Wellington city guide: 24 hours in the New Zealand capital

The world’s most southerly capital city, Wellington manages to have a big-city buzz but with a compact centre that’s easy to explore, which means it’s easy to pack in plenty of the city’s highlights if you have 24 hours in the New Zealand capital.

Set at the bottom of the North Island, looking out to its attractive harbour and the waters of the Cook Strait beyond, we’ve picked out how to spend a morning, afternoon and evening, plus more tips and inspiration in our Wellington city guide.

Where is Wellington, New Zealand?

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. It is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state

What’s the climate like in Wellington?

Wellington has a temperate marine climate, so the average high temperatures range between around 12C and 21C, and with lows hovering around 7C even in the midwinter months of June, July and August (New Zealand’s seasons are reversed from the UK and Europe thanks to its home in the Southern Hemisphere).

Wellington is also famous for its strong winds, the world’s windiest city by average wind speed. The city is located in the Roaring Forties, between 40 and 50 degrees latitude, where gale-force westerly winds aren’t uncommon, which combine with its position by the waters of the Cook Strait. Set in the only major gap between the mountains running the length of the North and South Islands, so winds are funnelled through this passage, getting stronger as they pass Wellington. This isn’t a city to use an umbrella!

How big is Wellington?

Wellington is the third largest city in New Zealand, after Auckland and Christchurch, with a population of around 208,800. The urban centre covers an area of around 43 square miles, although the entire metropolitan area stretches for around 170 square miles

Is Wellington easy for tourists to get around?

Absolutely. It’s ranked as the most walkable city in New Zealand, thanks to its compact size, pedestrian areas and lots of green space, while its public transport system is the most used in the country per capita, including ferries and a funicular along with buses and suburban trains.

How many days should you spend in Wellington?

Ideally, you should spend two to three days in Wellington, which gives you time to explore some of the city’s biggest highlights, plus chance to explore the wider Wellington area. But if you’ve only got 24 hours in Wellington, you can get a great feel for the city in one to two days too.

Wellington

24 hours in Wellington: what to do morning, noon and night

Our New Zealand tours usually give you slightly over a day to explore the country’s capital, so you’ll have enough time to get your bearings, perhaps on a quick orientation tour, as well as 24 hours in Wellington. Here’s how to spend them.

Spending the morning in Wellington

Wellington’s must-see attraction is Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, so make that your first stop of the day. This fantastic introduction to the country’s natural and cultural history is filled with exciting exhibitions and interactive attractions, along with some fantastic collections of Māori art and artefacts, providing a unique insight into New Zealand’s heritage. With 800,000 artworks, cultural artefacts, archives and other displays spread across six floors, you can expect to spend at least three hours at Te Papa.

Spending lunchtime in Wellington

Coffee and craft beer are big business in Wellington, so you’ll always be able to find a great little spot for a flat white or a pint, not to mention some attractive brunch and lunch places. Head to Cuba Street, and the blocks surrounding it, where you’ll stumble across plenty of tempting options amid the boutique and vintage shops. Not far away, Hannah’s Laneway (aka Leeds Street) is one of the city’s best-known pedestrian laneways, with everything from artisan chocolate to pizza among the foodie delights and street art.

Or head down to the waterfront, where you can choose from a variety of restaurants and cafes overlooking the harbour. Queen’s Wharf has everything from fantastic seafood to laid-back lunch spots, or stroll to Customhouse Quay and Cable Street nearby.

Spending the afternoon in Wellington

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to ways to spend an afternoon in Wellington. Hop on the red cable car which has connected Wellington and Kelburn Village for 120 years, to soak up the views, before heading to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. Sprawling over 25 hilly hectares, you’ll find a protected native forest and some colourful floral displays, with sculptures dotted along the paths.

If you love the great outdoors, there are some fantastic ways to get active including walking trails, or even a hike up Mount Victoria. For something less challenging, hire a bike to pedal along the waterfront, or kayak around the harbour to see the city from the water, before relaxing on the city’s beaches, including Oriental Bay and Lyall Bay.

There’s culture too at Wellington’s art galleries, such as the City Gallery, but film fans won’t want to miss the Weta Workshop in the heart of Wellywood, to go behind the scenes and learn more about movie effects, costumes, props and more from the creative talents behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as Dune, Avatar and a string of other blockbuster films.

Or step back in time to Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, a 225 hectare ecosanctuary just a few minutes’ drive from the city. The aim is to restore the valley to the way it was in pre-human times, with an 8.6km fence to keep out predators, and it has already reintroduced 23 native species into the region, such as the rare spotted kiwi, alongside many which hadn’t been seen for more than a century. Or join a twilight tour and explore by torchlight to see nocturnal creatures emerging at dusk.

Spending an evening in Wellington

Save time for a glass or two of New Zealand wine at one of the great restaurants in the heart of Wellington, with anything from Italian to dim sum on the menu.

Want some history with your meal? The Thistle Inn has stood in the same spot on Mulgrave Street, Thorndon since 1840, and the gastropub is the country’s oldest surviving tavern. Or Boulcott Street Bistro is set in an 1870s Victorian cottage, serving classic bistro dishes with a modern twist.

There’s live jazz to go with the modern European menu at Hummingbird, a stone’s throw from the St James Theatre, where you’ll find everything from opera and dance to live music on the bill. Or check out a show, with drama at the Downstage Theatre nearby.

What sights of New Zealand can you reach from Wellington?

Wellington also makes a great base to explore further afield, with some fantastic things to do in New Zealand’s South Island nearby.

Some of the wineries of the Wairarapa region are only around an hour away by car, or it’s a similar distance to Kapiti Island, one the country’s oldest natural reserves. Heaven for bird-watchers, it’s also a good place to discover more about the area’s Māori heritage. The picturesque Hutt Valley is on the doorstep too, with cycle trails and walking routes along the coast by the Cook Strait, or head out to Cape Palliser to see the seal colony which makes its home here.

If you’re travelling further north into the North Island, the Art Deco town of Napier is around four hours away, as are the bubbling mud pools of Rotorua. Heading to the South Island? It’s a three-hour ferry ride to Picton, named one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world. It’s always worth remembering that New Zealand’s geography, particular its long thin shape, means that there are often long drives between destinations.

Explore Wellington on one of our escorted tours of New Zealand