Wellington at the southern end of the North Island, and situated between rolling green hills and glittering harbor, is acclaimed for its arts, culture and natural beauty. The magnificent landscape and coastline are the main reasons for tourists to visit this capital city. For adventure seekers, Wellington boasts of a long list of thrilling activities to make your adrenalin run through your veins. And, for those looking for a relaxing time ahead, the hot pools, vineyards and numerous cultural attractions will be right choice.
Given the wide range of things to do in Wellington, here are my top picks of activities for visitors to this capital city that Lonely Planet has dubbed as the ‘Coolest Little Capital in the World’.
The National Museum of NZ – Te Papa on the waterfront. It is an innovative museum and has made a name as the world leader in interactive museum, focused more on visitors, to provide true museum experiences. Here, visitors can explore the amazing stories of this country and the people living here, the diverse art and visual culture through exhibitions. There are free events and entertainment, floor talks, lectures and much more.
Wellington Zoo – With over 100 species and around 500 animals, including Sumatran Tiger, Tuatara, Brown Kiwi and Red Panda, the best little zoo of the world gives opportunity to get up close and personal to all the native treasures and endangered exotic animals.
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary – It is a safe haven for endangered native birds and wildlife. Visitors learn a great deal about the unique wildlife of New Zealand. There are some rarest birds, reptiles and insects to be found here, living in their natural habitat, including hihi, saddleback, tuatara, kaka, and little spotted Kiwi. Exhibitions are held to showcase the natural history and conservation movement.
Mount Victoria – Although, there are bigger mountains near Wellington, but none gives such a panoramic view of the city than Mount Victoria. The location was used skillfully in the movie Lord of the Rings trilogy by Peter Jackson.
Wellington Cable Car – It is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city that runs from Lambton Quay, going through the corporate towers of The Terrace, finally emerging in Kelburn. It goes past Kelburn Park, the Victoria University to the top of Upland Road, to reach the Lookout, Carter Observatory, Planetarium and Cable Car Museum.
Food and Drink
Wellington is a gourmet’s delight, famous for tucked-away bars (having award winning bartenders), restaurants, quirky cafes, and some excellent coffee. To be among the good stuff, visit Courtenay Place or Cuba Street.
Wairarapa
The excellent wealth of wine producers found in Wairarapa makes the place a must-visit for all. Train service from downtown Wellington takes you in the vineyard in no time where you can sample some world class Pinot Noir.
Accommodation
The options for accommodation in Wellington are diverse and there is something for every budget and requirements for visitors. Varied kinds of accommodation are available from luxury lodges to nature-surrounded camping facilities, in addition to regular 5 star boutique lodge accommodation, hotels and motels.
If you are going away for a weekend or a long holiday, and looking for long-term accommodation in Wellington, the luxury hotels or budget backpackers are the perfect place to lay your head.
Art and Culture
The numerous museums and galleries at the heart of Wellington showcase the pulse and creativity of the capital city. There are shows happening on almost every night, right from live music to local theatre, underlining the cultural base of the city.
There are loads of activities to do in Wellington, and probably one cannot do it all. This article is aimed to help you get a good grounding and make your itineraries a bit easier and a lot more fun and informative before visiting Wellington.
A Tourist Guide to Wellington
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