The 10 Best Things to Do in Wellington (According to a Local)

This article was written by Pamela Edmondson of nutbrownrose.com. She is a writer, photographer, and videographer based in New Zealand.

From a local, this is a complete travel guide to experience Wellington, New Zealand, a lifestyle that balances slow and fast, embodies New Zealand values, and fosters a strong sense of community.

Strewn across the serrated peninsula stretching the ends of the North Island, Wellington hums in style. A charming city marked by quirky buildings and tiny roads, it offers a laid-back way of life that attracts people globally.

The Wellington lifestyle balances slow and fast in a unique dance that almost feels too good to be true. The compact city center bustles with a yearlong procession of festivals and events. But there are enough places to hide and keep out of the fast lane.

From a Wellington local, below is a comprehensive travel guide to all noteworthy activities in Wellington so you can tap into the enticing lifestyle of the coolest little capital in the world.

1: Explore nature trails and scenic views

Wellington is teeming with nature spaces made dramatic by rolling hills. As part of the Wellington lifestyle, many foray into a range of hiking trails, often rewarded with views of the meandering peninsula.

The Town Belt is a strip of wilderness spaces spanning the length of the city, 520 hectares of quiet spaces with scenic views of the city. On this strip is prominent Mount Victoria, a Wellington staple for its jaw-dropping backdrop of the rolling city.

Nature spaces are diverse, providing endless hiking, cycling, and horse riding. There’s the wildlife sanctuary of Zealandia, and old war battlements at Fort Ballance and Fort Dorset. Belmont Regional Park is known for its vibrant green. And the Tawatawa Reserve is a lesser-known spot for a bit of quiet and stunning views of the South Coast.

Tawatawa Reserve Wellington — Tawatawa Reserve

A small drive away, Mount Kaukau is known for its top-of-the-world lookout. And bring your sturdiest tramping boots for the goblin forest of the Tararua Ranges.

Kaitoke Regional Park unfurls in the Rimutaka Ranges, and this is where the elven city of Rivendell was filmed in the Lord of the Rings franchise.

2: Sample from coffeehouses on every corner

A cup of coffee will mend the soul any day, and Wellington is inundated with quirky cafes. Wellington culture weaves itself in coffeehouses, where many meetings are held, and students and digital nomads prop a laptop alongside a strong long black.

Ponder the brew menus, and don’t be shy to ask questions about each roast to increase your coffee knowledge.

The coffee culture in Wellington is thriving, and you’ll find a cafe on every corner. A few favorites include:

Havana Coffee Works, a cozy cafe with great art
Pour & Twist, a manual coffee brew bar with beautiful snacks
Customs for some of the best coffee in town
The Hangar, where you can have coffee spreads to sample at will.

And that’s just scratching the surface! For more, here are some of the best hidden gem cafes in Wellington, New Zealand.

3: Hunt for hole-in-the-wall eateries

Wellington hosts swathes of restaurants. Because the city is geographically contained, new businesses find creative ways to insert themselves into the existing infrastructure, resulting in an eclectic assortment of small dining establishments.

A few of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Wellington include:

Mother of Coffee: Ethiopian cuisine with some of the best food in town. And try the coffee!
Olive: a romantic eatery with a seasonal menu of beautiful dishes made of locally sourced ingredients
Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar: upstairs Japanese restaurant with great sake (I recommend sitting at the bar for the full vibe).
Ortega: an upscale “fish shack” providing creative dishes in Mount Victoria
Chongqing Kitchen: Chinese hot pot with a giant menu of strange things you can throw right into the broth boiling inside your table
Mekong Cafe: an unassuming Vietnamese restaurant with the best pho in town

4: Go on a self-guided beer tour

Not a beer aficionado? Wellington will convert you.

Known as the beer capital of New Zealand, Wellington is overrun with brew bars producing high-quality hops. Similar to coffeehouses, breweries are spaces where anyone can feel like they belong. They fill with Wellingtonians after work, casting golden light into the streets as night descends, erupting in laughter and merriment. And the beer is delicious.

Below I collated some of the top breweries in Wellington so you can take yourself on a brew-hopping tour across town:

5: Take a scenic drive around the Bays

The Bays are a delight for all those living in Wellington. Start at the yellow sands of Oriental Bay, where most city dwellers catch sunrays any day of the year. Trundle along the waterfront and count the bays. Any beach that suits, park accordingly and go for a wander.

There are the boat sheds and marina of Evans Bay. The quiet waters of Shelly Bay. Make a stop at stunning Scorching Bay, with gold sands and pristine waters.

Find surfers and little cafes around the peninsula at Lyall Bay (the Botanist and Diamond Deli are divine for a bit of snacking). Catch the sunset at Princess Beach.

And finish at Red Rocks, where breakers crash into a rugged coast with views of the South Island in the far.

If you want more, check out this guide on the best beaches in Wellington, New Zealand.

6: Visit the coolest museum in the world, Te Papa

Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand’s national museum, located in the heart of Wellington. Even for those who don’t often frequent museums, Te Papa is incredibly impressive.

With free entry, the museum is multiple levels of immersive exhibitions to learn all about New Zealand’s history, from flora and fauna, to war, to political strife, including an incredible display of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Te Papa is famous for the Gallipoli exhibition. Weta Workshop (the studio that developed the Avatar and Lord of the Rings franchises) collaborated with Te Papa to build giant, life-like sculptures that tell harrowing tales of the Gallipoli campaign. It’s truly a sight to behold.

Bonus tip: Visit the museum on Sunday morning, and you can stroll down to the Sunday market on the waterfront next door.

7: Experience the cozy Cable Car

The Cable Car is a staple Wellington experience. Take the charming railway up to (or down from) the Botanic Garden and enjoy lovely views of Wellington. If you love old things, the Cable Car is always a cozy experience. You can catch it down Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay, and you can purchase tickets at the little booth.

8: Find peace at the Wellington Botanic Garden

The Wellington Botanic Garden is 25 hectares of council-managed gardens lined with nature walks. It’s a soothing space where flowers bloom in dizzying colors throughout the year. Most famous is the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, a Victorian display of rose bushes and rose vines climbing over brick.

In the summer, the Botanic Garden hosts daily events, inviting Wellingtonians to lay in the grass and enjoy live music into the evening.

9: Shop the city by foot

Wellington is pedestrian-friendly, with a compact town center, making it a joy to walk around. Mid-week, walk the length of Willis Street and Lambton Quay. There is the heart of Wellington shopping. The two streets merge on a corner, lined with boutiques, malls, and cafes. Venture into the Old Bank Arcade or enjoy the bustle of folks having a cheeky shop on their lunch breaks.

On the weekend, take a stroll down historic Cuba Street. Here, there are little shops, hearty takeaways, and romantic dinings like Olive, Loretta, and the new vegan pastaria Nolita. When the sun goes down, dabble in the nightlife around Courtney Place. Let the music guide the way as you dive in and out of beer, gin, and wine bars.

10: Sample the Wairarapa wine region

For a day trip, take the train over to the wine region of Wairarapa. The village square of Martinborough is the center of dozens of vineyards, claiming a spot on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. This is also where Toast, the famous wine festival, is hosted every year.

The town square is lined with colonial buildings refurbished into pubs, cafes, and designer boutiques. In the Neighborhood Coffeehouse is a personal favorite, where the coffee is brewed with care and served with gourmet eats.

You can also drive out to the wild of Cape Palliser, a scenic coastline with towering cliffs and rugged beaches. This is also where the Putangirua Pinnacles reside, with impressive earth pillars towering into the sky.