Discover Wellington City: Nature, Culture and Good Food

Wellington City combines green trails and a large sanctuary with museums, a cable car and culinary discoveries. Nature, city history and food can each add a different dimension to your trip.

Forest, Gardens and Trails

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne encompasses 225 hectares of regenerating forest and bird habitats in Wellington. During daylight hours, general admission provides access to 32 kilometres of interconnected trails. Guided tours are available during the day, at night and at dusk, as well as photography tours and a format designed specifically for children. Tour formats may change; check the current offerings before your trip.

Across 25 hectares, Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā features protected native forest, plant collections, flowering displays and views over Wellington. The Bush Walk passes through native New Zealand bush. The Mount Victoria Lookout Walkway offers a different focus, winding through historic pine forests to panoramic views of Wellington Harbour and the city.

The Southern Walkway starts at Roseneath Park and Lookout near the centre and runs through the Town Belt to Island Bay. When choosing a route, note that the access information refers to the southern section: this section is open to pedestrians and cyclists.

Cable Car and Visitor Trails

The Wellington Cable Car connects Lambton Quay, Victoria University and the Botanic Garden in a five-minute ride. Its route is 612 metres long, and the upper station sits 120 metres above sea level. The Wellington Cable Car Museum is housed in the original winding house, spans three floors and tells the story of the Wellington cable car system.

The cable car route is also a useful landmark for visiting Zealandia: free electric shuttle buses run from the upper station and Wellington i-SITE to the sanctuary and back. Check current access and shuttle information for Zealandia before your trip; Cable Car service information can also change.

Museums and Cultural Experiences

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand’s national museum on the Wellington waterfront. Guided tours include an introduction to the museum and a tour of Wētā Workshop’s award-winning Gallipoli exhibition. Those interested in the city and its history can find regular events, lunchtime talks, music events, workshops and temporary exhibitions at Wellington Museum. The programme changes over time.

Te Wharewaka o Pōneke offers guided walks as well as e-bike and e-scooter tours exploring Wellington’s early history and cultural background. The guided Waka tour introduces the Māori art of navigation, as well as basic commands, songs, haka and greetings. Tour offerings and programmes may change; check what’s currently on before your visit.

Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo covers 13 hectares and is home to more than 500 animals. The number of animals may change. Together with the museums and trails, the zoo offers another perspective on the city’s diversity, without all the experiences having the same focus.

Market and Chocolate

Harbourside Market is an open-air food and produce market on the Wellington waterfront. It has been there since 2002; market formats and vendors may change. If the market is part of your plans, check the current details of its offerings before visiting.

Wellington Chocolate Factory makes small-batch, bean-to-bar chocolate from fairly traded cocoa. Factory tours cover processes including sorting and grinding cocoa beans, tempering and wrapping bars. Visitors can also make their own bars under the guidance of experienced chocolatiers. Product offerings and production details may change; check tours and workshops before your trip.

Wellington in Its Wider Regional Context

At the broader destination level, the Greater Wellington region has nearly 500 kilometres of coastline. Its eight regional parks cover more than 330 square kilometres and are visited by thousands of people each year. The Wellington Regional Trails stretch from Wellington city centre to the Wairarapa region and the Kāpiti Coast. These regional dimensions add to the picture of Wellington City without equating the city with the region as a whole.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wellington, Lower Hutt City, South Wairarapa District, Masterton District, Kāpiti Coast District, Upper Hutt City, Gladstone.

Return to the main travel overview: Wellington.