During my month-long campervan trip in New Zealand / Aotearoa, I visited a few cities across both the North and South Islands. My favorite of all the cities was Wellington.
Wellington sits at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island. It’s the country’s capital and its third largest city. Although I enjoyed Auckland for its big city elements, Wellington’s vibe was quirky vibe was more my speed.
When you walk through the city of Wellington, the air is electric. It’s a young, hip city filled with great beer, cool street art and cozy cafes. If you like cities that are a bit hipster, you’ll really enjoy Wellington.
I only spent two days in Wellington, and I do believe you can cover a good amount of ground in that time. You could certainly spend a few more days in the city, but I’d recommend at least two.
In fact, if the city weren’t so windy, Wellington would be high on my list of dream places to live.
But what are some things to do in Wellington?
Table of Contents:
Things to do in Wellington:
- Mount Victoria
- Wētā Workshop
- Lord of the Rings Locations
- Wind Sculpture Walk
- WellyWood Sign
- Airplane Watching
- Urban Trails
- Street Art
- Brewery Hopping
- Malaysian Food
- Additional / Alternative Things to do in Wellington
Wellington Logistics:
Here are 10+ things to do in Wellington over two days.
Go to the Top of Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria is both a large hill/public park and neighborhood in the eastern part of Wellington. You can climb or drive to the top of the hill for spectacular views stretching out over the city. At the top, you’ll also learn facts about Wellington, such as why Wellington is so windy.
If you want a bit of a workout, I highly recommend walking to the top. It’s a fairly easy walk uphill, but it can get your heart pumping! No matter how you get there, though, Mount Victoria is a top thing to do in Wellington in my opinion.
The park on Mount Victoria is also home to a few Lord of the Rings filming locations. More on that later.
Tour Wētā Workshop
Wētā Workshop refers to New Zealand’s best known film props and special effects studio. It was started by a couple with a passion for movies and fantasy world and has bloomed into a huge enterprise today.
Wētā Workshop’s most famous project is obviously Lord of the Rings, but they have worked on so many other films and franchises as well.
You can visit Wētā Workshop on a guided tour only. During the tour, you learn more about how Wētā Workshop started and all the films on which they have worked. There are some interactive elements, as well. For example, you can touch prosthetics, hold prop swords and wear some masks.
The tour doesn’t go as much into the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies as you might think – though the souvenir shop is filled primarily with memorabilia from that franchise. But it’s a cool way to learn more about the behind the scenes of movie magic. If you’re a movie nerd, I’d say it’s a top thing to do in Wellington. But if you’re not too into movies, you could probably skip.
Find Lord of the Rings Filming Locations
The studios where Lord of the Rings was filmed were primarily in Wellington. So it’s only natural that there are also some filming locations you can find in the city.
If you’re a LotR fan, finding these locations really is a top thing to do in Wellington – especially because they are all free to access (except Weta Workshop).
Within the city limits, the best place to find a bunch of these locations is Mt. Victoria. You can see:
- Frodo’s Reading Tree
- Hobbit’s Hideaway
- The Way of the Nazgul
- Leaving the Shire
The general area for most of these locations have a marker saying “Lord of the Rings filming location” but you’ll have to use your eyes and Google Maps to find the exact locations.
You can also find other LotR filming locations in the suburbs of Wellington:
- Rivendell – Kaitoke Regional Park: Even the Rivendell Arch is here
- Helm’s Deep – Dry Creek Quarry: This location is relatively difficult to get to and supposedly doesn’t have much to see anymore. But you can visit and see for yourself if you want.
- Hutt River – Used for parts of the River Anduin.
A little farther from Wellington, you can also find the Putangirua Pinnacles, which were used in filming the Paths of the Dead. They were unfortunately closed when we were in New Zealand due to structural problems.
Do the Wind Sculpture Walk
The Meridian Energy Wind Sculpture Walk is a series of five sculptures along the waterfront near Evans Bay Marina. The purpose of these sculptures is to show off the power of the wind. Due to its proximity to the Cook Strait, Wellington is one of the windiest cities in New Zealand, so these sculptures can really capture its force.
The sculptures are best viewed on a windy day. That really shouldn’t be difficult to encounter in Wellington, but make sure you are prepared and dressed appropriately for the walk.
Visit the WellyWood Sign
The “WellyWood” sign – a portmanteau of ‘Wellington’ and ‘Hollywood’ – is one of Wellington’s biggest landmarks. It’s an homage to the famous Hollywood sign, but has a twist.
While the first few letters of Wellington are firmly planted on the hillside in a script similar to the Hollywood sign, the last part of the city features the letters crawling up the hill as if they’re blowing away. This sign serves to remind you how windy Wellington is just in case you somehow forget.
Just like the Hollywood sign, you can simply look at the WellyWood sign from below or climb above it. To get above the sign, it’s an easy urban hike on one of Wellington’s city trails.
Watch Airplanes Take Off and Land
If you are climbing to the WellyWood sign, you will also be near a very special viewpoint where you can watch the airplanes land and take off from the Wellington airport!
The main airport is unique in that it has multiple viewpoints where everyday people can watch the planes. You can watch from above near the sign, or you can get even closer. There is a pull out point on Calabar Road right next to the airport.
It’s especially neat to watch airplanes take off in Wellington as they taxi down the runway then fly out over the marina. These viewpoints give the airplanes a backdrop of the water and Wellington’s hills. I’m no aviation geek, but I even thought the whole ordeal was pretty neat.
Walk Wellington’s Urban Trails
Despite the windy conditions, Wellington locals really enjoy getting outside. In and around the city, there are some urban trails also known as “Welly Walks.” They range in difficulty and scenery, but most of the walks are generally fairly easy to moderate.
If you want city and sea views, try the aptly named “City to Sea Walkway.” You can also find bush views, beaches, sculptures and more. Some of the walkways also feature placards to teach you more about the history of the particular neighborhood through which you’re walking.
We did the Mount Victoria loop and part of the Southern Walkway. Here are the Wellington City Council’s top 20 recommendations.
Enjoy Wellington’s Street Art
One of the characteristics I liked most about Wellington was its quirkiness and welcoming vibe. And no quirky city would be complete without some solid street art. Wellington is no exception.
Wellington has large-scale murals featuring a range of different subjects adorning the walls of its city. You’re guaranteed to run into some of them if you walk around the heart of the city. However, you can also create your own self-guided tour using the city’s guide to its murals.
Go Brewery Hopping
One other thing Wellington is well-known for is its craft beer scene. The city and its surrounding suburbs are home to dozens of breweries. If you’re a beer drinker, brewery hopping should definitely be high on your list of things to do in Wellington.
You can easily hit three or four breweries just on foot in half a day. If you’re the competitive type, there is also a brewery passport that allows you to collect stamps at breweries around the city and suburbs for a prize. Note that you don’t have to drink a beer at each brewery, but you do have to purchase something to eat or drink at each.
We visited these craft beer bars / breweries:
- Fortune Favours: Large selection of pretty good beer and cider with different styles. The brewery has a laid back vibe and a small patio that’s nice when it’s sunny.
- Garage Project: Super hipster brewery with a ton of regular and experimental beers (including a pickle juice ale). Great if you want to try something a little different.
- Waitoa Social Club: Craft beer bar with amazing selection of delicious beers. Atmosphere isn’t quite as interesting as others, but the bartender and patrons are friendly, and they have a good selection of dark beers, which are my favorite.
- HeyDay Beer Co.: Nice place to go if you’re looking to be social, with refreshing beer and games.
Overall, my favorites were Waitoa and Fortune Favours.
Eat Malaysian Food
Due to its proximity to Asia, New Zealand is known to have some pretty solid Asian food. But Wellington specifically has a ton of Malaysian food. There are dozens of Malaysian restaurants in the city center and the suburbs. The restaurants feature the full range of Malay, Indian and Chinese Malaysian dishes. Eating Malaysian food is therefore a top thing to do in Wellington when you visit.
What is the reason for the high concentration of Malaysian restaurants in Wellington? According to this article from the Spinoff, there are two primary reasons. In the 1960s, after tensions mounted across the different ethnic groups in Malaysia, the Malaysian government began giving more priority to Malay students for university admission.
That act, coupled with New Zealand opening up to more Asian immigrants, resulted in many Malaysians coming to the country to study and ended up staying to work. In the 1980s, further government reform in New Zealand made it easier for non-European immigrants to move there, which led to a lot of Malaysian families following their family members to the country. They were rewarded by opening businesses in the country – and what better business than food?
I’m still not entirely clear on why Wellington specifically became a destination for Malaysians, but the food is too delicious to care.
Additional/Alternative Things to do in Wellington
If you have more time to spend in Wellington, or are looking for alternatives to my recommendations above, here are additional things to do in Wellington.
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: National art gallery celebrating and uplifting the biculturalism of Aotearoa / New Zealand through its interactive and interdisciplinary exhibits.
- Zealandia: A conservation and ecosanctuary close to the Wellington CBD featuring forest tracks and rare wildlife.
- Wellington Cable Car: A funicular railway that takes you above the city and offers panoramic views.
- Wellington Botanical Gardens: A 62-acre (25 hectares) garden featuring native plants and an extensive rose garden.
- Red Rocks Seals: A nature preserve and seal colony on the coast about an hour from the Evans Marina in Wellington. Be aware the trail can be a bit rough in high wind.
Logistics
Now that you have plenty of ideas about things to do in Wellington, you’re probably wondering about where to stay and how to get around. Here are some logistics for visiting Wellington.
Best time to visit Wellington
If you’re traveling from the northern hemisphere, keep in mind that New Zealand / Aotearoa is in the southern hemisphere, which means the seasons are opposite.
- Summer (December to February): Visiting in summer will give you the warmest temperatures. However, you can still experience rainfall and strong wind in the summer, so be prepared for chilly days regardless. Summer is also peak season and likely to be more crowded.
- Spring (September to November): Spring features more mild temperatures, but still brings rain and strong wind. These months are considered shoulder season, so has relatively lower crowds.
- Fall (March to May): In fall, temperatures are cooling down, but there is relatively lower rainfall. According to my research, it can be a nice time to visit for these reasons. Plus, it’s still shoulder season, which means lower crowds and prices.
- Winter (June to August): Winter is off-season, which means you’ll get the lowest crowds and relatively lowest prices. However, the weather is also colder.
I visited in spring and enjoyed relatively warm and sunny but windy weather. It felt like a good time to visit despite the annoyance of the wind. The large freedom camping area where we stayed two nights in a row was full both nights, so the crowds were still around.
Where to stay in Wellington
For campervans: If you are traveling New Zealand in a self-contained campervan, the best place to stay in the city is the Evans Bay Marina. There is a large parking lot here with several spots for self-contained campervans. If the lot is full, there are a few street parking spots near here as well. The site has a view of the marina and is ~30 minutes walking to the CBD. It has free public toilets plus nearby public (cold) showers and water refill.
If you are not in a campervan, here are the neighborhoods to consider:
- Wellington Central Business District (CBD): Staying here will put you in the center of the action. It’s good for first-time visitors and/or people who only have a few days to spend exploring the city.
- Te Aro: Stay here if you want to be near restaurants and nightlife, including the bustling Cuba Street. This is a good place to be if you want to visit breweries, see street art and go bar hopping until late.
- Miramar: A quiet suburb of Wellington, this area is a good place to stay if you want some peace and quiet and don’t mind being a bit far from the action. It’s popular for people traveling with families.
- Lower Hutt: A bit outside of Wellington proper, the Lower Hutt can be a good option for thrifty travelers. If you have your own transportation and a tight budget, this suburb can be a good option.
Getting Around
Wellington proper is pretty compact for one of the country’s largest cities. Hot spots are relatively close together, which makes it somewhat easy to get around the city.
Here are the ways to get to all the things to do in Wellington:
- On foot: If you’re staying in Wellington proper and enjoy a good walk, you can get around pretty easily on foot. Note that Wellington has some steep hills, so make sure to check out your route before taking off, and prepare for a potential work out.
- Public transit: You can travel by public transit, but it can be a little bit pricier relative to other major cities around the world. To travel by bus or train, it’s recommended to first purchase a Snapper card, which has a base cost of $10 NZD. Rides then cost about $2-$17.55 NZD each for adults, depending on zone. You can pay in cash, but it costs 25% more per ride. Fares are increasing by 10% in July 2025.
- Car: If you have your own transportation, car can be one of the easiest ways to get around Wellington. The only thing to note is that it can be tough to find parking in the city center.
- Rideshare: Wellington has Uber, which can be a good option for getting around if you can’t walk or take your own transportation. If you’re only visiting Wellington for a couple of days with two or more people, an Uber can be more cost effective than both/all of you purchasing bus cards to get around.
Wellington Safety
As a big city, Wellington might be slightly less safe than some quieter areas of New Zealand / Aotearoa. However, it’s still generally safe, especially relative to major cities in many other countries (e.g., the USA).
Take typical precautions in Wellington – be aware of your surroundings, walk in well-lit areas in night, and don’t keep your phone or wallet in your back pocket.
I hope these tips on things to do in Wellington were helpful! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
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