1 day in Wellington: How to spend an epic day in NZ’s capital
Here’s how to spend an epic one day in Wellington, known as the Windy City.
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and should definitely be on your visit list when visiting this incredible Kiwi country.
It’s an ideal stopover when crossing over from the North to South Island or vice versa.
Wellington is a bit unlike the other cities we experienced in New Zealand; it definitely has a very metropolitan feel with a bustling city centre, with plenty of art, exhibitions, museums, cafes, wildlife sanctuaries, restaurants, and you won’t be bored.
Wellington also has a number of excellent beaches and a lovely harbour and wharf which you can walk up and down, excellent green open spaces where you can while away the afternoon.
This blog post may contain affiliate links.
Quick Mini Guide To Wellington
Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Wellington.
Where to stay
- QT Wellington – a design & arty museum hotel
- The Cambridge Hotel
Top sights
- Weta Workshop – Special effects tour famous for Lord of the Rings and major Hollywood blockbusters
- A classic fish & chips on the beach!
- Zealandia – see kiwi birds and incredible wildlife
- Seal Coast Safari Tour – go offroading and see some seals!
Stay connected
Purchase an eSim with Airalo on your phone – Use discount code A&M3 for $3 off your first purchase.
Have a look at my New Zealand travel guides on your South Island itinerary or North Island Itinerary.
Not sure where to go? Have a look at my article on North VS South Island New Zealand, which is better?
Here are all the North Island guides you might want to visit on your road trip:
- Tongariro Crossing Hike
- Huka Falls Taupo
- QT Hotel Wellington
- Ruakuri Bushwalk
- Tongariro Crossing Hike
- Craters of the Moon Taupo
- New Zealand Hot Water Beach
- 1 Day in Wellington
- Is Wellington Worth Visiting?
- Kuirau Park Rotorua & free geothermal parks
- Best Rotorua Spas
- Best time to visit Auckland
- Tawhai Falls: Gollums Pool from LOTR
- Is New Zealand cheaper than Australia?
- Does New Zealand have dangerous animals?
An Epic 1 Day in Wellington
This city blends nature, wildlife features, and a cityscape, which is quite unique, and unlike many other cities I’ve visited, and it should be a stop on your visit list in New Zealand. There are so many things to do in Wellington NZ, you won’t be short of choices!
This is the ultimate 1 day Wellington guide & Wellington Itinerary!
Where to stay – Best Hotels
If you’re looking for a bit of luxury, you need to stop by the very famous and arty hotel, QT Wellington!
QT Wellington is an arty hotel with definitely a bit of luxury and tonnes of art! Pictures below.
Prices start from $111 NZD.
The Cambridge Hotel – this is a great budget choice starting at $25 NZD and it is a nice 3 star hotel with over 900 reviews on google giving it a good review!
Weta Workshop
If there’s anything you do in Wellington, you should visit the Weta Workshop on a tour. Probably most famous for Lord of the Rings, it’s actually known for working on a tonne of Hollywood movies. There’s also the incredible Tawhai falls in North Island you don’t want to miss!
It’s an incredible working exhibition, which showcases some of the most intricate costumes, props, special effects, and artefacts for blockbuster movies.
I am not particularly a movie buff and I was in awe the entire time we did the tour.
You can ONLY visit the Weta cave by booking a tour because there are plenty of confidential and copyright areas of the Weta Workshop.
It’s probably most well-known for the 48,000 items they made for Lord of the Rings (there are so many LOTR filming locations nearby) and on-site, they showcase hundreds of the original Lord of the Rings props, but you would be mistaken if you thought that they only work on Lord of the Rings.
Weta Cave is one of the leading producers of movie props worldwide, and you’ll recognize their work in Marvel films, Stranger Things, Tomb Raider, The Witcher, and hundreds of other movies and TV shows.
And one of the things that make Weta Cave so interesting and fascinating is the fact that it is a working exhibition so you’ll be able to see craftsmen and artists creating their works of art directly in front of you.
This will either be through either a window or you’ll be able to chat to them and understand a little bit more about the weird and wonderful things they are currently working on.
This is an exclusive behind-the-scenes, VIP look into what artists are currently working on and it’s just simply fascinating to be honest. I’ve never actually seen anything quite like it.
Despite the fact that all of the props, costumes, and artefacts are made by Weta Cave, you’re not actually allowed to photograph 99% of it because of the copyright laws and the fact that it’s been bought by certain movie studios.
If you’re thinking of taking a cheeky snap and posting it on the internet, think again.
One person did this and posted a photo on social media of the inner workings of Weta Workshop and the movie legal team sued them for $3000 for posting it plus $3000 for every single like that received, so it ended up costing this person a bomb.
So definitely do not take any pictures on the inside because you’ll be paying for it literally for a long time.
The Weta Cave Store
The tour around the Weta Cave is around 90 minutes and a very well-first guide will be able to take you around and give you a lot of props to handle. Try on first hand and see behind-the-scenes.
You’ll see the world’s greatest swordsmiths, creating swords for collectors around the world and artists, creating weird and wacky little creatures out of unusual fabrics.
Weta Cave is actually named after the weta cricket in New Zealand, which is universally considered to be ugly.
The Maori word for weta literally derives from the God of ugly things so the Weta Cave is basically the creation of quite unusual bizarre and ugly props for movies.
So if you’re looking to find ugly orcs or trolls, then this is the right place, it’s number one on the list because it’s such an unusual thing to do and can only be found here in Wellington.
Lunch at Scorch-O-Rama
After Weta Cave, take a 10-minute drive to Scorch-O-Rama which is a great little café restaurant directly opposite the beach.
On a great day, there will be excellent views of the waves and the beautiful cerulean blue sea. I highly recommend their avocado toast. It sounds basic, yes, but it is exceptionally good.
After lunch, take a quick stroll along the sandy Beach, go for a paddle if the weather is good enough and then pop your shoes back on ready for an afternoon in town.
Wellington Cable Car
A visit to Wellington would not be complete without the Wellington Cable Car. Celebrating 120 years of service.
These quaint, quirky, and old-school cable cars are a great way to experience the city as it was hundreds of years ago.
It’s also extremely photogenic and the ride up is pretty.
They’ve also decorated the tunnels really well and as you go up the tunnels are lined with hundreds of fairy lights that emit lots of different colours.
Wellington Cable Car Museum
As you get off the Wellington Cable Car make sure you take the immediate right and explore the free Cable Car Museum.
Depending on how much time you have, you can choose to spend a short five minutes or a good half an hour in here looking at the exhibits and some of the old cable cars that are no longer in use.
It’s a great way to get a feel of old school Wellington as it was 120 years ago.
Zealandia
Opposite the top of the cable car and the Cable Car Museum, you will find frequent free shuttle buses to Zealandia.
Zealandia was the first Sanctuary in New Zealand and is an incredible protected area right in the centre of Wellington for the wildlife native to the land.
I personally didn’t expect much from Zealandia; I am not an avid birdwatcher, but I ended up absolutely loving it, and it actually made our day.
It was one of the best tours in Wellington!
We had a tour guide, take us around, and as part of the tour, you start off watching a 5 to 6-minute movie about the impact of human life on New Zealand starting back hundreds of thousands of years ago from when the first peoples arrived through to when colonial settlers arrived.
It showed the impact of human habitation, farming, and even hunting from the first people on some of the native wildlife and the flora.
It was actually incredibly moving.
Then our tour guide proceeded to take us on a two-hour walk through the sanctuary where you could spot plenty of wild animals.
Mostly birds native to New Zealand some of the rarest birds in the world have managed to thrive and grow in this protected area and it’s seeing a great comeback in terms of increasing numbers to the point where the birds are now starting to fly beyond the Sanctuary and breed elsewhere.
The Sanctuary had a difficult job to begin with Sanctuary can only be declared a sanctuary once it is free from invading species from other countries and predators.
Once the local council had agreed on keeping the space protected, they erected a huge fence that circled this massive sanctuary and they spent a lot of time trying to eradicate foreign species that disrupted the natural ecosystem in New Zealand.
This means that the Sanctuary had to get rid of rats, cats, hedgehogs, stoats, and other predatory animals that preyed on the New Zealand wildlife and were decreasing the surviving numbers of the animals.
They spoke of the difficulty of eradicating hundreds of animals in a huge area; how do you do it?
They explained the whole process throughout the tour and it was fascinating.
The fence was also designed to keep out any future invading species from re-entering the Sanctuary if by creating super tall fences with barbed wire to deter cats, rats, stoats, dogs, and anything that would naturally disrupt the ecosystem.
We learned a great deal about the different plants, the animals, and insects, the waterways, the dam, the fish, and I can honestly say I was not bored at any point the details and facts were so interesting and it was incredible to witness some of New Zealand’s rarest birds that date back to dinosaur times.
They actually look like dinosaurs themselves and they seemed pretty unconcerned with humans nearby so you were able to snap some photographs and view them quite closely.
Tip: if you’re staying in Wellington for more than one day, consider booking onto their evening tour, as you will be very likely to see some real-life wild Kiwi birds which are nocturnal.
You are very unlikely to see kiwi birds during the day Tours because they are nocturnal animals and they are in their burrows sleeping. You also might be lucky enough to see the incredible glow worms late at night (there are free glow worm caves you can visit on North island).
If you fancy a coffee or some food, make sure you stop at the Zealandia café they have a very sustainable and eco-friendly ethos and the food is delicious. I had the Matcha green latte and it was delicious. The coffee was also exceptional, so you can’t go amiss.
Once you’re done, take the free shuttle bus back to the Wellington Cable Car and head down into the city.
Browse the Shops and Streets of Wellington
At the base of the Wellington Cable Car, you’re right in the centre of town, so you might want to take a little bit of time to explore some of the shops and quaint alleyways.
Walk the Wellington Harbour
Make your way slowly towards the Wellington Harbour and Lambton Quay which is around a 10-minute walk from the Wellington Cable Car and walk along the seafront.
Depending on the weather, you will find people jumping off the pier into the water and having a good swim.
There are also plenty of ice cream stores, restaurants, takeaway shops, and it is a really lovely vibrant area.
As you walk along the harbour, you’ll also come across some cool artwork and you might even be able to look in on some of the rock climbing and bouldering centres.
Te Papa Museum
The Te Papa Museum is a great little stop, even if it’s just for 10 minutes as it’s free and you can browse any one of the seven floors.
There are some great exhibitions and you’ll even find some of the great artworks from Weta Cave and Weta Workshops here into Te Papa.
The larger-than-life human sculptures are about four times the size of a normal human and are incredibly detailed and accurate is definitely something you’ll want to see.
If you head to the fourth floor into the passport section, you’ll find a lot of information about the history of New Zealand and how New Zealand has a long-standing mission of supporting refugees where you will actually find information on my family history where they were featured talking about how my family ended up in New Zealand.
They received great support they provided as a safe haven to young children who had lost their families and parents during World War II, and you’ll find my grandfather talking about his experience.
Fish and Chips on the Beach
Keep walking until you reach Princess Island Bay Beach where you’ll be able to pick up some fish and chips on the way and sit down and eat your fish and chips as the sun sets. This is a great way to experience the city in just one day and this is exactly what I did when visiting.
The fish and chips in Wellington are pretty sublime given that all the catches are fresh and the batter delightful.
If you have any other time in Wellington, it might be worth visiting the Marvel exhibition, hiking at Mount Vic at sunset, visiting more of their amazing coffee shops and restaurants on Cuba Street.
Wellington Hikes & Walks
There are a tonne of beautiful walks around Wellington you must try out! Walk the surrounding hills for the best views of the harbour, have a look below.
- Mount Victoria Lookout: Offers panoramic views of Wellington and its surroundings.
- Wellington Waterfront: Stroll along the harbor, enjoy street art, and visit the various cafes and restaurants.
- Zealandia: Explore the native wildlife sanctuary with guided walks through protected forest.
- Botanic Garden: Wander through lush gardens, enjoy scenic views, and visit the Begonia House.
- Oriental Bay Beach: Take a leisurely walk along the sandy beachfront with views of the city and harbor.
- Southern Walkway: A challenging walk with stunning views of the city and Cook Strait.
- Red Rocks Coastal Walk: Explore the rugged coastline and spot fur seals along the way.
- Polhill Reserve: Enjoy bushwalks and panoramic views of Wellington and the harbor.
- Brooklyn Wind Turbine: Walk up to the turbine for epic views of the city and surrounding hills.
- Karori Cemetery: Historic cemetery with peaceful walking paths and interesting gravesites.
If you’re after walking tours, have a look here!
Weather in North Island
North Island Weather in January
- Average temperature: 23°C (73°F)
- Average rainy days: 8
- Average daylight hours: 15
- Average sunrise time: 6:15 AM
- Average sunset time: 9:30 PM
North Island Weather in February
- Average temperature: 25°C (77°F)
- Average rainy days: 7
- Average daylight hours: 14
- Average sunrise time: 6:45 AM
- Average sunset time: 9:00 PM
North Island Weather in March
- Average temperature: 23°C (73°F)
- Average rainy days: 9
- Average daylight hours: 12
- Average sunrise time: 7:15 AM
- Average sunset time: 8:15 PM
North Island Weather in April
- Average temperature: 20°C (68°F)
- Average rainy days: 11
- Average daylight hours: 11
- Average sunrise time: 7:45 AM
- Average sunset time: 6:45 PM
North Island Weather in May
- Average temperature: 17°C (63°F)
- Average rainy days: 12
- Average daylight hours: 9
- Average sunrise time: 8:15 AM
- Average sunset time: 5:30 PM
North Island Weather in June
- Average temperature: 15°C (59°F)
- Average rainy days: 14
- Average daylight hours: 9
- Average sunrise time: 8:30 AM
- Average sunset time: 5:15 PM
North Island Weather in July
- Average temperature: 14°C (57°F)
- Average rainy days: 15
- Average daylight hours: 9
- Average sunrise time: 8:30 AM
- Average sunset time: 5:30 PM
North Island Weather in August
- Average temperature: 15°C (59°F)
- Average rainy days: 15
- Average daylight hours: 10
- Average sunrise time: 7:45 AM
- Average sunset time: 6:00 PM
North Island Weather in September
- Average temperature: 16°C (61°F)
- Average rainy days: 13
- Average daylight hours: 12
- Average sunrise time: 6:45 AM
- Average sunset time: 6:30 PM
North Island Weather in October
- Average temperature: 18°C (64°F)
- Average rainy days: 11
- Average daylight hours: 13
- Average sunrise time: 7:15 AM
- Average sunset time: 7:45 PM
North Island Weather in November
- Average temperature: 20°C (68°F)
- Average rainy days: 9
- Average daylight hours: 14
- Average sunrise time: 6:00 AM
- Average sunset time: 8:30 PM
North Island Weather in December
- Average temperature: 22°C (72°F)
- Average rainy days: 9
- Average daylight hours: 15
- Average sunrise time: 5:45 AM
- Average sunset time: 9:15 PM
Quick links
| Here’s everything I use when I travel abroad: Tours – Compare tour prices on Viator and Get Your Guide Hotels – I always use Booking as the more hotels I book, I get a higher Genius discount. I also compare prices on Expedia. E-Sims – purchase an e-sim with Airalo on your phone so you can make calls and have mobile data abroad! There’s no need to remove your current sim card! Travel insurance – don’t ever go on vacation without travel insurance, you never know when you might need it! Travel essentials – have a look at a full list of travel essentials that I use, including the best power bank! |
Have a look at some of my other Aotearoa / New Zealand travel blogs for attractions nearby on your South Island itinerary or North Island.
Not sure where to go? Have a look at my article on North VS South Island New Zealand, which is better?
- Lake Tekapo from Queenstown Road Trip
- Is New Zealand cheaper than Australia?
- Does New Zealand have dangerous animals?
- Tongariro Crossing Hike
Full disclosure! Some of the links here are affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission from every booking made. This is at no extra cost to you. It helps keep me writing and sharing my travel guides free of charge to you 🙂 Thank you for your support! Read our affiliate policy here.
