Wellington has a special reputation to uphold in New Zealand. Not only is it the country's capital. Windy Welly, as it is known to locals, is by far the most captivating and attractive city in the country. Indeed, the city is set in a beautiful bay sandwiched between green hills.
What did we think of Wellington
We've been to New Zealand a number of times and thus also to Wellington. Fair is fair; on arrival by ferry - we were travelling from the South Island to the North Island - it was not immediately clear why this is one of New Zealand's most beautiful cities.
Check out our blog with 5 reasons to visit Wellington!
Don't be fooled, though. Indeed, as soon as we left the port, it did become clear why Wellington is so popular. Indeed, apart from the bustling city centre, Wellington is set in beautiful surroundings. Old Victorian villas are built against the hills surrounded by green parks and forests. Narrow streets lead you to the city's houses.
TIP ♥ - did you know that Wellington is known as Windy Welly because of the strong winds that blow through the city.
Sjoerd at Wellington
10x fun things to do in Wellington
Many of the sights in the city centre can be reached on foot. After all, Wellington is not a very big city. Wellington is traditionally the centre for arts and culture in New Zealand, but there is so much more to do. The city knows how to captivate any traveller. We have listed the 10 best things to do.
#1 Visit the Te Papa Museum
If you want to learn something about New Zealand and its history, head to Te Papa. The country's premier museum. Te Papa Tongarewa, as it is officially called, means something like 'The place of fun of this country',. They chose that name well because it is one of the most fun museums to visit.
It is New Zealand's national museum and it always has special exhibitions and shows. Not only is it a museum where you will find lots of art, history, animals, plants, Maori history and culture, it is also one of the most interactive museums you can visit.
TIP ♥ - did you know that Te Papa is home to the world's largest caught squid (4.2 metres!)
Guided tours
You can just visit the museum on your own and see all the beauty, but you can also take several tours with a guide who can tell you much more about all the exhibitions. Entrance is free except on some exhibitions and activities.
Read more about at Te Papa Museum here
#2 Chilling out at the Wellington Botanic Gardens
It seems to be something of a trend in global cities; Botanic Gardens. These large city parks are becoming more and more popular and you see them appearing in more and more cities around the world. For instance, ej also find one in Christchurch.
The Wellington Botanic Gardens are an ideal place to enjoy the weather (weather permitting). The park covers 25 hectares so there is plenty of room to find a quiet spot.
TIP ♥ - in summer you will find many local concerts here
The Te Papa Museam
The Botanic Gardens
#3 Visit a rugby match
Of course, you can't travel to New Zealand without visiting at least one rugby match. What football is to us, rugby is to the Kiwis, and they are awfully good at it. Everyone, of course, knows the All Blacks, NZ's national team. However, you can also visit a league game.
Wellington Hurricanes is the team in Wellington. They play their matches at Westpac Stadium. in addition to matches, concerts are held regularly and you can take guided tours where you can visit the dressing rooms and the pitch.
Cost
National matches cost about NZ$20 to NZ$60 (depending on seating) and international matches cost about NZ$70 to NZ$120.
#4 Go to the Mount Victoria Lookout
Mount Victoria is one of the city's most famous landmarks. This mountain rises 196 metres above Wellington, so it is known for the amazing view of Wellington. The Mount Victoria Lookout is THE place for photo enthusiasts with views of the city, the harbour and the green hills.
With good weather, you can go for miles. Yet there is really only one time when you should be at the top; sunset. THE sunset here is impressive and definitely worth seeing.
TIP ♥ - you can walk up, but there are also hop-on hop-off buses.
Mount Victoria Lookout
Mount Victoria Lookout
#5 Take a ride in the cable car
Wellington's historic cable car, established in 1902, is THE landmark of the city. Going to Wellington and not taking a ride on the cable car is actually unthinkable. Used by locals and travellers alike, the cable car takes you from the suburbs, located in the hills, to the city centre.
Along the way, you'll stop at the Cable Car Museum and the Wellington Botanical Garden (#2).
So the Cable Car is not just for tourists, but also just commuting. There is almost no better or more beautiful way to travel to work, as you travel through impressive scenery and two-hundred-metre tunnels.
TIP ♥ - did you know that this cable car has been carrying passengers for over a hundred years.
The ride up takes no more than five minutes, but weather assure you that you won't forget it soon!
Cost
Fortunately, the cost of a ride in the cable car is not too bad. Adults pay NZ$9 for a return ticket, children pay half. Just an up will cost you NZ$5.
The famous Cable Car
#6 Stargazing at the Carter Observatory
Because of low light pollution, New Zealand is one of the best countries for stargazing at night. We saw beautiful starry skies in Milford Sound and Wanaka, but you can also stargaze in Wellington at the Carter Observatory.
This centre became New Zealand's national observatory in 1977 and since then has been popular not only with stargazers, but also as a learning centre. Everything you want to learn about our galaxy and Maori cosmology can be learned here.
TIP ♥ - entrance fee is NZ$12.50 p.p.
#7 Visit St Gerard's Catholic Church
New Zealand is not immediately known for the beautiful churches you can visit. For that, you're better off heading to France. Still, you will find a few, including St Gerard's Catholic Church in Wellington.
The church is built against Mount Victoria and overlooks the city. At night, the church is beautifully lit up. You can take a guided tour of this historic building. The church has an impressive exterior with beautiful stained-glass windows and a beautiful cloister, which offers a glimpse into its unique lifestyle.
St Gerard's Catholic Church
#8 Go for a day at the beach
Wellington is not immediately known for its beaches, yet you will find a few here. The perfect place for a day out is the beach. After all, you're never far from it.
From Wellington Waterfront (the harbour), you can take a ferry to Matiu / Somes Island, among others, to get to the Days Bay Jetty. Literally on the other side of the bay. Like entering a totally different world. Here you can stroll along the sandy beach, explore the hills, discover the picturesque town of Eastbourne or just have a swim!
#9 Enjoy at the Wellington Waterfront
On a sunny day, Wellington Waterfront is the perfect place for a relaxing day out. The waterfront has hosted important festivals and celebrations for years, including Waitangi Day commemorations, Chinese New Year and annual fireworks shows.
It is also home to the city's oldest market, as well as a handful of cafes, restaurants and eateries.
TIP ♥ - in an underground car park just off Wellington Waterfront, you'll find The Underground Market. As the name suggests, it's a market underground in a car park. You'll find around 90 stalls selling handmade goods every Saturday.
Wellington Waterfront
#10 Visit the most beautiful beaches
Wellington is surrounded by beautiful beaches and bays. They are not the most beautiful beaches in the country, but it is definitely worth visiting a few if you are in the area. These are the most beautiful ones.
Oriental Bay
Oriental Bay is the city beach. It is located in the city itself, against Mount Victoria. You will find a small beach and a promenade (Oriental Parade). You can swim there in summer and at weekends there are lots of Kiwis (the New Zealanders, not the birds ???? ).
Days Bay
The most beautiful bay near Wellington is Days Bay. At Wellington Waterfront, take the boat to Matiu / Somes Island to get to the Days Bay Jetty. It's a quiet bay and not too far from the city.
TIP ♥ - also be sure to visit the village of Eastbourne
Island Bay
Island Bay is just 5 kilometres from the city centre. It offers good fishing, snorkelling and diving. Off the coast you will also find Taputeranga Island where you can do some good diving.
Oriental Bay
Makara Beach
A 30-minute drive from Wellington is rocky Makara. One of the nicer beaches around the city, it is set against a green landscape with steep cliffs. Around the corner is Fisherman's Bay where you can still find several World War II artillery emplacements on top of the cliffs.
Kapiti Coast
Kapiti Coast is not near Wellington, but an hour's drive away and boasts a sloppy 40 kilometres of beaches. It is one of the better beaches to spend a day at, as there is also most of the things to do nearby. If you want to go even further, you can also go to Kapiti Island.
TIP ♥ - other beaches nearby are Paraparaumu, Raumati, Waikanae and Otaki.
Kapiti Beach
Staying in Wellington
What many people don't know is that Wellington is one of the smallest capital cities in the world. It is also not very difficult to find suitable accommodation, but we are happy to help you get started.
One of the most famous neighbourhoods to stay in is Te Aro. Te Aro is actually the neighbourhood and is one kilometre from Wellington Downtown. You'll find the best eateries, the hippest bars and the nicest nightlife spots. If you're looking for a comfortable home-away-from-home experience during your stay, be sure to check out the Adelaide Motel Wellington.
Apart from Te Aro, everything in the city centre is within walking distance of each other so where you sleep is not a big deal. But, if you're keen on exploring hotel options, it's easy to book hotels on tophotels.com from a wide array of choices.
For those wanting to venture a bit further, consider a stay at the Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North, an excellent choice for luxury and comfort. It's not too far away from wellington and provides a wonderful base for exploring more of the region. Visit http://copthorne-hotel.northislandnz.net/en/ to book your perfect option!
Campsites
There are of course a number of campsites around Wellington where you can stay overnight with your own campervan or car. Keep in mind that you are NOT allowed to camp just anywhere in New Zealand. You can read more about that here.
Best time to travel
As you probably know, the seasons in New Zealand are reversed compared to those in the Netherlands. Summer here runs from December to February and are similar to those in the Netherlands. Warm and pleasant, but temperatures rarely exceed 25 degrees. Summer is also the busiest period in terms of tourists. Spring and autumn are also good times to visit Wellington.
