Wellington Travel Guide

Travel to Wellington

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and it has an attractive location surrounding a wide bay on the North Islands southern tip. It is smaller than Auckland and less busy yet it is a great place to relax and enjoy the culture and entertainment that the city has to offer.

Transportation to Wellington

Wellington International Airport is located eight kilometres southeast of the city and the easiest road route into the city passes under Mount Victoria through a two-lane tunnel. Several shuttle buses operate between the airport, the city and the railway station, while the Stagecoach Flyer runs to the city centre and farther on to Waterloo Interchange in Lower Hutt.

By road, Wellington can be reached via highways 1 and 2. The city is 195kms (2 hours drive) from Wanganui; 460kms (4 to 5 hours drive) from Rotorua; and 655kms (7 to 8 hours drive) from Auckland. Another option is the many daily ferries that depart from Picton on the South Island, just across the Cook Strait.

What to see

The highlight of any visit to Wellington is Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), which is one of the worlds largest national museums, offering visitors many hours of education and entertainment. The museum combines interactive technology with spectacular world-class exhibits that tell the story of New Zealand. Simulators take visitors on a journey through time to the creation of New Zealand and the prehistoric landscape. Among other activities are virtual-reality bungee jumping, shearing a sheep or riding on the back of a whale.

The City Gallery offers outstanding exhibits of painting, sculpture, film and video, in addition to industrial and graphic design and architecture. The Dowse Art Museum features a fine collection of New Zealand handcrafted art such as ceramics, jewellery, glass and textiles.

Mount Victoria looms behind the CBD and can be reached by antique funicular.
Most of the mountain is covered by a botanical garden and the unassuming summit gives visitors exceptional views of the bay. Oriental Bay on the other side of the city, is a great spot for an ocean-side stroll or cycle trip.

Daytrips

Wanganui is located 193kms north of Wellington and has a picturesque setting on the Whanganui River, the longest traversable waterway in the country. The river runs through the stunning Whanganui National Park, most of which can be reached only by boat or on foot. The Whanganui Regional Museum, one of the towns main attractions, is regarded as New Zealands finest provincial museum, featuring rare collections of Maori canoes, artefacts and moa bones.

Activities and leisure

One of New Zealands best bar, caf and restaurant scenes can be found in the Courtenay Place neighbourhood. There are plenty of galleries, theatres and shops in Wellington, giving visitors plenty to do in their spare time. Additionally, Wellington puts on the countrys largest performing arts festival and is home to the National Orchestra and Opera, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and four professional theatre companies.

Safety issues

Be on your guard for pickpockets when visiting Wellington, particularly at night around the busy nightlife areas. Tourists are prone to becoming victims of crime when in an unfamiliar environment. Driving is also a potential danger and travellers should remain watchful. We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance for yourself and your family.