The best of
Wellington. Ranked.

1. #1

   Editor's Pick
   

   Te Papa Tongarewa

   Aotearoa's national museum — six floors of Māori taonga, the Gallipoli giants and the colossal squid, right on the waterfront. General admission is complimentary for New Zealanders and residents.

   Local tip: It is far too big for one visit — pick two floors rather than trying to see everything, and save it for the day the weather turns.

   55 Cable Street, Te Aro· Open daily 10am–6pm (closed Christmas Day)

   Free entryNational museumAll weatherFamily
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2. #2
   

   Wellington Cable Car

   $

   A five-minute climb from Lambton Quay to Kelburn — the city's most photographed view and the gateway to the Botanic Garden walk back down.

   Local tip: Adult fares are $7 one-way and $13 return, and the return ticket has no time limit — so ride up, walk the gardens, and come back down whenever you finish.

   Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay· Mon–Thu 7:30am–8pm, Fri–Sat to 9pm

   IconicHarbour viewHeritage
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3. #3
   

   Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne

   The world's first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary — 225 hectares of regenerating native bush protecting more than 40 native bird species, minutes from the CBD.

   Local tip: Last entry is 4pm, so arrive by early afternoon if you want to walk the upper valley rather than just the lake loop.

   53 Waiapu Road, Karori· Open daily 9am–4:30pm, last entry 4pm

   Native birdsEcoWalking tracks
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4. #4
   

   Mount Victoria Lookout

   $

   The postcard panorama of the city, harbour and Hutt Valley, and the lookout WellingtonNZ puts on its own top-ten list of must-dos.

   Local tip: Free, open all hours, and reachable on foot or by road — walking up from Oriental Bay turns it into an hour rather than a ten-minute drive.

   Lookout Road, Mount Victoria· Open 24 hours

   SunsetFreeView
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5. #5
   

   Wellington Botanic Garden

   Native bush, lookouts and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden on the hill above the CBD — around 3,200 roses across more than 300 varieties in roughly 110 beds.

   Local tip: The rose garden is at its best November to March. Ride the Cable Car up and walk down through the garden — it is downhill the whole way.

   101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn· Open dawn to dusk

   FreeFamilyWalking
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6. #6
   

   Wētā Workshop Tours

   Behind the scenes at the effects studio that built Middle-earth — how props, costumes, creatures and models are made for films like The Lord of the Rings and Avatar.

   Local tip: Tours start at the Wētā Cave store; the "There and Back Again" combo adds the miniature-effects tour if one workshop tour is not enough.

   Cnr Weka Street & Camperdown Road, Miramar· Tours daily — see website

   Lord of the RingsFilmTours
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7. #7
   

   Cuba Street

   Wellington's bohemian heart — the Bucket Fountain, vintage stores, vinyl, vegan kai and the city's most photographed street art.

   Local tip: Costs nothing to wander, and it is the one part of town that is just as good in the evening as in the middle of the day.

   Cuba Street, Te Aro· Always open

   ShoppingStreet artCoffee
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8. #8
   

   Wellington Waterfront Walk

   From Oriental Bay to Te Papa to Frank Kitts — flat, scenic and dotted with the Writers Walk, ice cream and harbour swimmers.

   Local tip: It links most of this list together — Te Papa, Wellington Museum and Queens Wharf all sit on it, so use it as the spine of your day.

   Wellington Waterfront· 24 hours

   FreeSunsetFamily
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9. #9
   

   Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

   The purpose-built exhibition centre directly across the road from Te Papa, hosting ticketed touring international exhibitions.

   Local tip: Check what is on before you go — the building is worth a look but the draw is whichever touring exhibition is in residence.

   50 Cable Street, Te Aro· See website for exhibitions

   ExhibitionsIndoorWaterfront
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10. #10
    

    Red Rocks Coastal Walk

    A flat 7.4km return coastal track from Owhiro Bay to Sinclair Head, past wild surf, 200-million-year-old red rocks and a New Zealand fur seal colony.

    Local tip: The seal colony is a bachelor colony that hauls out May to October and peaks June to August — outside those months you may walk it and see none.

    Owhiro Bay Parade, Owhiro Bay· Open daily

    SealsHikeFree
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11. #11
    

    Wellington Zoo

    New Zealand's first zoo and the world's first carboNZero-certified zoo — lions, giraffes, red pandas and 'The Nest' animal hospital you can watch in action.

    200 Daniell Street, Newtown· Open daily — see website

    FamilyAnimalsConservation
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12. #12
    

    Space Place at Carter Observatory

    Hilltop planetarium and historic observatory at the top of the Botanic Garden — a digital full-dome theatre, Māori starlore galleries and the heritage telescope.

    Local tip: It is a short walk from the Cable Car summit, so stack it with the Cable Car and the Botanic Garden into one trip up the hill.

    40 Salamanca Road, Kelburn· See website for sessions

    PlanetariumAstronomyIndoor
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13. #13
    

    The Roxy Cinema

    Art-deco picture palace in Miramar built by Wētā's founders — two boutique cinemas, the Coco restaurant and interior flourishes made by Wētā Workshop.

    Local tip: Pair it with the Wētā Workshop tour — both are in Miramar, a short hop from each other.

    5 Park Road, Miramar· Daily — see session times

    CinemaArt decoFilm
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14. #14
    

    Nōku te Ao Capital E

    Wellington's creative hub for children, reopened inside the Central Library in March 2026 — an under-fives play space on the mezzanine plus Digital Studios and holiday workshops upstairs.

    Local tip: It moved here from Queens Wharf on 14 March 2026 — older directions still send you to the waterfront.

    Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui (Central Library), 65 Victoria Street, Wellington Central· See website

    FamilyKidsIndoor
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// Ready-made plans

Three Wellington days, already planned

Fixed routes built from the ranked lists on this site — walkable, in order, and copyable.