Despite all the acclaim for Auckland (which is not the capital, despite common belief), the real action takes place in Wellington. With a population of just over 210,000, this capital city has a cool vibe thanks to its trendy restaurants, galleries, and murals. Wellington, at the island’s southwestern tip, is my favorite place in New Zealand. It has a gorgeous harbor, fantastic restaurants, world-class art galleries, educational museums, and a plethora of fun things to do. Really, what else could one want?
Here are the top five attractions in Wellington.
New Zealand’s spherical Parliament building, nicknamed “The Beehive,” is located in the city of Wellington.
Visit the Parliament Building and the Beehive.
The Beehive (so-called because it looks like one) and the adjacent Parliament House are where New Zealand’s legislature convenes. A free, one-hour guided tour is available multiple times daily, seven days a week (advance booking is recommended as there are limited spots). The Banquet Hall, the Debating Chamber, and the Select Committee Room will all be open for your inspection. Parliament’s collection of artwork is so impressive that it’s sometimes the subject of art tours.
Taking the Wellington Cable Car is a must.
Lambton Quay, in the heart of the city, is connected to the hillside community of Kelburn by this famous funicular. A lookout, the Cable Car Museum, and Carter Observatory can all be found at the peak. The trip takes only five minutes, but the sights of the city and harbor are well worth the time spent getting there. At the peak, you can visit a free, compact museum devoted to the cable car’s past. The price of a round-trip ticket is $9 NZD.
Travel to Wellington’s Museum
The Times has named this free museum chronicling Wellington’s history as one of the best museums in the world. The maritime history of Wellington is the focus of an entire floor, complete with an interactive reconstruction of the shipwreck of the Wahine. Children will enjoy “A Millennium Ago,” which uses holograms to retell classic Maori myths. The award-winning New Zealand vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows has had some of its sets featured in more recent exhibitions.
Take a trip to Te Papa.
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, more formally known as the National Museum of New Zealand, features six floors of hands-on exhibits devoted to all facets of New Zealand’s history and culture. Extensive displays explore Maori history and culture, colonial New Zealand, and local flora and fauna, and even feature cutting-edge, participatory works of art. Check ahead of time to see what traveling exhibits will be present in addition to the giant squid exhibit. It’s a wonderful resource for young people, and it’s free!
Stroll along the water’s edge near Oriental Bay
Wellington’s most popular beach is located in Oriental Bay, and the area immediately adjacent to the shore is a lively public plaza complete with restaurants, shops, and even ice cream stands. In this area, many people go for walks, jogs, skates, and rides on bikes. One of the best free things to do in Wellington is to visit one of the city’s weekend markets.
Other Wellington Attractions
Visit the Ancient Church of St. Paul.
This cathedral, constructed in 1865, is a prime specimen of colonial Gothic design. The interior is illuminated by beautiful stained glass and is intricately decorated with glowing native timbers. Experience the wonderful (and sometimes quirky) history of the church and its role in Wellington’s transformation from a colony to an independent nation by signing up for a guided tour. Guided tours begin at 5 NZD and admission is on a donation basis.
Proceed to the Wellington Zoo
Animals from all over the world, including native species like emus, dingoes, and various species of snakes, can be found at New Zealand’s oldest zoo. Visit the zoo to hear daily talks and observe animals like red pandas, lions, meerkats, cheetahs, lemurs, and giraffes up close. You’ll need 27 New Zealand dollars to get in.
Unwind in the beautiful Wellington Botanic Garden.
This park is over 25 hectares (60 acres) in size and is home to a wide variety of species, both local and exotic. Get to the gardens in just five minutes by taking the cable car from Lambton Quay. You’ll find beautiful vistas, blooming plants, grassy areas to relax on, and pretty much anything else you could want for a fun day outside. It doesn’t cost anything to get in.
Weta Workshop, a must-see
The New Zealand-based Weta Workshop is an Oscar-winning props and special effects studio named after the weta, one of the largest insects in the world that is native to New Zealand. Find out how movies like “The Lord of the Rings,” “King Kong,” “District 9,” and countless others achieved their extraordinary visual effects. Touring the Weta Workshop is 49 New Zealand dollars.
Take a Walk Down Cuba Street
Street performers do everything from singing and playing instruments to performing groovy marionette shows and fire dances. Don’t forget to take pictures at Bucket Fountain, too (it’s a fountain, after all, constructed entirely out of colorful buckets).
Check out the Wrights Hill Castle.
This circular artillery embankment was constructed in the early 1940s and is comprised of extensive tunnels below ground. The fort, built in the waning years of World War II, was designed to hold three guns (although only two were ever installed). Although the base saw no action during the war, both guns were fired in the years that followed (with a range of up to 30 kilometers, or 18 miles) to test their capabilities. The fortification has been modernized and designated a national monument. Sound effects for the Fellowship of the Ring’s dwarven tunnels were recorded here, and the set has also been used for filming a number of TV shows and movies. The tunnels are accessible to the public on certain holidays (8 NZD admission).
Visit the Carter Solar Observatory.
Space Place, not far from the Botanic Gardens, is home to this planetarium. You can go out at night to look at the stars, or you can stop by during the day to see some exhibits about space. The museum has a number of interesting displays, including one on Maori starlore, and a gift shop. The entrance fee is 14 New Zealand Dollars.
Nga Taonga Sound & Vision is worth a trip (New Zealand Film Archive)
This audiovisual library founded in 1981 and now houses over 800,000 items, including 30,000 films, dating back to 1895. The fact that you can watch so many films here for nothing makes it one of the best places ever. Check ahead of time, but film screenings and talks typically cost between $5 and $10 NZD per person.
Explore New Zealand
Located to the west of Wellington, this nature preserve spans over a whopping 225 hectares (500 acres). The goal of the Zealandia project (named after the now-submerged landmass of Zealandia, of which New Zealand is a part) is to restore the area to its condition prior to human settlement. The cost of admission is 22 New Zealand dollars, and guided tours lasting two hours cost 55 New Zealand dollars. Nighttime guided tours are also available.
Visit the Fountain of Paddy the Nomad.
Paddy, undoubtedly Wellington’s most famous and beloved dog, honored here with a fountain dedicated to his memory. This extraordinary canine hung out at the wharf and traveled on ships all over the United States and even to Australia. There were rumors that he had even flown in a biplane. As Paddy explored the city on his own, he became well-known to the locals and was eventually picked up by taxis and trams. Hundreds of people attended his funeral in 1939. In 1945, donations were made to build a fountain in his honor that could be used by both people and their pets.
Costs of a Trip to Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand’s harbor is dotted with brightly painted boathouses and storage sheds. Dorms in hostels range from 33 to 45 New Zealand dollars per night, depending on size. During peak times, you can expect to pay an extra $5 to $10 per night. You can expect to pay between $90 and $100 NZD per night for a private room. Most hostels also provide a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals for free. Breakfast is only free at one hostel, and that’s The Dwellington.
Outside the city, camping is an option for those who have brought their own shelter. For two people, a basic plot without electricity costs about 15 New Zealand dollars. Price range hotels are scarce and expensive, with off-season double rooms going for about 125 NZD and peak season rooms going for 175 NZD. Most hostels and low-cost hotels now provide free Wi-Fi and sometimes even kitchenettes.
Food Items in Wellington
Seafood, lamb, fish and chips, and Kiwi specialties like hangi are staples of the Wellingtonian diet (meat and vegetables cooked underground). Roast lamb, musculature, scallops, oysters, and snapper will likely be on the menu. Wellington, the nation’s capital, is home to numerous restaurants serving cuisines as diverse as sushi, Korean, Thai, and Chinese. In comparison, a meal for two with a drink and an appetizer at a casual restaurant will set you back around 55 New Zealand dollars. A six-course tasting menu at a high-end restaurant will set you back around $90-$100 NZD.
Luckily, Wellington’s thriving coffee shop culture makes hearty sandwiches and meat pies accessible for just $10–$12 NZD. Fish and chips cost between $8 and $10 NZD, fast food from McDonald’s costs $14 NZD, and takeaway pizza costs $10 to $12 NZD. There are numerous inexpensive Asian restaurants offering main courses for under NZ$15, as well as numerous grab-and-go sushi joints where you can fill up on sushi rolls for under NZ$15.
Budget Estimates for Wellington Backpackers
The average daily cost for a backpacker in Wellington is $70 NZD. Living on this budget means living in a dorm, preparing all of your own meals, relying on public transportation, and participating in as many free events as possible (like visiting the free museums). Add $10-$20 NZD per day to your budget if you want to have a few drinks.
An average daily expenditure of $185 NZD will get you a private room in a hostel or Airbnb, three meals at casual restaurants, a few drinks, the occasional ride in an Uber, and some inexpensive paid activities like taking the gondola or visiting the zoo. You can stay in a hotel or Airbnb, eat out every meal, rent a car to get around, drink to your heart’s content, and participate in as many paid activities as you like on a “luxury” budget of about $351 NZD per day. But this is just the beginning of luxury; the sky’s the limit!
Use the following table to estimate your daily budget based on the number of days you plan to be away. Remember that these are daily averages and that some days you may spend more or less (you might spend less every day). All of the listed prices are in New Zealand dollars.
Wellington: A Financially Responsible Tourist’s Guide
The cost of living in Wellington is comparable to that of the rest of the country. To one’s relief, there are also many opportunities to cut costs. To help you cut costs while visiting Wellington, here are some suggestions:
Take advantage of free museums
Visit the free attractions first to stretch your tourism dollar further in Wellington, such as the Te Papa Museum and the BeeHive. You can get a good meal for a low price in this city, and there is a wide variety of delicious Asian restaurants to choose from. It’s typically less expensive than the conventional fare. Instead of blowing your entire food budget on expensive restaurant meals, try making your own. It’s not as flashy, but it’ll help you save quite a bit of money.
Spend time with a native in Wellington, one of the few cities in the country with a reasonable chance of finding a Couchsurfing host. There will be a lot of competition in the summer, so be sure to get your request in early. Ridesharing can help you save money by providing an alternative to expensive taxis and time-consuming public transportation. Don’t travel during the busy summer or winter months, when lodging costs (especially hotels) tend to skyrocket. If money is tight, you should try to avoid the summer.
The tap water in Wellington is safe to drink, so fill up a refillable water bottle before you arrive to save money and reduce your reliance on disposable plastic bottles. To ensure that your water supply is always pure and safe, consider investing in a LifeStraw reusable water bottle with a built-in filter.
Time of Year to Visit Wellington
Clouds and wind are constant features in Wellington’s climate. The winter months (June–August) see fewer visitors but more rain, making sightseeing unpleasant. Average daily lows during the winter are in the 6-10 C (42-50 F) range. If you’re on a strict budget but still want to see the sights, this is the time to go.
Wellington’s busiest season is summer (December–February), but even then, the city experiences frequent wind. Average daily highs are in the middle to high 70s (63-F). The warmest month is February. In my opinion, the best time to go is between the months of March and May, when the weather is pleasant (between 59 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit) and the crowds have dispersed. It’s the best compromise between pleasant weather and low population density.
Wellington Safety Tips
Further, Wellington is a very secure destination, both for solo male and female travelers. There is hardly any violent crime or petty theft. Don’t leave overnight or while on a walk in a rented vehicle with any valuables inside. It’s better to be safe than sorry, as break-ins are uncommon but not impossible.
Downloading the Red Cross’s Hazard App is a good idea, as earthquakes and tsunamis can happen in New Zealand. Women traveling alone can feel safe here, but should still take the usual safety measures (never leave their drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).