Windy Wellington: Top things to do
- Barbara
- Feb 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Wellington, the vibrant capital of New Zealand, sits perched at the southern tip of the North Island. It is affectionately known as "Windy Wellington" thanks to the powerful gusts funneled through the Cook Strait, and let me tell you, we verified the trueness of the nickname almost immediately! As soon as we arrived, gusts of winds were reaching up to 130 km/h in exposed areas. While it isn’t usually quite that intense, we happened to arrive on a particularly blustery day, so be prepared for a bit of a blow!
Here you can find the best things to do in Wellington. We loved reaching the botanic garden by cable car, walking around the waterfront and get an aperitivo in one of their waterfront bar and to walk around Te Papa Tongarewa museum (this is an excellent stop if you like natural museum) or if you prefer art you could visit the Portrait Gallery. Table of Contents:
Top thing to do in Wellington:
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
For nature lovers, Zealandia is an absolute must-visit. Zelandia is wildlife sanctuary featuring 32 km of tracks, from short 1-hour tracks to longer ones. Here you have the opportunity to see New Zealand’s native wildlife, including birds like the Kiwi, Kaka, and Ruru, as well as prehistoric reptiles and fascinating insects like the Weta. You can explore during the day with a general admission ticket or join a guided twilight or night tour for the best chance to spot a Kiwi in the wild. Since nature is unpredictable, sightings aren’t guaranteed, but your general admission ticket is valid for two consecutive days, giving you plenty of time to explore.
The sanctuary is open daily from 10:00, with last admission at 16:00. If you aren’t driving, there is a handy free shuttle that picks up from the city center, with stops at the top of the Cable Car (near the Botanic Garden) and outside the Tākina Convention Centre. Visit their website for more details.
The Wellington Cable Car
The Wellington Cable Car is a funicular railway that whisked us right up the hillside. Though the ride is only about 10 minutes, it’s a highlight of the city, offering stunning views and a trip through a dazzlingly illuminated tunnel. We took the funicular from the city center up to the summit, where you’ll find the free Cable Car Museum, the Botanic Garden, the shuttle to Zealandia, and the Space Place observatory. Tickets are $6.50 one way or $12 for a return trip. We opted for the one-way ticket because the walk back down through the gardens is beautiful and leads you right back into town. There’s no need to book in advance; you can simply turn up and hop on. Check their website for current operating hours.
Wellington Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden is perfectly situated at the top of the Cable Car and offers a lovely, peaceful walk with a nice view of the city. Make sure to stop by the colorful rose garden. You can either loop back to the Cable Car or take the scenic route down to the city by passing through the Bolton Street Cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in Wellington.
Waterfront Promenade and Port
Wellington’s waterfront is a gorgeous place for a stroll. As you walk along the harbour, you’ll spot various statues, the iconic Wellington signs, and plenty of lively bars and restaurants. We stopped for drinks and a bite at Wolf by Foxglove and stopped at The Crab Shack the following day; both spots feature massive windows that offer fantastic views of the water while you dine.
New Zealand Portrait Gallery
The New Zealand Portrait Art Gallery is located near the waterfront. While it is a smaller gallery, the exhibitions are incredibly interesting and provide a unique look at the people who have shaped the nation. It is free to visit and open daily from 10:00 to 16:30. You can find more info at their website.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Te Papa is a museum spread across five floors of interactive and engaging exhibitions. The nature exhibition is packed with cool facts about New Zealand’s native animals, and there is even an "earthquake house" that lets you feel what a magnitude 5 quake is like! The most impressive sight for me was the Colossal Squid, the museum hosts the only display of its kind in the world. We also found the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition incredibly moving; it features realistic, giant sculptures created by the talented team at Weta Workshop. You can easily spend several hours exploring everything from history to art, and don't forget to head to the rooftop for a great panoramic view of the city. For international visitors, tickets are $35 and valid for 48 hours, while entry is free for New Zealand residents. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Visit their website for more details.
Cuba Street
No trip to Wellington is complete without a walk down Cuba Street. This is one of the city's most famous streets, known for its bohemian spirit, quirky shops, and the famous Bucket Fountain. It’s the perfect place to find a great restaurant, a cozy cafe, or a lively bar.
Weta Workshop
We did the Weta Workshop in Auckland and it was super interesting. They offer incredible tours explaining how they create special effects, costumes, and giant sculptures for major films. Beyond the tours, they even run hands-on workshops where you can learn the basics of sculpting or special effects makeup. If you are a fan of movies or the artistry behind filmmaking, this is a must-see. Check their website for tour times and bookings and you can read more about the Weta Workshop I attended in Auckland here: Top 10 must visit attractions in Auckland
Hobbit’s Hideout and Mount Victoria
If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, head up Mount Victoria to find some of the spots where the Lord of the Ring scenes were filmed, the most popular is the "Hobbit’s Hideout," one of the iconic filming locations where the Hobbits hid from the Nazgûl. After you've found the spot, you can hike further up to the Mount Victoria Lookout for a spectacular view of Wellington.
Tips on crossing from Wellington to the South Island by ferry
Wellington is the gateway to the South Island, and if you're making the crossing, you can either fly or take the ferry to Picton. We chose the ferry, which is serviced by two main companies: Bluebridge and Interislander. I highly recommend booking in advance as spots fill up quickly! We booked our tickets through our car rental company, Apex. If you are renting a car, always check the terms and conditions; some companies require you to leave your car in Wellington and pick up a fresh one in Picton, but we our Apex we just boarded the ferry on the rental car, so it was easy. We were originally booked with Bluebridge, but our sailing was cancelled due to dangerous conditions (winds of 70 km/h with 120 km/h gusts!). Luckily, the Interislander was still running, so we managed to snag a spot with them. Bluebridge was helpful and offered us the choice of a refund or a later date.
The Cook Strait is famous for its unpredictable conditions, and while our crossing was a bit bumpy, we made it across safely! Keep in mind that Bluebridge and Interislander depart from different terminals in Wellington, so double-check your departure point and arrival time.
The Interislander is a massive ship with several floors, lounges, a cinema on Level 2, and various bars and restaurants. If you're prone to seasickness, take ginger tablets before you board (they aren't sold on the ship) and try crunching on some ice, a trick the staff recommended to us. Sitting in the middle of the boat on a lower deck is the most stable spot to minimize the rocking. At the bar there is also a lovely ginger, lemon and honey tea, which I loved and ginger helps with seasickness too. Despite the weather, the views coming into the Marlborough Sounds are absolutely breathtaking. The ferries are generally on time (but we did leave slightly later and arrived late) due to the weather conditions. Check their website to make sure your service is still running on time, although Bluebridge also emailed us to let us know of the cancellation.
I liked Wellington, it is a city where wild nature and vibrant culture live side-by-side, offering everything from native birds at Zealandia to giant squids at Te Papa. So, grab a sturdy jacket, hold onto your hat, and embrace everything the "coolest little capital" has to offer. Yes, it’s a bit windy, but that’s all part of the charm!
You can also read past blog posts: Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Auckland or Coromandel and Hobbiton must-do or Rotorua and Taupō top things to do
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All recommendations in this article are 100% based on my personal experience and are currently unpaid. I aim to keep my content genuine, but please note that I am open to future collaborations, and any paid partnerships will always be clearly disclosed.
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