Discover Wellington
Wrapped around a beautiful harbour and surrounded by nature, Wellington is fun, compact and easy to explore. There's a very social vibe to the city, with countless restaurants, cafés and bars offering superb casual dining experiences. Catch a show, visit museums and galleries, get out on the harbour, wander the waterfront or raise your heartrate on a nature walk close to the city with spectacular harbour views from the hills.
Air NZ flights to Wellington
Air New Zealand flies to Wellington from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Honolulu via Auckland. With our long-haul fares, you can choose from Economy, Premium Economy, or Business Premier™ to Auckland and then Economy class from Auckland to Wellington. Refer to the table below for flight duration from different origin cities.
Where to go and what to do in Wellington
To experience the buzz of Wellington, simply hit the streets or head to the waterfront promenade. Everything's within easy walking distance and there's always something new going on. You'll soon discover why Wellington is such a popular destination with people from all over New Zealand who are looking for a refreshing short break or weekend away.
Enjoy creative arts and culture
A walk down bohemian Cuba Street will connect you with Wellington's creative roots. You'll see art galleries, boutique shops, vintage clothing stores, one-of-a-kind cafes, street performers and the famous Bucket Fountain. The city is also sprinkled with street art and a great collection of public art - to view 17 of the most significant works, follow the city sculpture walk.
NZ's national museum, Te Papa, is one of Wellington's top attractions. With cutting-edge and interactive exhibitions, Te Papa aims to change hearts, minds and lives. It's a perfect place to immerse yourself in Māori and Pacific culture, New Zealand history, natural wonders, contemporary and historical art and more.
Continue your Weta experience with a Weta Studio Tour, where you'll go behind-the-scenes to learn the secrets of movies like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Avatar, Thunderbirds are Go and many more. You'll get to see artists at work, as well as miniatures, props, armour, weapons, vehicles, creatures and models.
Live theatre is a big part of the Wellington lifestyle and there are always several great shows on offer. When you're planning a trip to Wellington, check ahead on WellingtonNZ.com to see what will be on when you visit and book early to avoid a sell-out.
Discover delicious flavours
The creativity of Wellington continues in its innovative restaurant kitchens and craft beer brew bars. Eating out in Wellington is pure pleasure. From award-winning breakfast cafés and harbour-side seafood lunches to fine dining establishments and night food markets, you're never far from a delectable eating experience. For inside tips, sign up for one of the popular walking food tours of Wellington.
If you like coffee, you'll love visiting Wellington. CNN Travel included Wellington in its top eight international coffee destinations. There are around 15 coffee roasteries in the Wellington region and a café on almost every corner. Craft beer is another celebrated beverage. Keep an eye out for inner-city brew bars, dedicated craft beer bars, beer tours and restaurants that specialise in matching each dish to the perfect brew.
Get active in nature
Wellington's tree-lined hills provide great opportunities to raise your heart rate and enjoy spectacular views. A local favourite with walkers, runners and mountain bikers is the Mount Victoria Lookout Walkway - it takes about one and a half hours to complete if you're walking.
From the top of the Wellington Cable Car, you can wander through Wellington's 25-hectare Botanic Garden or catch a free shuttle bus to Zealandia, Wellington's must-visit wildlife sanctuary. This world-first fully fenced, eco-sanctuary covers a 225-hectare forested valley and reservoir lake. It's home to more than 40 native bird species, as well as native reptiles and countless native plants. To get the most from your visit, book a guided tour. They operate during the day, at twilight and at night.
Experiencing the city from the water is another great way to approach Wellington sightseeing. You can hire kayaks or paddle boards from the wharf area or take a guided kayak tour. If you'd rather keep your feet dry, pack a picnic and catch a ferry to Matiu/Somes Island in the middle of the harbour. The island is a predator-free scientific reserve with a 40-minute loop track, 360° harbour and city views, historic quarantine buildings and a vintage lighthouse.
Top 10 fun things to do in Wellington
- Visit Te Papa
Bold and imaginative, New Zealand's national museum offers a remarkably engaging experience. - Explore arty Cuba Street
Known for its bohemian culture, Cuba Street is refreshingly humorous and arty in a world that often takes itself far too seriously. - Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car
From the heart of the CBD, ride the iconic cable car to enjoy spectacular views, the cable car museum and the tranquillity of Wellington Botanic Garden. - Taste local craft beer
You'll find plenty of boutique breweries, brew-bars and pubs waiting to help you explore the city's legendary craft beer scene. - Visit Weta movie studios
Discover the filmmaking innovations behind The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and more on a Weta Studio Tour. - Meet extraordinary wildlife
At Zealandia, a 225-hectare urban ecosanctuary, you can unwind in the company of rare native birds, reptiles, frogs and plants. - Tour Parliament buildings
Take a guided tour to explore the architecture, heritage, processes and protocols behind New Zealand's democratic government. - Stroll around the waterfront
Downtown Wellington wraps around a beautiful harbour and there's a 2km walkway from the old wharves to the golden sand beach at Oriental Bay. - Explore the city's fascinating past
Immerse yourself in fascinating local stories at Wellington Museum, which was recently voted one of the Top 50 museums in the world. - Dine out in the culinary capital
Wellington has perfected the art of casual socialising, with restaurants, cafes, food trucks and boutique bars making the most of exceptional local produce and seafood.
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Keep exploring Wellington
Essential information
Best time to visit Wellington
You can feel confident about visiting Wellington in any season. Summer is usually quieter in the CBD, because business travellers are fewer, and in spring the city pulses with excitement as the World of Wearable Art Show takes to the stage at TSB Arena. Average highs range from 20°C in summer to around 12°C in winter. The city experiences a lot of glorious weather but can be windy, so pack a rain jacket and a robust umbrella.
How much will it cost?
This will depend on your tastes and what you want to do. As a rough guide, not including air travel and hotels, you should allow about NZD $100 to $150 a day per person for food and entertainment.
Visas
If you're visiting Wellington from overseas you might need a visa to holiday in New Zealand, depending on where you're from and how long you're staying. Please check you meet all entry and transit requirements for your travel.
| Flight route | Flight time* | Stops** | Days | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL) | 12h 50m | Non-stop | M,T,W,T,F,S,S | Find flights |
| San Francisco (SFO) to Auckland (AKL) | 12h 55m | Non-stop | M,T,W,T,F,S,S | Find flights |
| Houston (IAH) to Auckland (AKL) | 14h 45m | Non-stop | M,T,W,T,F,S,S | Find flights |
| Chicago (ORD) to Auckland (AKL) | 16h 10m | Non-stop | W,F,Su | Find flights |
| Honolulu (HNL) to Auckland (AKL) | 9h 5m | Non-stop | Th, F, Sa | Find flights |
| New York (EWR) to Auckland (AKL) | 17h 40m | Non-stop | M,Th,Sa | Find flights |
| Auckland (AKL) to Wellington (WLG) | 1h 5m | Non-stop | M,T,W,T,F,S,S | Find flights |
Cheap flights to Wellington
Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland (AKL)
San Francisco (SFO) to Auckland (AKL)
Houston (IAH) to Auckland (AKL)
Chicago (ORD) to Auckland (AKL)
Honolulu (HNL) to Auckland (AKL)
New York (EWR) to Auckland (AKL)
Auckland (AKL) to Wellington (WLG)
*The above table reflects sample flight duration and days of frequency. Please check our flight timetable for specific dates before booking.