18 Unmissable Things To Do In Wellington, New Zealand

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As the capital of New Zealand, you can be sure there are many things to do in Wellington for any type of traveler.

The city is well known for its creative community, a world-class food scene, and being central to some awe-inspiring nature spots.

It’s the gateway to the Waipara Valley wine region, and the final stop on the North Island before taking the ferry crossing to the South Island.

But if you’re not sure what to do in Wellington New Zealand, then you’ve come to the right place. Below are some of the most unmissable attractions you cannot skip.

Things to Do in Wellington

Despite most tourists skipping Wellington on their visits to New Zealand (Queenstown and Auckland seem to always hold more sway for some reason), there really is a TON to do here.

Here are some of the best attractions in Wellington you cannot miss…

1. Visit Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

New Zealand’s National Museum is Te Papa, which is free to enter. Here you can learn all about the country’s history, geography, and native people, and enjoy tons of great multi-media displays and exhibits.

It also has a vast collection of fossils and dinosaur bones, as well as art galleries showcasing native New Zealander art work.

2. Check out the Views from Mount Victoria

Getting to the Mount Victoria lookout is an absolute must thing to do in Wellington.

There are several ways you can get to the top if you don’t feel like hiking, such as catch a bus, train, or ride the historic Wellington cable car. There are several bus networks that go to Mount Victoria, you can find the schedules here.

However, if it’s your first time to Wellington, then riding the Historic Cable Car is the way to go. Actually, it’s not really a cable car, but a funicular railway, that was built in 1902.

The journey is only 5 minutes from the bottom to the top, but it travels at a constant grade of 20% and goes through 3 tunnels and over 3 bridges. If you want to learn more about its construction, you can do so at the Cable Car Museum.

To take the cable car, head down to Lambton Quay (Wellington’s major shopping area) and catch the red cable car up to the Wellington Botanical Gardens.

From the top, you can get fantastic 360-degree views over Wellington.

3. Relax in Wellington Botanic Garden

The Wellington Botanic Garden is tranquil escape from the city,…