Our guide to a wild weekend in Wellington
Family fun, adventures & romance: A wild weekend in Wellington
Wellington is New Zealand’s vibrant cultural heart and foodie capital, brimming with quirky cafes, tucked-away bars and award-winning restaurants. In fact, there are 850 eateries here, or one for every 240 Wellingtonians!
But beyond the museums, festivals, and food, there’s so much more to discover in Wellington - from epic cycle trails, island nature reserves and boutique luxury hotels, to fun family activities. To help you plan a wild weekend in Wellington we’ve curated a wide range of experiences for every type of traveller.
Couples
Fancy hiding away with your other half for a weekend? Wellington is the perfect place to escape for a weekend, packed with cosy coffee houses, luxury stays and intimate cocktail bars.
Start your day with caffeine at Pour & Twist, a manual coffee bar where every cup is made by hand - no noisy espresso machines here. They call it slow coffee, encouraging you to pause a moment, connect with others and take your time to enjoy a cuppa.
Get in touch with your creative side and visit one of Wellington's many art galleries. Check out visiting exhibitions from local and international artists at City Gallery or The Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt, or visit Toi Art at Te Papa for blockbuster shows and an impressive permanent collection.
If you’re into long walks along the beach, take the short trip to Lyall Bay. Wander along the waterfront and watch the surfers catching waves and planes landing at the nearby airport, then finish at Parrotdog. This nostalgia-fuelled craft beer bar features 70s pub design, takeaway beers and a rotating selection of 17 taps (including Birdseye Hazy IPA, voted NZ’s second favourite beer in 2021).
At the end of the day, retreat from the city, order room service desserts and sink into bed at one of Wellington’s luxury boutique hotels QT Wellington, Naumi and Ohtel.
Local tip: To keep the night going and find daily deals on drinks and dinner check out WellingtonNZ.com.
Wellington Cable Car.
Wellington Cable Car.
Parrotdog is a nostalgia-filled craft beer bar,
Parrotdog is a nostalgia-filled craft beer bar,
Naumi Studio Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Wellington.
Naumi Studio Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Wellington.
Families
Toi Art at Te Papa
Toi Art at Te Papa
We all deserve to take it easy and explore New Zealand with the family. In short, we all need a holiday! Wellington is a brilliant place to start, with plenty of museums and activities to keep the crew entertained.
A capital visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Te Papa, NZ’s National Museum. But people often miss the equally fascinating Wellington Museum, which is just down the road and was once voted one of the top 50 museums in the world.
A must-see exhibit here is the whirring, beeping time capsule in The Attic on the top floor, which tells Wellington’s intriguing story with a combination of cinema, art and installations.
Afterwards, trundle up the hills of Kelburn on the Wellington Cable Car. This bright red, 120-year-old Wellington icon has spectacular views of the city below, as well as a kid-favourite colourful light show on the way up.
Local tip: If you’re riding the Cable Car near the end of the day, wander back to the city via the Wellington Botanic Gardens and spy some of the city’s glow worms. These tiny creatures only come out at night and are on the path that connects The Glen in Kelburn to the duck pond in the Botanic Gardens. Peek over the path into the creek below and you’ll see these glowing creatures.
Another great way to get around is to buy a Wellington City Pass. This includes a return trip on the Cable Car, and a choice of two attractions out of Zealandia, Space Place, Wellington Zoo and a Te Papa tour. It's a great money saver for families.
When the little ones get tired grab a room at a kid-friendly hotel in central Wellington - Rydges and Atura have brilliant deals for families.
Wellington Zoo is a great place to take kids of all ages to visit.
Wellington Zoo is a great place to take kids of all ages to visit.
Beyond the museums, festivals, and food, there’s so much more to discover in Wellington
Adventurers
Wellington is an adventurer's dream, surrounded by epic natural scenery.
Head back in time at Zealandia, the world's first fully-fenced eco-sanctuary, just a few minute's drive from the city. Visitors can explore this incredible slice of wilderness independently, taking in the 225-hectares of bush and forest and the many walking tracks, bridges, streams, and even a dam. The best way to see the sanctuary however is with a guide, who can help you spot the hundreds of native birds that call Zealandia home. Take a Zealandia by Night tour to see a different side of the sanctuary, and for a chance to see the rare little spotted Kiwi.
If you’re looking for a little more wildlife, head to Matiu/Somes Island - a wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Wellington Harbour. In the past the island was used as a strategic pā by Māori and a quarantine station but it’s now a lush nature reserve, perfect for a day’s exploration.
Local tip: Take the East by West Ferry (the first fully electric ferry in the Southern Hemisphere, how cool?) to explore Matiu/Somes Island or carry on to Days Bay in Eastbourne, where you can swim, grab an ice cream, and finish with a beautiful dinner by the sea.
Zealandia is the world's first fully-fenced eco-sanctuary.
Zealandia is the world's first fully-fenced eco-sanctuary.
Beyond the museums
Explore the city on two wheels with Switched On Bikes. Grab an e-bike or a more traditional ride to zoom up Mt Victoria and earn beautiful views from the top, or explore Wellington’s many bays and beaches and seek out a seaside coffee or lunch. If you’re up for a longer adventure, the Remutaka Cycle Trail is another must-do. This one- to five-day ride takes in historic railway tunnels and swing bridges through mountain ranges and valleys, lush rolling farmland and rugged coastlines in Wairarapa.
If you’re hungry after all your adventures, head to Hannah’s Laneway for a foodie feast. Grab Fix & Fogg’s fancy peanut butter on toast, snack on the world’s best salted caramel cookie from Leeds St Bakery, and gaze upon beer being brewed right in front of you (and drink it of course!) at Fortune Favours. Then to top it all off, book a night at The Intrepid, a boutique luxury hotel in an old Cadbury Warehouse that caters specifically to travellers and sits atop Wellington’s coolest natural wine bar, Puffin.
Fortune Favours
Fortune Favours
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