Windy and wonderful – New Zealand's dynamic capital city

Popularly known as the Windy City or Windy Wellington, the nation’s capital is a hilly harbour city with a fascinating mix of old and new architecture. Divided into four urban areas, Wellington’s surrounding suburbs border the horseshoe-shaped harbour fed by the Cook Strait, which separates the North and South Islands and is just 22km wide at its narrowest point.

Welly is where travellers can take a ferry south but it’s also where the nation’s politicians come to work, which means the place is flooded with civil servants of all persuasions. Home to the third-largest population of any New Zealand city, Wellington is a thriving business and cultural base for companies and people who love the ease of life here. Most activities and sights are within easy reach, making for a fun, easy-going break.

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Singapore to Wellington

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Wellington harbor cityscape at night

Ultimate guide to the best eats in Wellington

From crave-worthy coffees to boutique beers and slick seafood, New Zealand’s capital city Wellington is a foodie match made in heaven. Here are the places you have to try.

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Wellington by the water in the afternoon

How to spend a perfect day in Wellington

Discover a cool new culinary hub, night market, movie magic and much more on a mini break in the New Zealand capital.

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View of a town in Wellington from a cable car ride

Tastes of Wellington that will leave you hungry for more

From excellent eateries to the people behind the plates, Wellington’s burgeoning food scene makes the city a must-visit – here are the best places to eat and drink.

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Wellington sign on a mountain

A weekend in Wellington

Find out why there’s no better place to be hungry than Wellington.

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Where to drink the best coffee in Wellington

With cafés on almost every corner, Wellington is at the vanguard of world coffee culture. But the city’s renowned cafés do so much more than deliver a welcome jolt of caffeine.

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Things to do

  • Birds and the bees

    Birds and the bees

    Ride the free shuttle from outside the cable-car museum at Kelburn lookout to Zealandia opens in new window, a 225ha eco-attraction that’s home to some of New Zealand’s rarest birds, reptiles and insects. It’s just 10 minutes from Wellington.

  • Lights, camera, action!

    Lights, camera, action!

    Step onto a movie location opens in new window by visiting Mount Victoria, Hutt River, Harcourt Park, Kaitoke Regional Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Waitarere Forest or the Wairarapa Region, where many scenes from the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were filmed.

  • Live and learn

    Live and learn

    To deepen your local knowledge, visit the innovative, interactive Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa opens in new window. Located on the waterfront near the city’s many bustling cafés and bars, it showcases Maori and Pacific cultural treasures and the country’s extraordinary natural life, with important works of art and scientific and historic collections.

  • Star trek

    Star trek

    Take the quick stroll from Kelburn lookout to the Carter Observatory and Planetarium opens in new window and learn about the magic and science of Maori astronomy. As well as the historic Thomas Cooke telescope, you’ll find multimedia exhibits, interactive galleries and a digital, full-dome planetarium. 

  • Top of the cable

    Top of the cable

    Ride the cable car opens in new window from Lambton Quay in the CBD to the top entrance of the Botanic Garden and Kelburn lookout for spectacular views over Wellington.

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Airport information

Wellington International Airport opens in new window (WLG)

Distance to city centre 8km

Taxi A taxi into central Wellington takes 15-25 minutes and costs NZD $30-40.

Shuttle SuperShuttle opens in new window transfers cost from NZD $20.

Bus The Airport Flyer opens in new window express bus departs every 10 minutes during peak hours, and 20 minutes at other times, taking around 45 minutes to the city centre. Local Metlink opens in new window bus route 11 between Wellington and Seatoun stops at the corner of Broadway and Hobart Streets, a 10-minute walk from the airport.

 

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When to go

The summer season, from the end of the year up to around Easter, is the optimum time to make the most of Wellington outdoors, though temperatures rarely exceed 25°C. Thanks to proximity to the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, winter can be very windy (obviously) and wet, with temperatures as low as 4°C, though the city caters well for warm indoor activities.

The biennial International Festival of the Arts rounds out the end of summer with nearly a month of dance, theatre, writers, musicians and all manner of other arty types. Taking place every even year since 1986, it lives up to its name and is the jewel in the crown of the capital’s richly deserved cultural reputation.

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Getting around

Metlink Wellington opens in new window is your one-stop shop for buses, trains and harbour ferries into, out of and around the city. There are four rail lines, over 100 bus routes and four harbour ferry stops. With a Snapper opens in new window smart card, available at newsagents and other retailers, you'll get a discount on buses, taxis, the cable car and even street parking.

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