Wellington Travel & Vacation Guide

Wellington’s main contemporary art gallery hosts an ever-changing collection of international touring art exhibitions and contemporary local works. There is always something interesting to see, and it's a great place for a rainy day.

Explore Wellington’s waterfront in your own kayak, or hire a pair of inline skates. The hire centre also features a 13-metre-high indoor climbing wall, designed for beginners as well as more experienced climbers.

Explore Wellington Harbour with East By West ferry trips, stopping at Somes-Maitiu nature reserve or Days Bay's popular swimming beach. The vibrant Queens Wharf, the captivating Te Papa museum, and historic Mātiu/Somes Island are must-sees. You could also spend a leisurely day at the seaside Eastbourne Village, enjoying their beaches, shops and art galleries.

Join a full or half day tour by Xplor Tours and visit the locations used during filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. On this tour you get the chance to explore locations such as Rivendell, where Frodo recovers from his knife attack, the Anduin River, and the Gardens of Isengard, to name a few. The cherry on top is the tour of Weta workshop, where you can see how props and weaponry is made, as well as sets from Thunderbirds. This is a must for any "Lord of the Rings" fan.

Mount Victoria is a beautiful place for a nature hike; so beautiful, in fact, that it has been used as filming ground for some scenes of the Lord if the Rings movie. Expect stunning, birds-eye views over the city and bay. Come at night when the city lights glimmer in the distance and savour the moment.

The national museum of New Zealand features five floors of interactive exhibits and offers an insight into everything from natural history to Maori culture and European immigration. Don’t miss ‘bush city’, the museum’s urban rain forest full of native plants and wildlife. The museum is recognized as a world leader of interactive and innovative museum experiences.

Take a one-hour guided tour of the Parliament Buildings to see New Zealand politics at work and to explore the Beehive — one of the most famous buildings in Wellington.

Old St Paul's is an attractive old wooden church and is a fine example of 19th century Gothic Revival architecture. The interior is enhanced by splendid stained glass windows and is one of New Zealand's most important historic places. You can also join a guided tour and listen to interesting stories of the church.

When entering in Dakota you will be transported to a time when cowboys and Dakota natives wandered the grasslands. Hosting different activities on different nights of the week, including line dancing, poker and mechanical bull riding, you will never find this vibrant place boring.

Golding's Free Dive features eclectic decor with multicoloured fairy lights and Star Wars elements. Enjoy fresh local beer, unique wines, and authentic Neapolitan pizza from Pizza Pomodoro. A cosy spot perfect for laid-back drinks and a slice.

The spirit of Cuba is alive and kicking at Havana Bar – visible through their passion for live music, rum and coffee. This is a great place where you can have fresh exotic drinks such as raspberry and cucumber Gin Fizz.

Hawthorn Lounge is a cosy relaxed bar with big leather couches in front of the open fire where you can also roast marshmallows. It used to be a gentleman's club and lounge bar in the 1920s.

San Fran is one of the top venues in New Zealand for international acts as well as local bands, DJs, and comedians.

The Arborist Rooftop Bar offers a relaxed, garden-like atmosphere with eclectic furniture and greenery. Enjoy delicious cocktails, frozen specials, and a variety of share plates. Perfect for a laid-back drink while watching the sunset.

One of Wellington's most stylish cocktail bars, this venue offers reading rooms along with lounge and bar areas. Pick one of the many books from the endless shelves lining the bar, and if you're lucky you might even find a cocktail voucher hidden between the pages.

The Tasting Room is a modern interpretation of the traditional public house — a gastropub, offering the best in creative beer and food matching along with providing a premium drinking environment.

Hunters & Collectors is the vintage boutique no retro-clothing lover should miss when in Wellington. Make an hour or two to browse through its endless treasures.

For a hand-picked collection of quality New Zealand fine art, crafts and memorable souvenirs, Kura is definitely the place to go. The gallery specialises in traditional and contemporary aboriginal art.

The Mandatory specialises in unique, exquisite menswear and is a must-visit for those in search of the perfectly tailored suit. Founded in 1997, it is now very popular amongst independent manufacturers in Wellington.

The Old Bank Shopping Arcade is located inside a historic building, and offers something to see apart from varied stores. Do not miss the musical Old Bank Clock and the remains of a sailing boat unearthed during building renovations.

Soup refers to itself as "fashion recovery", where pre-loved Armani, Burberry, Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto, Alexander McQueen, Zambesi are just some of the recycled labels you can expect to find.

For many, the sweet spot for visiting Wellington rolls around at the tail end of summer, typically in February and March. This is when the city exhales from the peak tourist rush, and the weather starts playing nice and predictable. You can still bask in the splendour of New Zealand's nature, but also catch a more varied mix of local events than during the summer — and the crystal-clear skies are likely to serve up the year's best sunsets. Summer stretches from December to February, and it's the peak season, drawing in scores of families with children enjoying their school break. These are the warmest months with temperatures nudging between 15–21ºC (60–70ºF). But, remember, Wellington's weather has a whimsical streak with sudden gusts of wind. So, pack with layering in mind!

Citizens of Australia and the UK, as well as visa waiver countries, do not need to apply for a visa for short visitor stays, but may need to produce documented proof of onward travel. Visa waiver countries include the USA and multiple countries across Europe and Asia, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vatican City. Since 2019, travellers that are visa waiver must request a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to travel. It is mandatory for all sea and air arrivals, including transit. The issued authorisation is valid for two years. Citizens of other countries will need to apply for a visa in advance, which can be done online for solo travellers and in paper format for those travelling with a partner or as a group. The applicant’s passport validity in this case will need to last 3 months after the planned departure date.

Wellington International Airport (WLG) is located 8 kilometres or a 20 minutes drive from the city centre. Wellington is less than one hour’s flight from anywhere in New Zealand, and Pacific Blue covers most major cities domestically with flights to Australia and the South Pacific. A number of shuttle operators provide a regular half-hourly or hourly shuttle bus service between the airport and the Wellington Railway Station. They operate on demand, or you can book in advance to have them waiting for you at Wellington Airport. There are always a couple of shuttles waiting at the departure exits of the airport.

Wellington has a well developed public transport system, the most used in New Zealand. It consists of buses, commuter trains, ferries and a funicular (the Wellington Cable Car). One of the best features of Wellington is its compact size. In half an hour, you can walk from the Railway Station, past the Parliament Buildings, along Lambton Quay, past Cuba Street to Courtenay Place near Te Papa. Collect a map from the Wellington i-SITE Visitor Centre and explore downtown Wellington for fashion, food, arts and all the main attractions. Or take a guided tour with Walk Wellington. Discover the history, the people and the places of Wellington with knowledgeable guides who know the capital’s hidden secrets. There is an express bus that travels between the airport, Wellington city, Queensgate, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. This shuttle only stops at the main stops, which makes travel faster and easier. City buses operate every day from 7am to 11pm on most routes. Individual tickets may be purchased from the bus driver, and discounted ten-trip tickets are also available.

Numerous taxi companies operate throughout Wellington. Rideshare apps like Uber are a convenient way to find a ride, too.

New Zealand operates on a 230/240V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency. The country uses Type I power plugs, which feature two flat pins forming a 'V' shape, along with a grounding pin. This standard is also commonly used in Australia, Argentina, China, and several Pacific island nations. Remember to pack a universal adapter if your devices use a different plug type to ensure hassle-free charging.

Pharmacies, often referred to as 'chemists' in New Zealand, are typically open during standard retail hours, generally 9am to 5:30pm on weekdays. However, hours can extend to late evenings and weekends in larger cities and shopping centres. New Zealand's largest pharmacy chains are Unichem and Life Pharmacy, with stores spread nationwide. These pharmacies stock a wide range of over-the-counter medicines, healthcare products, and often provide additional services like flu vaccinations.

Post offices in Wellington are run by NZ Post, providing several services throughout the city. The offices have a red sign on the outside, with New Zealand Post written on.