Best Travel Guide Wellington | ArrivalGuides.com

WellingtonGuide was updated: 2024-11-18

The capital city of New Zealand rests between rolling hills and a rugged coastline on the southern tip of the North Island. As well as offering some of the best urban views in the country, the city is popular for its arts and culture. Wellington is home to the National Museum (Te Papa), the national opera and ballet companies, and is the heart of the nation’s film and fashion scenes. With more restaurants and cafés per head than New York, Wellington also offers a unique gastronomic experience.

Do & See

Most of the major attractions are within easy walking distance from the hotels, restaurants and bars. There are plenty of historical and cultural sights to choose from, like the National Museum (Te Papa) and the City Gallery Wellington. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, then you should definitely take the tour around the location where the movie was filmed. There are also many great excursions to choose from such as a trip to the Somes-Maitu Island or exploring the wildlife at Karori.

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Museum of New Zealand — Te Papa Tongarewa

The national museum of New Zealand features five floors of interactive exhibits and offers an insight into everything from natural history to Maori culture and European immigration. Don’t miss ‘bush city’, the museum’s urban rain forest full of native plants and wildlife. The museum is recognized as a world leader of interactive and innovative museum experiences.

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New Zealand Parliament Buildings

Take a one-hour guided tour of the Parliament Buildings to see New Zealand politics at work and to explore the Beehive — one of the most famous buildings in Wellington.

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City Gallery Wellington

Wellington’s main contemporary art gallery hosts an ever-changing collection of international touring art exhibitions and contemporary local works. There is always something interesting to see, and it's a great place for a rainy day.

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Wellington Zoo

The zoo, founded in 1906, is now home to over 500 animals in modern enclosures. Learn more about the animals from the daily zookeeper talks and get up close to pandas and cheetahs with the zoo’s ‘close encounters’ experience.

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Wellington Cable Car

Hop aboard the cable car for a stunning panorama of Wellington and the Hutt Valley. This charming funicular railway transports visitors between Lambton Quay, the city's bustling shopping hub, and Kelburn — a hilltop suburb with breathtaking views over the city centre. Climbing 120 m (394 ft) across a distance of 612 m (2007 ft), it's quite the ride. The upper terminal not only offers access to the verdant Botanic Gardens but also houses a free museum that delves into the century-long history of the Wellington Cable Car.

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Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary

Discover some of New Zealand’s rarest native wildlife just ten minutes from downtown Wellington, in a unique sanctuary where native bush is being restored and endangered species are breeding once again. Visitors can roam freely inside the sanctuary or take advantage of guided day or nighttime tours.

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