Wellington

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Te Papa

New Zealand's national museum contains interesting exhibitions on the country's history and culture and includes several shops. It has the only complete colossal squid on display.

Daily 10AM-6PM, closed 25 Dec · Free for NZ citizens (except for the occasional special presentation), $35 for 48hr international visitor ticket · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

City Gallery

Runs a consistently avant-garde set of exhibits, with no permanent collection. In it's usual location has an excellent café, Nikau, attached to it.

Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat 9AM-1PM · Wheelchair accessible

Wellington Museum

formerly Museum of Wellington City & Sea

A well-presented museum of the history of Wellington, including its maritime history.

Daily 10AM-5PM, closed 25 Dec · Free for NZ residents, $16 for international visitors · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Zealandia

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary

A predator-proof fence encloses an old water catchment area, forming a mainland island that provides a natural haven for endangered native birds, tuatara, wētā, and other indigenous flora and fauna, safe from introduced predators. By far the most convenient place in the country to see rare New Zealand wildlife.

Daily 9AM-4:30PM (last entry 4PM), closed 25 Dec · Adult $26, child (5-17) $10, more for guided day tours & night tours · Limited wheelchair access · Wheelchair accessible

Carter Observatory

Space Place

Offers a state of the art planetarium show, along with multimedia exhibits that show how early Māori, Polynesian and European settlers navigated their way to New Zealand.

Daily 10AM-5PM · $18 · Wheelchair accessible

Bucket Fountain

a real splash, for many years. The Bucket Fountain is an iconic kinetic sculpturet. It consists of a series of "buckets" that fill with water until they tip, spilling their load into the buckets and pool below. The fountain was designed by Burren and Keen and erected in 1969.

Wheelchair accessible

Wrights Hill

More views, and World War II underground tunnels which are open to the public on public holidays for a small fee.

Open 4 days per year · $10

New Zealand Portrait Gallery

The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata is an art gallery in the Waterfront Shed 11 building in Wellington, New Zealand.

daily 10:30AM - 4:30PM · free · Free entry · Built 1905

Turnbull House

This imposing brick mansion now seems small and out of place amongst the surrounding high-rises. It is closed for renovation.

Massey Memorial

An interesting place to go if you want to see a large memorial in the middle of nowhere, with a good view of the surrounding harbour. The memorial's namesake is William Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1912 and 1925.

National Library of New Zealand

The library regularly holds exhibitions.

Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-13:00; PH closed

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

A tall Art Deco carillon was dedicated in 1932, the Hall of Memories opened in 1964, and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was built in 2004. There are Australian, Belgian, French, Turkish, UK and US memorials and some sculptures in the wider park, which was opened in 2015.

Park always open; National War Memorial interior daily 10AM-5PM · Free

Nairn Street Cottage

Preserved cottage built in 1858 and kept in the same family until it became a museum, with an exhibition on its history. The small garden is open every day..

daily tours at noon, 2PM, and 3PM · $8

Frank Kitts Park

A great place to wander around, with walls to climb, inline skates, and jet ski rental.

Logan Brown

In the former banking chamber of an historic banking building.

Mains around $40, early bird dinner special $45 per person

Beach Babylon

A retro, beach-paradise inspired cafe and restaurant with Wellington's best outdoor dining area. Serves good, retro New Zealand cuisine.

8AM-late · $10-30 · Limited wheelchair access · Takeaway · Outdoor seating

Aunty Mena's Vegetarian Restaurant and Cafe

Vegan Malaysian/Chinese food. Friendly staff & a homely atmosphere.

Lunch & dinner daily · $10-20 · Takeaway · Wheelchair accessible · Vegan options

Caffe L’affare

Founded by an Italian and with its own roastery that supplies coffee to cafés and supermarkets across the country.

Mon–Fri 7AM-4PM, Sat 8AM-4PM, Sun 9AM-4PM · Limited wheelchair access · Vegan options

Maranui

In the surf life-saving club buildings at Lyall Bay (near the airport). Relax in front of a panorama of the beach and the Cook Strait.

Mo-Su 07:00-17:00 · Outdoor seating · Vegan options

Fisherman's Plate

Looks like your average family-run fish-and-chips shop, but they also do excellent Vietnamese food, with an emphasis on noodle soups.

Mo-Sa 11:00-15:00,17:00-21:00; Su,PH off · $5-15 · Wheelchair accessible · Vegetarian options

Boulcott Street Bistro

Modern bistro. Classic combinations, fresh ingredients, attentive service.

Bistro Lunch Mon-Fri from noon, Bistro Dinner Mon-Sat from 6PM, Wine bar all day Mon-Fri, reservations accepted for lunch only. Private room available for groups of 10-16 · Starters $14-21, mains $29-35

Great India

Very well-known restaurant. Has won the Wine & Food challenge for several years running.

Mo-Fr 12:00-14:00; Sa-Su 12:00-15:00

Pravda Café & Grill

Pravda means “The Truth” in Russian, but here it is a cafe, bistro, bar and restaurant. The coffee is strong, the food is diverse and of a high standard.

early to late · $8-40

Viva Mexico

Taco shop, rather than a full restaurant like the Newtown restaurant.

Tue–Sun noon-9PM · $10-20

Deluxe

Nestled beside the Embassy Theatre, Deluxe is the ideal pre-movie meeting place. Portions are well-sized and the food is tasty.

Havana Bar

Attached to the popular Havana Coffee Works. Near the top of Cuba St in an old character house, it is a nice place to listen to some jazz or just relax out in the outside courtyard bar.

Satay Kingdom

This is the student Malaysian restaurant. On most evenings you will find it overflowing with people coming in for its cheap and hearty food. But don't be put off by the large numbers, the service is incredibly fast with food often arriving at your table before you if you're not quick!

Brooklyn Wind Turbine

Another great place to go to get an excellent view of the city, the harbour, and Cook Strait, plus experience the wind! The current turbine was installed in 2016 and is the second on the site; the first was erected in 1993 to test the potential of turning Wellington's infamous wind into electricity.

The Enormous Crocodile

Explore the waterfront in a crocodile-shaped quadricycle. Available in small (2 cyclists) and large (4 cyclists).

Daily 10AM-6PM · $18+

Otari-Wilton's Bush

100 hectare botanic garden of native forest.

visitor centre daily 8AM - 4PM, gardens dawn - dusk