Top Oz Tours offers a great range of Wellington tours and experiences. You can browse the options here.
‘Windy Welly’, as it’s fondly known by locals, is a vibrant city with an edgy, understated diversity.
As the nation’s capital, Wellington lures visitors from all walks of life — which gives it lots of personality. Our top Wellington travel tip is to pack your warm clothes regardless of the season. Icy winds can whip up in a nanosecond, thanks to the city’s position on the blustery Cook Strait.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Wellington on a first visit.
Watch our video of ten top things to do on a North Island road trip:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on the North Island, New Zealand 2020 – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do on a road trip around New Zealand’s fabu…
1. Admire amazing public art
Wellington is one of those cities that like to wear their art on their sleeve, and public artworks decorate the streets, parks, and waterfront. There’s a whole movement dedicated to sculpture, and you can stumble across it yourself or embark on a dedicated self-guided walk designed by the Wellington Sculpture Trust.
Other public art initiatives worthy of your attention are Waituhi Matariki (which is aimed at sharing Māori culture with a wider audience), pakiTara-toi (a programme of ‘art on walls’, including murals and street art), Mason’s Screen (a 24-hour outdoor screen in Masons Lane displaying work by video artists), and light boxes showing creative visuals in Cobblestone Park and Courtenay Place.
2. Visit the City Gallery
The striking heritage facade of the City Gallery is a fitting complement to the contemporary artworks exhibited inside. You’ll see thought-provoking pieces by local and international artists working in fine art, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and multimedia. Set aside a couple of hours to really do the collection justice. Please note that the City Gallery is currently closed for refurbishment and will reopen in late 2026.
3. Tour the parliamentary precinct
This is New Zealand’s capital, so you’ll want to take a look at the parliamentary precinct during your visit. It’s an intriguing mash-up of architectural styles. The three main buildings are the modernist Beehive, the neoclassical Parliament House, and the Gothic Revival-style Parliamentary Library. There’s a wide range of free guided tours on offer, including specialist itineraries dedicated to history, art, and Māori political heritage. The Introduction to Parliament Tour takes 60 minutes and runs several times a day.
4. Go on set at Weta Workshop
Fantasy film buffs will be in their element at Wellington’s Weta Workshop — best known for the role it played in bringing The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie trilogies to life. This special effects studio has been at the forefront of the industry for more than twenty years, and has won five Oscars and four BAFTAs. Tour the facility and admire the incredible props created for productions like Avatar and District 9.
5. See Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War at Te Papa
New Zealand’s history comes alive on the Wellington waterfront at Te Papa Tongarewa — the country’s national museum. Loosely translated, the name means ‘box of treasures’, and inside you’ll find six levels packed with art and artefacts. The Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition has been hugely popular since it opened back in 2015 — and when you see it, you’ll understand why. It shares the story of the disastrous World War I campaign through the eyes of eight giant figures created by Weta Workshop — each more than two times the size of an ordinary human. Te Papa is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day. An entry fee applies to international visitors.
6. Dine in Cuba Street
Wellington boasts a fabulous dining scene and is often citied as having more eateries per capita than New York City. Head to the Cuba Street district for a great selection of culinary experiences — ranging from casual hole-in-the-wall cafes to fine dining establishments. If you’re celebrating something special, book a table at Logan Brown (which you’ll need to do well in advance). It offers upscale dining with a focus on sustainable produce, ethical practices, and minimal waste.
7. Eat fresh at the Harbourside Market
For straight-out-of-the-oven baked goods, just-picked-produce, and a mind-boggling array of gourmet goodies, zero in on Wellington’s Harbourside Market. Held every Sunday, it’s a fabulous opportunity to eat fresh while you mix and mingle with the local population. Follow your nose as the enticing aromas of warm pastries, freshly brewed coffee, pungent herbs, and a variety of street eats waft on the ocean breeze.
8. Ride the Wellington Cable Car
A ride on the much photographed Wellington Cable Car is an opportunity to give your sore tourist feet a quick break while you continue to sightsee. The iconic red cable cars depart from the heart of Lambton Quay and stop at the entrance to the beautiful Wellington Botanic Garden. The vistas en route are spectacular, and once you reach the top there are 25 hectares of glorious landscaped grounds to explore (including the stellar Lady Norwood Rose Garden). Yep, get back on your feet!
9. Take a walk on the wild side at Zealandia
Nature and wildlife lovers will want to visit Wellington’s renowned Zealandia eco-sanctuary. Located just a stone’s throw from the city, the facility’s aim is to return its 225 hectares to their pre-human state. Several decimated endemic wildlife species have been reintroduced to the fenced and predator-free environment with promising results. You can explore the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour.
10. Do a wine tour
And finally, put away the maps and let someone else do the driving on a guided tour of the Martinborough wine region — located within easy reach of Wellington. You’ll visit a number of wineries for tastings and enjoy a platter-style lunch of local specialties. The tour also visits historic Greytown, which is home to stunning Victorian architecture, quirky boutiques, and quaint cafes.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.wellingtonnz.com.
Browse our range of Wellington tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the top things to do in Wellington on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Depositphotos and Bigstock
About the writer
Julietta Henderson is a Melbourne-based travel writer and author. Originally planning to visit London for six months, she ended up staying for ten years and now divides her time between her home in Australia and several months of the year in the UK, Italy, and France. Julietta has travelled extensively through Europe, North America, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, and Russia, and believes the keys to a great travel experience are an open heart, an open mind, and an open-ended ticket. Her first two novels — The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman and Sincerely, Me — are now available in bookstores.
About the writer
Jade Harrison is a freelance travel writer and presenter on the Tour the World travel TV series, and has visited New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada, USA, Mexico, the UK, Europe, Thailand, Brazil, India and Nepal. She’s equally happy roughing it in the Himalayas and backpacking through Europe, to indulging in some five-star fun along the way.
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