All citiesWellington Things to do and walking itinerary
New Zealand Wellington travel guide
14 things to do in Wellington, where to stay, airport transfers. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Wellington
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa — national museum of New Zealand (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Sacred Heart Cathedral — Roman Catholic cathedral in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Wellington Zoo — zoo in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Wellington Botanic Garden — public botanical garden (visit ≈ 45 min)
- St Mary of the Angels — Catholic church in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Futuna Chapel — heritage church building in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Wellington Museum — museum in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Zealandia — wildlife sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Opera House — proscenium theatre in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Old St Paul's — church and historic church building in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Te Ngākau Civic Square — square in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Wellington Cathedral of St Paul — cathedral (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery — art gallery and museum on the Victoria University of Wellington campus, New Zealand (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St James Theatre — theatre and former cinema in Wellington, New Zealand (visit ≈ 20 min)
3-day Wellington walking itinerary
Starting point: Te Aro / Cuba Street. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 8.2 km · 11,130 steps · 1 h 50 min on the way): Wellington Zoo
- Day 2 (≈ 9.9 km · 13,340 steps · 2 h 12 min on the way): Zealandia → Futuna Chapel → Wellington Botanic Garden
- Day 3 (≈ 6.5 km · 8,810 steps · 1 h 27 min on the way): Sacred Heart Cathedral → Wellington Museum → St Mary of the Angels → Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Where to stay in Wellington
- Te Aro / Cuba Street: Cafés, bars and street performers; the liveliest part of town.
- Lambton Quay / CBD: Shopping street, near the cable car and the railway station.
- Oriental Bay: Seafront and beach; a walk from Te Papa museum.
- Thorndon: Quiet area of historic wooden houses near Parliament.
- Mount Victoria: Lookout hill near the bars of Courtenay Place.
Getting from the airport to Wellington
- Wellington Airport (WLG): Airport Express bus ≈ 25 min; taxi or Uber ≈ 20 min.
Getting around
The centre is compact and walkable; use a Snapper card for the cable car, buses and trains. Be ready for wind.
Classic places to eat
- Logan Brown: New Zealand cuisine in a former bank building; for special occasions.
- Fidel’s Café: A Cuba Street icon; Cuban-themed café and breakfast.
- Ortega Fish Shack: Fresh New Zealand fish in a warm setting.
- Floriditas: A Cuba Street favourite for breakfast and cakes.
- Havana Bar: A cosy bar and garden in two old wooden cottages.
- Hawthorn Lounge: A 1920s-style classic cocktail bar.
- Mt Vic Chippery: The city’s best-known place for fish and chips.
Romantic views
- Mount Victoria Lookout (Sunset): The summit looks over the harbour and city, and is lovely at sunset.
- Oriental Bay (Evening): The beach and seafront are the city's favourite spot for an evening stroll.
- Wellington Botanic Garden (Early morning): The hillside garden is even nicer when you arrive by cable car.
- Lady Norwood Rose Garden (Afternoon): Hundreds of rose varieties make it a fairy-tale garden in summer.
Football stadiums in Wellington
- Wellington Regional Stadium: Home of Wellington Phoenix FC
- Newtown Park: Home of Team Wellington
Good to know before visiting Wellington
- Fine: Declare food, plants and muddy shoes or camping gear at customs; failing to declare brings instant fines.
- Fine: Freedom camping is only allowed in permitted spots; breaches are fined.
- Fine: Many town centres ban drinking in public.
- Warning: Traffic drives on the left.
- Warning: UV is intense and mountain weather changes fast.
- Follow local protocol at marae and Māori sacred sites.
- Emergency: 111
- Plugs: I, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping isn't expected.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: New Zealand, Wikivoyage — New Zealand, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Wellington travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Wellington?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 3 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel.
- What are the top things to do in Wellington?
- Highlights: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Wellington Zoo, Wellington Botanic Garden and St Mary of the Angels. The map has 14 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Wellington?
- Te Aro / Cuba Street: Cafés, bars and street performers; the liveliest part of town. Other options: Lambton Quay / CBD, Oriental Bay, Thorndon and Mount Victoria.
- How do you get from the airport to Wellington city centre?
- Wellington Airport (WLG): Airport Express bus ≈ 25 min; taxi or Uber ≈ 20 min.
- How do you get around Wellington?
- The centre is compact and walkable; use a Snapper card for the cable car, buses and trains. Be ready for wind.
- What is the emergency number in Wellington?
- Emergency: 111.
- Do you tip in Wellington?
- Tipping isn't expected.
Nearby cities
Auckland · Queenstown · Sydney · Canberra · Nukuʻalofa · Melbourne · Suva · Port Vila
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