About Wellington

New Zealand’s capital city Wellington is known as the “coolest little capital in the world”. 

Wellington is largely known for its great café culture and is home to a multi-Oscar winning film industry.   The city is jam-packed with art galleries, clothing boutiques and tasty cuisine, plus there’s a safe and vibrant nightlife with Courtenay Place and Cuba Street being a central hub for restaurants and bars. 

As the nation’s capital, Wellington also has a more ‘intellectual’ side. New Zealand Parliament (The Beehive) has daily tours, as well as the Old Government Building - the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere. Situated on the waterfront is New Zealand’s national museum - Te Papa (meaning ‘Our Place’).

There is so much to experience in this beautiful harbour city -  the entertainment options are endless - check out the top 10 must do’s in Wellington. If you want to venture just out of Wellington, you can check out its neighbouring wine regions in the Wairarapa or Marlborough, which produce some of New Zealand’s best wines.

Getting around Wellington is easy. The central business district spans less than two kilometres so the best way to get around is walking. There are a range of transport options readily available including buses, trains, ferries and taxis.

For more information about this cool little city check out the official Wellington website
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World of Wearable Art Awards The Brancott Estate WOW® Awards Show has grown into an internationally acclaimed event staged in New Zealand’s creative capital city, Wellington. This annual extravaganza twists conventional perceptions of both art and fashion, weaving these into a spectacular two hour performance. Considered one of the most prestigious art and fashion competitions in the world it attracts designers from all around the globe. National and international artists and designers enter truly amazing WearableArt™ garments. These breathtaking works of art are designed for the moving body and are then individually choreographed into an extraordinary show entwined with every facet of performance: music, dance, lighting and comedy. 2012 Show Season Dates: Thurs 27 September - Sun 7 October Provisional Dates (to be confirmed): Wed 10 October - Sat 13 October
Wellington Botanic Gardens  The Wellington Botanic Garden features 25 hectares of unique landscape, protected native forest, conifers, specialized plant collections, colorful floral displays and views over Wellington city. It is classified as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and is a Historic Places Trust Heritage Area. Entry is free.
Colonial Cottage Museum Visit central Wellington’s oldest identified building, which was built by carpenter, William Wallis, in 1858. This was a time when candles were made from tallow and when the nails used to build the cottage were imported. Displays show the ways in which the first colonials blended their lives from their Victorian homeland with the dictates of a new country. Enjoy the garden, the remaining portion of an 1840 New Zealand Company Town Acre, on which the cottage was built.
Wellington Cable Car The Wellington Cable Car is one of Wellington’s oldest and most popular tourist attractions. The cars run from Lambton Quay in the heart of the central business district, and within 5 minutes whisk you from under the corporate towers of The Terrace, past Kelburn Park and Victoria University to the top entrance of the Wellington Botanic Garden with its magnificent lookout over the city and harbor - Te Whanganui-a-Tara (The Great Harbor of Tara). Other attractions immediately accessible from the top station are the award-winning Wellington Cable Car Museum situated in the old cable car winding room, the Carter Observatory and No1 Upland Road Bistro and Wine Bar.
Wellington Waterfront Wellington Waterfront is a public recreation destination under development. Here you can spend time visiting a museum, learning about our history, eating in our waterfront restaurants, attending events or having fun in a park.
Kapiti Island Nature Reserve Kapiti is one of New Zealand’s most valuable nature reserves, and it is the only large island sanctuary for birds between the Hauraki Gulf in the north and New Zealand’s southern outlying islands. Nature reserves are areas set aside for the protection of native plants and animals, where human influence is kept to a minimum. Every effort is made to minimize the adverse effects of any introduced plants or animals that have managed to establish on the island. Most people never get an opportunity to visit nature reserves because access to them is so difficult. Kapiti is one of a few relatively accessible island nature reserves. It provides an opportunity for people to observe birds that are either very rare or absent from the mainland.
ZEALANDIA: The Karori Sanctuary Experience ZEALANDIA is a safe haven for endangered native birds and other wildlife, located minutes from downtown Wellington. A unique predator-proof fence surrounds the sanctuary, protecting the wildlife and ensuring the forest regenerates to its former glory. This world-first conservation attraction is an inspiring place to visit and learn about New Zealand’s unique wildlife. Discover New Zealand as it was - today.
Wellington Zoo Wellington Zoo is a magical place of learning and fun, leaving visitors with a sense of wonder and respect for nature. The zoo holds a belief in the need for a sustainable co-existence between wildlife and people, and is known throughout Australasia for the high quality of the animals’ environment and for its husbandry and welfare practices.
Museum of Wellington This popular museum tells the tales of Wellington. Immerse yourself in a past that is both dark and colorful. Experience the events, people and cultures that have defined New Zealand’s capital city. Wellington is fused with the ocean. Our history is maritime and commercial, our people sea-faring and land-dwelling. This successful combination is chronicled in the museum, in permanent and changing exhibitions. The Bond Store on Queens Wharf is the museum’s home. This century-old building is a national treasure, and a permanent fixture on Wellington’s ever changing waterfront.
Parks and Recreation Scenic reserves, forest parks, wildlife centers, wetlands and islands near Wellington city incorporate a range of natural, historic, scientific, and recreational values, highlighting the region’s diverse landscape. Our forest parks offer back country experiences close to urban areas, while wildlife habitats, like Kapiti and Mana Islands and the National Wildlife Centre at Pukaha Mount Bruce, showcase New Zealand’s indigenous species.