Top 5 tourist attractions in Wellington

Wellington is a beautiful city, sitting by the harbour and rolling hills. This multicultural city is so diverse that you will explore rich history in world-famous te papa in the morning and bohemian vibes of Cuba street at night. You relax, hike, walk, eat, and drink, all in the same place. The best thing about Wellington is all the major attractions are very accessible from the city centre. Hire a minibus in Wellington and get to your destination in no time. Here are the top 5 tourist attractions in Wellington. 

Wellington Cable Car

Riding the Wellington Cable Car is one of the must-do activities while visiting Wellington. This historic cable car is an exciting way to get to many of Wellington’s best locations, including the Botanic Garden, the Carter Observatory, Kelburn Lookout and more. The Cable Car leaves every 10-15 minutes from Lambton Quay. Kelburn Lookout offers an excellent view of Wellington cityscape. Rather than climbing up to the Kelburn Lookout, taking the scenic cable car route lets you enjoy the glorious view along the way. 

Tunnels lit up with colourful lights at night time so, it is even more fun and beautiful at night. To know more about Wellington’s historic cable car, visit The Cable Car Museum at the Kelburn cable car terminal. Explore the history of cable car through original artefacts, photographs and interactive exhibitions and a short film. Entry to the museum is free. 

Wellington Waterfront

Wellington Waterfront is a beautiful place to visit in Wellington. You can spend an entire day here. There are a lot of activities around the Wellington Waterfront that the whole family can participate. Activities like kayaking, pedal boating, biking, running, and skating are popular amongst locals and tourist alike. Walks along the park is a great way to spend summer days. You can take one of their heritage trails and see various artworks and sculpture as you walk. 

You will find decent cafes and restaurant in the waterfront where you can relax. If you have kids accompanying, Frank Kitts Park is a favourite playground for children. The park hosts Wellington Underground Market every Saturday. It is a great place to shop from local designer and artists. If you are visiting during the summer, you can take part in many summer city events.

Cuba Street

Cuba Street is one of Wellington’s famous streets. This vibrant and colourful street is sure to lift your spirits. It is full of cafes, galleries, events, shops, and bars. In this free spirit place, you will find an impressive mix of high-end fine dining restaurants and funky cafes. Logan Brown, Martha’s Pantry, Midnight Espresso and Fidel’s Cafe are some of the best places to eat. 

Cuba Street is famous for its groovy music cafes. Head to Matterhorn to listen to Wellington’s best musicians. There are vintage shops for furniture, clothes, jewellery, shoes and much more. The street is buzzing with street entertainers like unicyclist, painters, and DJs. Cuba Street houses Wellington Night Market, treat yourself with delicious food, some retail therapy and relaxing massage.     

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the best place to explore the history of Maori people country formation. This interactive national museum offers a plethora of exhibitions. Eleven galleries showcase the artwork of local artists. The highlight of the museum is the Mana Whenua exhibition. This exhibition tracks the history of New Zealand’s Maori people with an excellent collection of Maori art, treasures and state-of-the-art multimedia displays. Earthquake House is a popular attraction of the museum. It is an earthquake simulation room.

Mount Victoria

Mount Victoria offers a panoramic view of Wellington city. For the perfect look, hike up to the Mount Victoria Lookout. The Mount Victoria Wellington Lookout Walk leads to this stunning viewpoint. It sits 196 metres high, offering stunning harbour and ocean view. The lookout is also accessible by a car or bus. On a breezy summer morning, it is a lovely place for walking, mountain biking and jogging. At the summit, near the viewpoint, there is a memorial to Richard Byrd, the American aviator. Walking path leading to the lookout can be muddy and slippery so, make sure to wear appropriate footwear.