walking around the Wellington waterfront, and reading the poetry from local writers
QT Wellington
The QT is the Wellington hotel I know most intimately. I used to stay here when I went down to Wellington for work — I always loved the lavish rooms with colourful decorations and full bathtubs in the bathrooms.
Why I recommend this hotel:
I’m a fan of all the QT properties (I also nominate them in my picks for best Auckland and Queenstown hotels) because they are just more fun and interesting than a standard hotel.
What’s nearby:
It’s only a couple of minutes walk from QT to Te Papa Musuem, a must-visit in Wellington.
There are also some good breakfast cafes not too far away, which is handy — I don’t recommend the hotel restaurant for breakfast; it’s fine, not awful, but I have eaten there twice and both times felt like I could have had a more interesting breakfast elsewhere.
Oriental Bay
Ohtel
The mid-century inspired retro rooms of Ohtel Wellington offer a much more unique stay than the generic chain hotels.
Why I recommend this hotel:
I like that it is owned by a New Zealand accommodation group.
What’s nearby:
Set right on Oriental Parade, this boutique hotel is ideal for exploring the waterfront. Head to Beach Babylon on Oriental Bay for brunch, or go in the opposite direction to explore the writer’s walk around the water.
Thanks for reading this far — I hope my recommendations helped you select a special place to stay in Wellington.
If you would like to explore more of Wellington and the North Island, you might also be interested in these articles:
AUTHOR BIO
I’m a freelance travel writer from New Zealand with bylines in National Geographic Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and more.
I’ve travelled up and down beautiful Aotearoa and I love sharing my recommendations for the best places to visit in New Zealand.
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