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Top things to do in Wellington

Attractions, tours, and activities in Wellington

Wellington: the city's best neighborhoods

Find a great area to stay in Wellington

About Wellington

Including tips for the best time to visit Wellington

Wellington, the southernmost capital in the world, is surrounded by the slopes of forested hills and the glittering blue sea. Nicknamed ‘Windy Wellington' due to the strong winds coming through the Cook Strait, this city is the cultural, political and culinary seat of New Zealand.

For a journey back in time, try visiting some of the museums and historical sites in Wellington. Te Papa, an interactive museum, narrates tales of the powerful Māori culture along with the seafaring history of the nation. The Wellington Museum showcases the history of New Zealand through various artefacts and interesting displays. You'll get to learn about the people and events that shaped the culture of this country.

During your Wellington trip, you’ll always have something to entertain you – be it relaxing by the beach or exploring the city’s vintage shops. Try to visit the Carter Observatory to discover the southern skies and learn about ancient navigational techniques. Take a walk through the native trees and vibrant plants of the Botanic Garden for a relaxing time away from the city crowds. At the Wellington Zoo – New Zealand's first zoo and conservation organisation – you can watch animals like brown capuchins, capybaras, cheetahs and giraffes in their natural habitat. Surrounded by important buildings like the City Gallery, Central Library and the Civic Administration Building, the Civic Square is the heart of the city. A calming stroll around this area will acquaint you with the cultural pulse of Wellington.

Tonight

From $71 per night

Next weekend

From $153 per night

Most popular time to visit October-December
Cheapest time to visit January-March
Local currency NZD 10 = $6.17
Language English
Average weekend price $106 per night
Average weekday price $112 per night
Average stay 1 night

Points of interest in Wellington

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Wellington

Wellington reviews

What other travelers say about Wellington

10

Likes

September 13, 2024

Likes Clean and historic. Loved it. Found people to be very friendly & helpful. Wellington has excellent & punctual transport services like the trains and buses. Dislikes Most eating outlets close very early as they open early. The supermarkets however, do close later. Wellington is very limited with vegetarian food.

Rani
Rani
10

We visited the Botanical gardens via the cable car, went to...

September 12, 2024

We visited the Botanical gardens via the cable car, went to the zoo and also Te Papa. All absolutely fantastic! Super easy to get around - we only needed one Uber which was to and from the zoo and that was about $20 each way. Everything else was walking distance

Melissa
Melissa New Zealand
10

We visited Zealandia and thought it was great.

September 11, 2024

We visited Zealandia and thought it was great. Such a lush and peaceful place in the middle of a busy city. We enjoyed the birdsong and spotted several kaka’s and the beautiful black and red saddlebacks.

Charles
Charles New Zealand
10

We enjoyed the vibe of the city and some delicious...

August 24, 2024

We enjoyed the vibe of the city and some delicious restaurants. We did a lot of walkimg atound the city and loved all the interesting buildings. We were there for the university open day so didn't go to any particular attractions but would love to come again and explore Wellington peoperly for a few days.

Office
Office
10

Walking round Oriental Bay and the Waterfront

August 5, 2024

Walking round Oriental Bay and the Waterfront Ate at Thai Chef , close to Copthorne . Very good meal , restaurant packed with happy , well behaved young people A very walkable city - plan your car parking ! The pot holes on Kent Terrace are better avoided Choose a good weather weekend - ours was glorious !

Bernadette
Bernadette New Zealand
8.0

I loved the restaurants and the food.

July 31, 2024

I loved the restaurants and the food. I found many people in the CBD were friendly and showed interest in me and my story. I loved the vibe in Wellington, and observing the many diverse characters and ethnicities of so many people. Getting around Wellington was easy as everything within walking distance, which is great as you get to see more and stay fit.

Peter
Peter New Zealand

Popular places to stay in Wellington

Stay in some of the best accommodations Wellington has to offer

Other attractions and activities in Wellington

More things to do and see in Wellington