What to do in Wellington
Out and About
Wellington Waterfront
Wellington 's waterfront is a scenic and recreational attraction that is both picturesque and full of activities such as rollerblading, rock climbing, helicopter rides and many more.
http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/
Wellington Culture
Te Papa Tongawera Museum of New Zealand
The venue for the Power of Landscape conference, Te Papa is also New Zealand's national museum, with a wide range of exhibitions about New Zealand as well as visiting exhibitions from overseas.
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/pages/default.aspx
Te Aro Pa
Remants of this 150 -year-old Maori settlement were unearthed in 2005 during demolition of an old building to make way for a highrise building development.
http://www.historic.org.nz/magazinefeatures/2008Autumn/2008_autumn_tearo.htm
Museum of Wellington City and Sea
Located conveniently on Wellington's waterfront in a heritage building, the museum tells stories of Wellington's social, cultural and maritime history.
http://www.museumofwellington.co.nz/
Wellington Arts Centre
Home to 11 different arts organisations, the Wellington Arts Centre offers numerous different displays throughout 30 studios.
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/arts/centre/artscentre.html
Commonsense Organic Supermarket
This supermarket is completely dedicated to the retail supply of organic produce as well as environmentally sound products for healthcare, household and garden.
http://www.commonsenseorganics.co.nz/
Parks Close By
Waitangi Park
Waitangi Park is located on the waterfront and has won international and national landscape design awards for its recreational, ecological and social attributes.
http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/experience/play/play_spaces/waitangi_park/index.htm
Frank Kitts Park
Originally designed for an annual street car race through the area, Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront has since been redesigned with the intention of preserving the green open space.
http://www.wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz/development/Frank_kitts_park/index.htm
Midland Park
This very popular park was created on the site of a former building to provide more green space in the central city.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/wellington-places/1/3
Half hour Stroll
Parliament/Beehive
The concept for New Zealand 's unique Parliamentary building, called the Beehive, was first roughly sketched by Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence while at dinner with NZ’s Prime Minister in 1964.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/
Karo Drive Sculpture
A new sculpture named Subject to Change by Regan Gentry has just been designed and installed in Karo Drive in central Wellington.
http://www.sculpture.org.nz/engine/SID/10005/AID/1219.htm
Cable Car
Located in the heart of the Wellington business district, the cable cars run from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Gardens via the corporate towers of the Terrace.
http://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/
The Golden Mile
The 'Golden Mile'', as it is known, is the main spine of downtown Wellington.Extending along Lambton Quay, Willis and Manners Streets to Courtenay Place it links the main shopping , business and entertainment areas. As well as the numerous places to shop, eat or drink, some of Wellington's finest heritage architecture can be viewed along its length.
http://www.lambtonquay.co.nz/lambtonquay/home/default.asp
http://www.courtenayplace.com/courtenayplace/streetscroll/
Cuba Street
Cuba Mall, which is on Cuba Street, is a pedestrian-only area and is a popular shopping area known for the somewhat bohemian character of its shops, cafes and bars.
http://www.cuba.co.nz/
National War Memorial
The National War Memorial in Wellington commemorates all the New Zealanders who lost their lives in WW1, WW2 and other conflicts in South Africa, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam.
http://www.nationalwarmemorial.govt.nz/
An hour or more
Wellington Botanic Garden
The 25-hectare Botanic Garden comprises protected native forest, conifers, specialised plant collections and colourful floral displays.
http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/gardens/botanicgardens/botanicgardens.html
Otari- Wilton's Bush
Otari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. It is classified as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. This unique plant sanctuary and forest reserve consists of 100 hectares of native forest, and five hectares of plant collections. Some of Wellington's oldest trees are here, including an 800-year-old rimu. Otari is about 5km from the city centre, at 160 Wilton Road (between Gloucester and Warwick streets). Entry is free.
www.wellington.govt.nz/services/gardens
/otariwiltonsbush/otariwiltonsbush.html
Brooklyn Wind Turbine
The Brooklyn wind turbine began operating in 1993, making it the oldest wind turbine in New Zealand. It operates high on the hills above Wellington.
http://www.windenergy.org.nz/nz-wind-farms/operating-wind-farms/brooklyn
Mt Victoria
Mt Victoria (originally named Tangi Te Keo) is 196m above sea level, and has a lookout at the top that gives a panoramic view of Wellington and Cook Strait.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/
Dominion Post Ferry
The Dominion Post Ferry traverses the Wellington Harbour , providing regular services between the Wellington city waterfront and Eastbourne on the opposite side, as well as the historic Matiu Somes Island.
http://www.wellingtonnz.com/sights_activities/dominion_post_ferry
Matiu Somes Island has been farmed, used as a prisoner -of-war holding centre during both World Wars, and as an animal quarantine facility. It is now a scientific and historic reserve, open to the public.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/wellington/poneke/matiu-somes-island/
Evans Bay
A walk along the waterfront from the town centre, around Oriental Bay to Evans Bay ends at the Zephyrometer which is a wind sculpture from Meridian Energy.
http://www.sculpture.org.nz/engine/SID/10018/AID/1105.htm
Pataka Museum, Porirua
Pataka is a museum and art centre that focuses on exhibiting New Zealand’s heritage including Maori, Pacific Island, New Zealand and Asian art and culture.
http://www.pataka.org.nz/
Karori Sanctuary
Karori Sanctuary is a 225 hectare forested valley, dedicated to protecting New Zealand's indigenous wildlife, much of which has been in decline over the last 700 years.
http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/
Zoo
Wellington Zoo was New Zealand's first zoo, established in 1906. Today, it promotes the need to have a sustainable co-existence between animals and humans.
http://www.wellingtonzoo.com/
Wairarapa
Just one hour away- world class wine, cuisine and scenery.
http://www.wairarapanz.com/?q=must-dos
Transportation
Rental Cars
http://www.avis.co.nz/car-rental/avisHome/home.ac
Bus
Wellington has an extensive bus network including both electric trolley buses and diesel buses.
http://www.metlink.org.nz/
Train
Train services run from Wellington's central railway station to Porirua and the Kapiti Coast, as well as to the Hutt Valley and the wine-growing region of the Wairarapa.
http://www.metlink.org.nz/
Taxi
Green Cabs drive hybrid cars for fuel efficiency and plants trees to offset the emissions they do produce.
http://www.greencabs.co.nz/
Taxis are available in Wellington via a range of different companies with numerous taxi stands throughout the city centre.
http://www.taxis.co.nz/
