Things to do in Wellington: museums, coffee, walks and the windy bits

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital and its most compact city. It wraps around a harbour, climbs steep green hills and squeezes museums, cafes, bars and a fenced wildlife sanctuary into an area you can mostly cover on foot. Its reputation for wind is deserved, but on a calm sunny day it is one of the best looking cities in the country.

This guide covers the best things to do in Wellington for a first visit: Te Papa and the museums, Zealandia, Wētā Workshop, walks and lookouts, food and coffee, and day trips. Facts are from the venues, Wellington City Council, DOC and WellingtonNZ. Prices are in NZD, as at November 2026.

Quick answer

• Must do: Te Papa on the waterfront, then the Cable Car up to Kelburn.
• Best wildlife: Zealandia, a fenced sanctuary minutes from the city.
• Film fans: the Wētā Workshop tour in Miramar.
• Best view: Mt Victoria lookout.
• Day trips: Matiu/Somes Island by ferry, or Martinborough wine country.

Many travellers pass through on their way to the ferry. If you are crossing to the South Island, our Interislander vs Bluebridge comparison explains which sailing to book, and it is worth adding at least one full day here.

Te Papa and free museums

Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum, sits right on the waterfront. It covers Māori and Pacific treasures, New Zealand’s natural environment, the colossal squid and the national art collection. Entry is free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand, and international visitors aged 16 and over pay NZ$35. Te Papa offers free multilingual mobile guidebooks, and was named the number one attraction in New Zealand in the 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. Allow at least half a day.

Next to the Cable Car’s top station in Kelburn you will also find the Cable Car Museum, the Wellington Botanic Garden and Space Place, all an easy walk from the summit.

Insider tip: do Te Papa on the windiest or wettest day of your trip and save the hills and the island for a calm one. Wellington weather can change fast, so stay flexible.

Zealandia and nature

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is a fully fenced sanctuary in a regenerating forest valley, just minutes from the city. It says more than 40 species of native birds have been recorded there, 24 of them endemic, and it is home to tuatara, the rare Hamilton’s frog and takahē. Listen for the loud dawn and dusk choruses.

Tickets are valid for two consecutive days. The sanctuary is open 9 am to 5 pm daily (last entry 4 pm), except Christmas Day, and there is a cafe on site. Zealandia runs a free shuttle; check its getting here page for stops. Guided tours cost extra; book them on Zealandia’s site.

Wētā Workshop

Wētā Workshop has designed and built creatures, props and costumes for film since 1987 and has won five Academy Awards. In Wellington, the experience is at 1 Weka Street, Miramar, open seven days except Christmas Day.

• Tour: a guided look inside the creative home, from $59. Open late nights in summer.
• Guided transfers and tour: pickup from the city centre and a 90-minute tour, from $105.
• Creative workshops: beginner sessions in sculpting, special effects makeup and leatherwork, from $59.

Walks and lookouts

• The Cable Car: Wellington’s historic funicular, first built in 1902, climbs 609 m of track from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn, 119 m above the city, in 3 to 5 minutes. Cars run every 10 minutes. Fares are $7 adult one way, $13 return, children 5 to 15 half price, and family returns from $22. Open every day except Christmas Day.
• Mt Victoria Lookout: the classic 360 degree view over the city and harbour. Wellington City Council’s Lookout Walkway loop is about 4.6 km and 1.5 hours, following purple markers, and you can also drive up via Alexandra Road and Lookout Road.
• The waterfront: walk from Te Papa past Whairepo Lagoon to Queens Wharf. It is flat, sheltered in places and lively on weekends.

Wellington city on a clear day. Photo: Mitchell Henderson via Pexels.

Food and coffee

Wellington takes coffee and food seriously, and the centre is small enough that you can walk between neighbourhoods. WellingtonNZ says Cuba Street captures the spirit of the city: quirky, bustling and full of creative life, with plenty of places to eat and drink. The waterfront is the place for alfresco dining on a good day, and the city has a strong bakery scene.

A good plan: coffee and a pastry near Lambton Quay before the Cable Car, lunch on the waterfront after Te Papa, then dinner and a drink on or around Cuba Street.

Day trips

Matiu/Somes Island

A predator-free scientific and historic reserve in the middle of the harbour, owned by Taranaki Whānui and managed by DOC. A gentle track loops the 24.8 hectare island, which is home to tuatara, kākāriki, North Island robins, little blue penguins and wētā. The East by West ferry between Queens Wharf and Days Bay stops there seven days a week. The island and visitor centre are open 8:30 am to 5 pm.

Before you go (DOC): there is no food or drinking water on the island, so bring your own and take your rubbish home. Visitor numbers may be limited on busy days, smoking is banned, and ferries may be cancelled in severe weather. Check, clean and seal your gear for biosecurity.

Martinborough

The wine village of Martinborough is about 82 km and 69 minutes’ drive from Wellington (routing estimate). It makes a relaxed day of cellar doors and lunch, but appoint a sober driver or book a tour. If you need a car, see our car rental guide.

A two-day plan

Day 1: start at Te Papa when it opens, walk the waterfront to Lambton Quay, then ride the Cable Car up to Kelburn and wander down through the Botanic Garden. In the late afternoon, head to Zealandia for the evening bird activity, then finish with dinner on Cuba Street.

Day 2: if it is calm, catch the ferry to Matiu/Somes Island in the morning. In the afternoon, take the Wētā Workshop tour in Miramar, then drive or walk up Mt Victoria for sunset over the harbour.

Getting around and the weather

Wellington’s centre is flat along the waterfront and Lambton Quay, then rises steeply into the hills, so the Cable Car is a useful shortcut as well as an attraction. It runs Monday to Thursday 7:30 am to 8 pm, Friday 7:30 am to 9 pm, Saturday 8:30 am to 9 pm, and Sundays and public holidays 8:30 am to 7 pm. Cable Car tickets are valid for six months from purchase, so you can buy ahead without picking a time.

Miramar, home of Wētā Workshop, and Days Bay are further out. Use the Wētā guided transfer, a taxi or rideshare, or the East by West ferry for Days Bay and the island.

Dress for the wind, not the temperature. A sunny morning can turn blustery by lunchtime, and the hilltops and the harbour feel it first. Pack a windproof jacket, sunscreen and comfortable shoes for the hills. If a southerly front comes through, switch to Te Papa or a long lunch and save the lookout for later.

Where to stay

The central city and waterfront put you within walking distance of Te Papa, Cuba Street and the Cable Car, and most visitors do not need a car for the city itself. Thorndon and Oriental Bay are quieter options close to the centre. If you are catching an early ferry, stay near the city so the drive to the terminal is short. Wellington is also the end point of our North Island road trip.