25 things to do in wellington

bicycle the city

One of my most favourite things to do in Wellington is to pick up an e-bike from Ryan at Switched On Bikes and take off for a foray around the bays. With a pretty good network of bike lanes and off-road trails for bikes, you can very easily get from the city around Oriental Parade and into Evan Bay. Once, I went clear around Miramar, which was pretty phenomenal as I didn’t think I’d get there. An electric bike in Wellington is ideal; the hills can be tough to get up and around without it, and you can go as fast as 26km/hour.

interact at te papa

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Wellington’s biggest museum is not only well-designed and incredibly informative, it’s also a kids paradise (big kids too.) With a majority of the exhibits interactive, it’s a place that you can literally spend days at. My recommendation: go more than once (it’s free.) Currently there is an exhibit on Gallipoli running through 2018. It’s incredible.

have a sunrise (or sunset) picnic on mt vic

The climb to Mount Victoria winds through tall pines and stone remnants of another era, but it’s a short hike and the view from the top is well worth it. Go early with your coffee or late with an afternoon picnic. You can drive up, but personally, the walk is what makes the view worth it.

get your coffee on

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Wellingtonians love their coffee – I think almost everyone has a favourite cafe and roastery – so it should come as no surprise that Wellington has a cafe on every corner and a couple in between. I’ve had the chance to explore a few of them. Try Flight Coffee at Memphis Belle, or Coffee Supreme at Customs Brew Bar.

explore the hidden lanes

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A city that takes its coffee and its beer seriously should also take seriously the need for tiny alleyways in which the best places hide. I definitely recommend Hannahs Laneway, just off Cuba Street, for a yummy bakery, chocolate shop and beer garden (really, what more do you want?!)

take a dive into the harbour

It’s a little chilly here now, but that hasn’t stopped kids from leaping off the platforms into the water. During the summer, expect to see more people doing that – there’s the platforms by mac’s (above) and there’s also a wooden diving board. Polar plunge, anyone?

follow the craft beer trail

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If you haven’t picked up on it: Wellingtonians love their beer as much as they love their coffee. And they don’t just like beer, they brew it. From Fork and Brewer to Garage Project, these guys know what they are doing. Hit the Capital Craft Beer Trail and try some of Wellington’s local brews. Bonus point if you finish the trail.

venture out to the night market

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Cuba Street is Wellington’s hipster central, and you should definitely hang out there during the day, but the Night Market attracts all sorts of people and is a international mix of food and entertainment. Think of it like the Asian night markets and your mouth will be watering before you even get there.

ride the historic cable car

wander through the botanical gardens 

Once you’ve gotten to the top via cable car, take your time wandering back down through the Australian garden, the cacti and succulent and rock gardens, all on your way to the rose garden – simply beautiful – and the begonia house. There’s also a peace garden, with a flame lit from flames from the atomic bomb dropped at Hiroshima, and a poppy field commemorating the thousands dead on the western fronts in World War One.

bask in the sun at oriental beach

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Wellington’s only city beach, Oriental Beach teems with people in the summer. Located just past Te Papa and the waterfront promenade, there’s still plenty to do once the sun goes down. Fun fact: the sand is imported from the South Island.

day trip to kapiti coast

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Less than 40 miles up the coast is Paraparaumu, the start of the Kapiti coast. A train takes about an hour out there, and there are some gorgeous cliffside walks and cute shops. Walk the trail back toward Wellington and pick up the train at a closer town.

search for seals at red rocks

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Only ten minutes from the city is Owhiro Beach/Island Bay, the start of the Red Rocks walkway. The trail wends its way out across the red rocks and stops out near a seal colony off the south coast. You can also walk up the hill for some good views out over the water (20 minutes.)

cross the harbour for a day at eastbourne and days bay

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Eastbourne, Wellington’s cross-harbour neighbour, is a charming village with art galleries, cafes and great beaches at Days Bay. Facing the west, it gets some of the best sun in the afternoon, making it the perfect spot for a late lunch or early dinner. 20 minutes by ferry/personal car or 1 hour by bus.

visit matiu/somes island

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Matiu/Somes island is in many ways similar to the Smithsonian’s Barro Colorado Island in Panama: a scientific nature reserve. Located in the centre of Wellington harbour, Matiu/Somes Island is predator-free and you will undergo biosecurity checks upon arrival. Ferrys depart from Queens Wharf or Days Bay.

pretend you’re in an ancient world

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The folks up at Zealandia, high on the hills west of the city, have created a massive eco-sanctuary that mimics what New Zealand looked like pre-civilisation. Tours go multiple times a day and you can even take a night tour in hopes of seeing the nocturnal kiwi.

have a close encounter at the wellington zoo

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The Wellington Zoo might be tiny, but it’s a top spot to visit here in Wellington. With the only bears in New Zealand, vets that work to save endangered animals, and a conservation team that is also carbon-conscious, the zoo is well worth a visit. You can pay extra for a “close encounter” with cheetahs, lions or giraffes.

relax at scorching bay beach

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On the east side of Miramar, the peninsula that juts out from the city centre, is Scorching Bay. With a great little cafe across the street, this is arguably one of Wellington’s best/most picturesque beaches.

follow the wellington writers walk

Scattered across the harbour are a series of quotes from great Kiwi writers, etched in stone and found in some rather unusual spots. Follow the trail or just stumble upon one while wandering the waterfront (that’s what I do!)

find a hideaway

As I discovered on Tuesday, there are tons of little nooks and crannies in Wellington, where you can bask in the sun or shade and read a book or chat with friends. The one i find the most intriguing is in the Bolton St cemetery behind The Terrace. There’s also the city to sea bridge, where you can relax on one of the many benches that make up the tribal influenced bridge, Te Aro park and the laneways.

weekend farmers markets 

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The markets at Oriental Bay are great. Every Sunday, I hit the farmers markets early for fresh produce from local farms, local coffees, homemade jams, breads, beauty products, etc. The City Market, inside the Harbourside building, is your best bet for more upscale stuff, the street markets on Willis and Cable are all produce. And there are some great food trucks as well, serving up anything from crepes to dumplings.

explore the music scene

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Wellington has a great music scene. Most bars feature live music at least once a week, plus the record shops that grace Cuba and Taranaki streets. The native tastes range from reggae to hip hop to rock, and there’s a huge underground movement as well. The best venue is Bodega, on Ghuznee Street, or the San Fran Bath House on Cuba Street. Read more about Wellington’s music scene here.

shop the underground market

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Every Saturday from 10-4, Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront plays host to the Underground Market. A wide range of artisan works. From January to March, the same people host the pop up village on the waterfront, outside of Te Papa, and there’s also a Christmas market on Sundays in December.

bicycle through martinborough wine country

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Take a day trip out of Wellington to the Martinborough wine region, a lovely fertile area just to the northeast of Wellington. Rent a bicycle and head off into the vineyards, or drive from winery to winery. If you’re lucky enough to be here in November, head to Toast Martinborough, a wine festival that showcases the best of Martinborough wines.

walk (or run) the skyline trail

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The 12km skyline trail links the outer green belt ridges. It can be strenuous, according to the trail notes, so “reasonable fitness” is required. Pack a lunch and head up; it should take you about five hours, give or take. It also links up with Mt Kaukau, if you are interested. Read the trail description here.

Wellingtonians – what did I miss? What’s your favourite thing to do in the city? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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