Taste the culinary capital
Home to some of New Zealand’s top restaurants, coffee and craft beer breweries and award-winning artisan food producers, Wellington has a well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s culinary capital. Get the full gastronomical experience with brunch and coffee at a local café; visit a market, try some of Wellington top 10 must-try dishes, sip local wine and craft beer, dine at an award-winning eatery and end your day with a perfectly made cocktail.
Explore local shopping precincts
Shopping in Wellington is a delight – not only because of the range of stores, but also because the city’s compact nature means that it’s very walkable. The city has a range of shopping precincts located within easy walking distance of each other. Start out shopping the high street stores on Lambton Quay and end up browsing vintage stores on Cuba, all in an afternoon.
Immerse yourself in the arts and culture
Go behind the scenes and learn movie-making secrets on a Weta Workshop Tour and visit Te Papa, plus Wellington’s other world-renowned museums and galleries. Learn more about Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s Māori history on a cultural walking tour with Te Wharewaka o Pōneke.
What's on in Wellington
You’ll find plenty to inspire you in Wellington with a year-round calendar of exciting events and festivals. From theatre shows at BATS and Circa, festivals of food, music, craft beer and film, performances by Royal New Zealand Ballet, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and live gigs at local bars and venues, there’s something for everyone.
Experience incredible nature close to the city
Nestled between hills and harbour, you’re never far from nature in Wellington. Take a visit to Zealandia ecosanctuary (named by Time magazine as one of the greatest places on earth), visit the resident New Zealand fur seal colony at Red Rocks on the south coast or meet rare wildlife at Wellington Zoo. Take a walk or bike ride on one of the many trails that surround the city, kayak on the harbour to explore beautiful bays and beaches and, if the weather is warm, go for a swim.