🇳🇿 New Zealand

10 best places in Wellington

Wellington is a compact, windswept and wonderfully creative capital squeezed between hills and harbor, home to the country's best coffee culture and world-class film studios.

Museum

Te Papa Tongarewa

New Zealand's national museum, with interactive halls on Maori culture, earthquakes and nature - and free entry.

Sight

Wellington Cable Car

A retro funicular running from downtown up to the botanic garden with sweeping harbor views.

Park

Botanic Garden

A sprawling hillside garden with a rose collection, giant redwoods and views over the whole city.

District

Cuba Street

A bohemian pedestrian strip lined with vintage shops, street art and the city's best cafés.

Sight

Weta Workshop

The legendary effects studio behind The Lord of the Rings, offering behind-the-scenes film tours.

Park

Zealandia

A fenced eco-sanctuary within city limits where kiwi and other endangered birds have been brought back from the brink.

Sight

Wellington Waterfront

A promenade lined with sculptures, walkways and views of yachts bobbing in the harbor.

Café

Fidel's Cafe

An iconic Cuba Street coffeehouse with a revolutionary spirit and one of the city's best flat whites.

Restaurant

Ortega Fish Shack

A beloved seafood restaurant with a Spanish twist, serving the freshest catch from the Tasman Sea.

Market

Wellington City Market

A Sunday waterfront farmers' market with local produce, cheese and street food.

FAQ

What is the weather like in Wellington?

Wellington is famous for wind, often called one of the windiest capitals in the world, and gusts are routine year round. The seasons are flipped, with summer from December to February and winter from June to August, and snow in the city is essentially unheard of. The weather turns several times a day, so layers matter more than the forecast.

How many days do you need in Wellington?

Two or three days cover Te Papa, the cable car and botanic garden, Cuba Street, the waterfront and Weta Workshop. The city is small and hilly, and the centre is walkable. The ferry to the South Island leaves from here, so Wellington often lands in the middle of a longer trip.

Is New Zealand expensive?

Yes. Groceries, rent and domestic flights cost noticeably more than in comparable European countries, a consequence of distance and a small market. Wellington rents are high and much of the older housing stock is poorly insulated, so cold flats are a real thing. On the upside, the coffee and casual food scene is excellent.

How do you move to New Zealand?

The main routes are a job with an accredited employer, the points-based skilled migrant category, study, business and investor visas, and working holiday schemes for younger applicants. Skill and salary thresholds get revised, and some categories are paused or reshaped from time to time. Check the current settings on the immigration service website before committing.