Wellington

Understand

Wellington is home to 433,900 people, making it New Zealand's second-largest urban area, well behind Auckland and just ahead of Christchurch. Wellington became New Zealand's capital city in 1865, replacing Auckland; the government wanted a more centrally-located city as capital to quell the South Island nationalist movement. Wellington offers a blend of culture, heritage, fine food and coffee, together with lively arts and entertainment. Surrounded by hills and a rugged coastline, the city has a stunning harbour. Wellington’s charm is that it serves up a vibrant inner city experience with a slice of New Zealand scenery. And because of its compact nature, you can sample it all: boutiques, art galleries, trendy cafés and restaurants. Right on its doorstep is a network of walking and biking trails with beautiful wineries and vineyards just a few hours away. Wellington offers an array of theatre, music, dance, fine arts and galleries and museums. It is also home to one of the nation’s key attractions, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The city promotes itself as "Absolutely Positively Wellington". Its motto Suprema a situ claims site supremacy, with some justification.

1 Wellington Visitor Information Centre (iSITE), 50 Cable Street (Inside the Tākina Events and Convention Centre), ☏ +64 4 802-4860, toll-free: 0800 933 5363. A good place to begin your Wellington visit - they're able to book accommodation, activities and provide useful information about Wellington and surrounding areas. Their website contains the same information and is worth checking out prior to your visit. They are a member of the national i-SITE visitor information centre network. (updated Aug 2025)

Geology

Much of the central city is built on land that was raised up after a major earthquake in 1855. More land has been reclaimed since then. The shoreline as it was in 1840 is marked by plaques in the footpaths on Lambton Quay (hence the street name). There are several "quays" which are now nowhere near the harbour. The harbour's former name was 'Port Nicholson' and the smaller bay surrounded by the city is called 'Wellington' or 'Lambton Harbour'. Earthquakes have played a major part in forming the whole Wellington region. Several earthquake fault lines run through the Wellington region, including the Wellington Fault, which runs west of the city centre along Glenmore Street and Tinakori Road to the Aotea Quay motorway interchange and then up the western Hutt Valley. Building regulations have meant that many older city buildings have been either demolished or strengthened, or require such work to be undertaken. Small and moderate earthquakes occasionally rock Wellington; so if the earth seems to move for you, it may not be just your imagination. Stay indoors until a "warden" or similar authority advises evacuation (unless you are in imminent danger, e.g. from a fire), and take shelter from potentially falling objects wherever you are. There are some places in Wellington where damage from the 1855 earthquake is still visible. The most accessible is a large landslip on State Highway 2 between Ngauranga and Korokoro (just north of Rocky Point where the BP petrol station is located) where the dramatic change in terrain is visible. Bush has overgrown the slip but it is visible. However, most people are oblivious to the location of landslip as they drive by on the highway.

What's inside

The Wellington urban area is divided between four city councils – Wellington, Porirua, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. Above the city councils is the Greater Wellington Regional Council, which covers the entire Greater Wellington region (i.e. Wellington, the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa) and is responsible for most of the shared services across the urban area. Proposals for a large "super-city" as was established in Auckland in 2010 have been put forward, but none have come to fruition due to local opposition.

Getting there

By plane

1 Wellington International Airport (WLG IATA) is in Rongotai, about 5 km (3 mi) southeast from the central city. It sits on an isthmus between the Miramar Peninsula and Mount Victoria. The southerly approach is over Cook Strait, while the northerly approach is over the harbour. Wellington Airport is a major transit point for domestic travellers. There are frequent flights from Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton, Nelson, Blenheim and many other destinations. International flights from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) arrive about twice daily: the evening flights arrive after midnight when most facilities are closed. There are also flights from Fiji, Canberra, the Gold Coast and the Chatham Islands. There is a single terminal building, for both domestic and international.

Landing at Wellington Airport in a strong wind can be an adventure, and most pilots adopt a powered approach, followed by a full reverse thrust and hard braked landing due to the shortness of the runway (2,081 m). This tends to create a roller-coaster ride, so make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened and all loose items are stowed before landing. Many locals swap stories of approaches with large dips, shudders, bumps, sudden sideways movement, followed by the plane going around for a second (and even sometimes a third) attempt to land. While there has been the odd Cessna landing on its roof, no large passenger plane has ever had a serious accident in Wellington. Public transport is available via the Airport Express bus service adjacent to the arrivals hall, which is an express bus service to the CBD and costs $8.95 with your Snapper card (see below). A cheaper alternative is the Metlink Route 2 bus runs to the CBD from Hobart Street, which is a 700-metre walk from the airport, costing about $4. Exit from Door E and follow the signs. When you get to the airport, you can call the Metlink hotline at 0800 801700 for info. A friendly person will answer very quickly. If you say where you are going, they will tell you what bus to take and even what special pass to buy (for example, if you are catching a train after getting off the bus). If you are travelling in a group, it will be more cost effective to use a ride-sharing service. Uber to CBD will cost around $20. Turn right when exiting the terminal and follow signs to the "App-based Pickup Zone". Shuttle van services, taxis and covered car parking are directly outside the terminal.

By boat

There are regular ferries between Wellington and Picton in the South Island operated by Interislander and Bluebridge, connecting with buses and the train to Christchurch. The Bluebridge terminal is next to the railway station. The Interislander terminal is about 2 km (1 mi) northeast of the railway station, and a $2 shuttle bus runs between it and the station (bus terminal next to Platform 9). Some cruise ships from overseas stop in Wellington.

Getting around

It's easy to get around the central city on foot, as it's very compact and pedestrian-friendly. Wellington has an extensive and well-patronised public transport network, with buses, trains and ferries serving the city and beyond extending into the Greater Wellington region. The network is coordinated by Metlink, the public transport arm of the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Its website includes an interactive journal planner.

Metlink service centre, ☏ +64 4 801 7000, toll-free: 0800 801 700. M-F 6AM-10PM, Sa 7AM-9PM, Su & holidays 8AM-8PM.

Tickets and fares

Bus and train fares use a zone structure. For example, a single cash ticket for 1–3 zones costs $3, $4.5, and $6 respectively (May 2026). While there are 14 fare zones in total on the Metlink network, nearly all the Wellington urban area is covered by seven zones (there are two semi-rural suburbs of Upper Hutt in zone 8). Child tickets are available to those aged 5 to 15 and those 16 and over still at secondary school, while children under 5 travel free. Electronic Snapper fare cards can be used on all buses, and are available from most supermarkets and convenience stores. Alternatively, fares can be paid for using contactless credit or debit cards. Both options offer a discount off the adult cash fare, with an additional discount on off-peak travel. Snapper cards can be topped up electronically at various agencies for a small fee. Remember to tag when you board the bus and as you leave the bus, or you will be charged for the whole route. Trains also use Snapper and contactless payments. If you plan to use public transport extensively, you can buy a day pass which allows unlimited trips after 9AM on weekdays and all day weekends and holidays. Four Metlink Explorer day passes are available: zones 1 to 3 only (i.e. Wellington City only) for $13, zones 1 to 7 for $18, zones 1 to 10 for $25, and all zones for $30 (Dec 2024). Special fares apply on some routes, including the Airport Express bus. On outbound Wairarapa trains (i.e., to Masterton), you will be charged for a fare to Maymorn station (zone 8) even if you disembark before then; this minimum fare does not apply in the inbound direction (i.e., to Wellington).

See

Political Wellington

As the capital city, Wellington is the centre of New Zealand's government. Wellington/City is home to the residence of the Governor-General (the King's representative in New Zealand), offices of the New Zealand Government (executive), the New Zealand Parliament (legislative), the New Zealand Supreme Court and Court of Appeal (the country's highest and second-highest courts respectively) and the head offices of many Government departments. Most are within walking distance of Parliament, around the northern end of The Terrace and Lambton Quay areas and the Thorndon commercial area.

Museums and galleries

Wellington/City is home to many museums and galleries. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum. It has interesting exhibitions on the country's history and culture. The Wellington Museum is a well-presented museum of the history of the city, including its maritime history. The Carter Observatory offers a state-of-the-art planetarium show, along with multi-media exhibits show how early Māori, Polynesian and European settlers navigated their way to New Zealand. The National Tattoo Museum explains the history of tattooing in New Zealand and the Pacific, especially traditional Maori tattooing. Katherine Mansfield Birthplace and Nairn Street Cottage are preserved Victorian houses. The Cable Car Museum tells the history of this uphill transport. The City Gallery has changing modern art displays.

Landmarks

Wellington/City is also home to other landmarks, such as Plimmer's Ark (the preserved remains of a wrecked ship), Turnbull House, Old St Paul's (a former cathedral), and the art deco National War Memorial.

Do

Parks and gardens

The Wellington Botanic Garden is a nice place to go for a picnic, or just an afternoon walk (or run for a challenging fitness experience). At the top of the Gardens, there are several attractions: the Cable Car Museum, the Lookout, and the Carter Observatory. The Bolton Street Memorial Park is a great place to meander through and check out the epitaphs of early pioneers and historical figures. Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront is a great place to wander around, with walls to climb, inline skates, and jet ski rental. The frigate Wellington is probably the world's most accessible dive wreck, just a few kilometres around the coast from Wellington International Airport. Take a ferry across the harbour. Go down to Queen's Wharf and check out the destinations and times. Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park has 50 km of bike tracks through native Hush. Karori Cemetery is an interesting picnic spot.

Walks

Wellington City has several interesting walks. The Art Deco Heritage Trail is a walk around central Wellington looking at the outside of 30 art deco buildings. Pariwheo/Red Rocks is an interesting walk to a seal colony named for its distinctive red rocks. The Skyline Walkway is a 12-km (5- to 6-hr) challenging walk. Oriental Parade in Oriental Bay is Wellington's most beautiful street. Wellingtonians and visitors run, walk, cycle, rollerblade and eat at the great cafes & restaurants on this strip or sunbathe at the beach.

Shopping

Old Bank Shopping Arcade in Wellington City is a small upmarket arcade in the former Bank of New Zealand headquarters. Has an animated musical clock which performs on the hour, and a small display on the remains of a boat washed up here in 1855. Queensgate Shopping Centre in Lower Hutt Central is the largest shopping mall in the Lower North Island.

Eat

Wellington has a lot of restaurants and cafés, in fact more cafés, bars and restaurants per head than New York City. Malaysian food is surprisingly popular and available in most areas. You can also get good Turkish kebabs anywhere in the city, or Lebanese at the Phoenician Falafel on Kent Terrace (their kebabs are better than all the Turkish places too). Fish and chips is the best value food and you usually get better quality in the suburbs. The quality of pub fare is often decent to pretty good, but prices can range from relatively low to faint-inducing. Express 24-hour snack joints such as Night 'n Day and Fix are very prevalent in the CBD, serving lower quality snacks such as pies, noodles and confectionery for rock bottom prices. If you're in need of a good meal and you've got a low budget, there's nothing better. Uber Eats and Delivereasy are common to see in Wellington, especially around the CBD.

Drink

Wellington has a bustling nightlife, concentrated along Courtenay Place, one of the major streets running from the CBD. It runs through Te Aro and ends in Mt Victoria. The nightlife causes this street to have the highest population density in all of New Zealand on Friday and Saturday nights. Wellington has a thriving craft beer scene and drinks are usually about $11-14 (in 2023). Entrance charges are either nonexistent or minimal. In some of the better clubs reasonable dress standards apply, however in the day the mood is usually extremely casual, with flip-flops (called Jandals in New Zealand) often accepted. Cuba Mall also features some cool and more alternative bars. Away from Courtenay Place in the CBD district (Lambton Quay) there are many after-work bars frequented by office workers, however this area becomes deserted in the later hours, and these establishments do not usually provide all-night partying.

Sleep

See listings in district articles. Most short-term accommodation is found in Wellington/City. A better way to get to know more locals and experience some NZ culture (if that's what you are looking for) is a shared house (a "flat" in NZ English). These are an option for stays of a month in summer while students are away – usually flats are taken for the year or at least several months). Look for "Flatmates wanted" on Facebook Marketplace or on TradeMe (the local classifieds website). Flats are much cheaper and usually well furnished already by the other tenants in the communal rooms. You may need to provide your own bed (you could buy a cheap one second hand for the summer), or they might be able lend you one. All flatmates share the rent, bills and chores, and occasionally food, meals and even washing too. Some flats come fully furnished, but this is not the norm. Rent is typically paid weekly instead of monthly and a bond of 2 to 4 weeks rent is normal.

Stay safe

Wellington is reasonably safe at night, but common sense should prevail, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Occasionally, tourists relax security in New Zealand, thinking that it is a crime-free paradise. While violent crime against tourists is very rare (and is usually followed up by public outrage against the offenders), opportunistic petty crime can still occur. Simple steps like locking valuables away and staying in well-lit areas at night usually prevent problems. Vehicle break-ins are common, especially in shopping malls and 'park and ride' type car parks. Thieves generally target older vehicles with less complicated locks. Removing all valuables and leaving the glove box open (to show that no valuables are hidden) will usually act as a deterrent. Police will normally give you a copy of their report for insurance purposes, but it is very unusual for any stolen property to be recovered and returned to its owner. Wellington has a homelessness problem, and wandering drunkards are not uncommon around town. Most will ignore you, but others may be aggressive.

Go next

Greater Wellington region

The Greater Wellington region is far bigger than just Wellington City. The old Wellington Province used to cover much of the southern half of the North Island, including the Manawatu and Wanganui regions. There are three other cities that are close enough to Wellington City that together they form a single metro – the Wellington metropolitan area. The cities are Porirua, Lower Hutt (sometimes erroneously called "Hutt City", after its local council's preferred name) and Upper Hutt. The latter two cities may be referred to together as the Hutt Valley. There are two other districts outside the Wellington metro that make up the Greater Wellington: the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa. There are a number of interesting sights and beaches in the Hutt Valley and Porirua. Plimmerton, for example, has seen future world windsurfing champions training, and Edmund Hillary practised rock-climbing at Titahi Bay before conquering Everest. The suburbs of Eastbourne and Days Bay are on the eastern side of Wellington Harbour. They can be reached by car, bus or ferry. There are a number of enjoyable hill walks in both Days Bay and Eastbourne. The East By West ferry service departs from Queens Wharf (Wellington) and travels to Days Bay Wharf, some services will stop on request at Somes Island (in the middle of the harbour). On weekends and public holidays the ferry also operates a harbour tour service which stops at Petone Wharf and Seatoun. The Kapiti Coast as referred to as 'The Nature Coast' is a beautiful mix of beaches and lush native scenery. Spend the day at the beaches, near a river, or taking a walk through one of the many beautiful trails surrounding the hills and valleys bordering the coastline. Further afield, the south Wairarapa has become one of New Zealand's wine growing regions.

South Island

Bluebridge and the Interislander ferry companies sail across Cook Strait to Picton in the South Island through the Marlborough Sounds. The ferries take bikes, cars, buses and trains and the scenery on a good day is spectacular. The ferries are substantial ships designed for the sometimes rough conditions and the journey takes 3-3.5 hours. Sounds Air provides flights to Blenheim, Picton and Nelson.

Chatham Islands

Air Chathams operates flights from Wellington Airport to the Chatham islands.

More pictures of Wellington

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.