Wellington 2026: Must-Visit Places & Top Attractions

Q: What is Wellington best known for?

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is best known for its offbeat atmosphere. A stroll downtown and you're immediately welcomed by friendly residents, stunning new architecture, and cafes and restaurants with delicious cuisine. Check off some of the things from your Wellington stay by visiting the Te Papa Museum, riding a cable car and strolling around the ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary.

Q: When is the best time to visit Wellington?

Famous for being the windy city of New Zealand, Wellington is ultimately a breezy place year-round. However, the busiest months run from December to April during the warmer days, and is typically less crowded during the rainy season from May to November.

Q: Where is the best location for tourists to stay in Wellington?

The best place to stay in Wellington is either the Te Aro district or the Wellington CBD, where most popular tourist attractions can be found. It's the lively area of the city, where quaint cafes, shops and city museums are located. For a quieter and more beach-like setting, you can choose Mount Victoria for stunning city views or Oriental Bay for some sea-view accommodation.

Wellington serves as the capital and food capital of New Zealand. From brunch to after-dinner cocktails, you'll never run out of dining options here! Find your flavor in Wellington: visit Martinborough's sprawling vineyards and get a taste of New Zealand's best or why not feast on the city's expansive selection of seafood fresh from the harbor?

On top of gastronomic adventures, Wellington is the famous filming site for the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy! Journey to Weta Workshop and walk through the fantastical set as a mythical being of your choice. If communing with nature is what you're after, then the 225-hectare urban ecosanctuary called Zealandia is a must-visit haven for you!

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See 25 things to do in Wellington

Attraction passes • Paraparaumu

Klook Pass New Zealand

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★ 4.5 (188) • 6K+ booked

From ¥ 25,420

¥ 34,941

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Tours • Wellington

Weta Workshop Tours

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Small group

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★ 4.8 (76) • 2K+ booked

From ¥ 5,084

Tours • Wellington

Te Papa Museum in Wellington

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★ 4.7 (37) • 1K+ booked

From ¥ 3,235

Tours • Wellington

Lord Of The Rings with Lunch Full Day tour

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★ 4.8 (10) • 50+ booked

¥ 30,042

Tours • From Wellington

Coastal Wildlife Adventure with Fur Seal Observation Tour

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★ 4.9 (9) • 50+ booked

¥ 18,025

Cruises • From Te Anau

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

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Afternoon departure

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★ 4.8 (5) • 500+ booked

From ¥ 71,454

Tours • Wellington

From Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour

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★ 5.0 (7) • 50+ booked

¥ 18,025

Tours • Wellington

Lord Of The Rings with Weta Workshop Half Day Tour

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★ 5.0 (4) • 50+ booked

¥ 16,177

Tours • From Wellington

Martinborough Half Day Winery Tour

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★ 4.9 (7) • 50+ booked

¥ 16,639

Tours • Wellington

Wellington City with Mt Victoria and Cable Car Highlights Tour

Small group

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¥ 13,866

Cruises • Wellington

90 Minute Commentated Harbour Tour in Wellington

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Up to 3 hrs

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¥ 6,378

Tours • From Wellington

Remutaka Rail Trail Electric Bicycle Explorer

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¥ 20,336

Hotels in Wellington

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Hotels • Wellington

Rydges Wellington Airport

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★ 4.5 (1,001)

From ¥ 13,823

Hotels • Wellington

Mercure Wellington Central City Hotel and Apartments

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★ 3.6 (1,001)

From ¥ 8,740

Hotels • Wellington

DoubleTree by Hilton Wellington

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★ 4.5 (1,001)

From ¥ 15,563

Hotels • Wellington

Travelodge Hotel Wellington

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★ 4.2 (1,004)

From ¥ 11,321

Hotels • Wellington

ibis Wellington

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★ 4.2 (937)

From ¥ 7,941

Hotels • Wellington

Atura Wellington

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★ 4.0 (963)

¥ 11,950

Hotels • Wellington

Aura Hotel

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★ 2.5 (354)

From ¥ 5,359

Hotels • Wellington

Mercure Wellington Abel Tasman

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★ 3.8 (969)

From ¥ 9,863

Hotels • Wellington

Sofitel Wellington

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★ 4.6 (660)

From ¥ 21,919

Hotels • Wellington

Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers

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★ 3.7 (1,002)

From ¥ 7,144

Hotels • Wellington

Ramada by Wyndham Wellington Taranaki Street

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★ 4.4 (406)

From ¥ 11,071

Hotels • Wellington

Haka House Wellington

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★ 4.3 (418)

From ¥ 7,591

JIA ***************

2025-12-07 11:43:16

Fantastic 5.0

highly recommend tour! very insightful and great behind the scenes into the film productions. enjoyed it thoroughly even though I didn’t watch the major productions like LOTR.

Weta Workshop Tours

TarakaVenkataPavan *******

2026-01-12 08:25:48

Fantastic 5.0

Visiting Te Papa Tongarewa was absolutely the highlight of our time in Wellington. I honestly cannot recommend it enough! The Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition left us completely speechless. The giant sculptures created by Weta Workshop are hauntingly realistic, bringing the history to life in a way that is both heartbreaking and beautiful. It was an emotional experience that we won’t forget. Beyond the war history, the nature and art exhibitions were fantastic. My whole family loved exploring the natural history sections—seeing the unique native wildlife and the diverse landscapes gave us such a vivid picture of the country. We also gained a profound appreciation for local culture and Aotearoa’s history through the stunning Māori artifacts and storytelling on display. It wasn’t just educational; it was genuinely fun for all of us. We walked away feeling like we truly understand this beautiful country better.

Te Papa Museum in Wellington

Violet *******

2025-10-07 01:11:00

Fantastic 5.0

Michael who is our guide for the day delivered great service, great knowledge of Wellington, enterained us throughout the trip and the tour was with great ease. Hightly recommended the tour when you visit Welilngton.

From Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour

Klook客路用户

2026-02-13 06:18:12

Fantastic 5.0

Absolutely great! Although I don't speak English, the tour guide was still able to make me understand the itinerary. The tour guide was excellent and very attentive. When we arrived at the place to see the seals, they asked us what we wanted to drink. The cola I wanted to drink was even ice-cold, which I couldn't have imagined. Highly recommended! 👍 They replied to emails very quickly. They replied less than 5 minutes after I sent it. Everyone involved in the process was very good. They brought warmth to my Wellington trip. Thank you for your service and I wish you good business. If I can come to New Zealand again in the future, I will definitely come again!!!

Coastal Wildlife Adventure with Fur Seal Observation Tour

Utilisateur Klook

2025-10-13 18:15:18

Fantastic 5.0

This was an amazing experience, a small tour of eight people and a great guide and driver. The visit of all the locations for the shootings of the Lord of the Rings movies was fantastic, close and personal. The Weta workshop is a wonderful place, full of mysteries and amazing things to see (an touch!), with a nice staff. The lunch experience, a buffet at the Aston Norwood café in a pretty venue was the cherry on the top of the cake. I completely recommend this tour with WTG!

Lord Of The Rings with Lunch Full Day tour

Violet *******

2025-10-04 04:02:30

Fantastic 5.0

Mike, our tour guide, provided great customer service and had excellent communication with his customers. The location was perfect for a "kaiaki" brunch, and the tour was excellent, filled with his great humor, stories, and most of all, his knowledgeable storytelling about Wellington. Definitely recommended.

Martinborough Half Day Winery Tour

SHYH ********

2025-10-31 06:34:08

Fantastic 5.0

Value for money if you select from their menu of activities, which covers a lot.

Klook Pass New Zealand

Local weather

℉℃

DEC - FEB
21°13°
MAR - MAY
20°10°
JUN - AUG
13°7°
SEP - NOV
17°9°

General info

Time zone
GMT +12:00
No time difference
Currency
New Zealand Dollar
1JPY = 0.01NZD
Official languages
English
Best time to visit
FEB
Waitangi Day
JUN
Wellington Jazz Festival
APR - JUN
Pleasant temperatures, fewer tourists.
Recommended trip duration
3 days

Wellington

Top things to do in Wellington

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Best time to visit

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FAQs about Wellington

What is Wellington best known for?

When is the best time to visit Wellington?

Where is the best location for tourists to stay in Wellington?

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