WellingtonSee & Do
An adult and child walk alongside a fountain at the Wellington Botanic Gardens ki Paekākā. Pink and red roses surround them.

Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā

You’ll find manicured rose gardens, winding pathways and spectacular views over more than 25 hectares.

Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā encompasses 25 hectares of specialised plant collections, colourful botanical displays, a unique landscape, a protected native forest, and views over Wellington city. It is a vast tract of land that has offered relaxation, playtime, shade, and education about flora and fauna for more than 150 years.

You’ll find the gardens sitting on the border of the city centre and only a few minutes walk from Parliament. A wonderland of winding paths, flat parklands, and hill climbs with breathtaking views awaits you. There’s a sound shell for concerts, children’s playgrounds, glow worm caves, and a sculpture walk. Children will love visiting the duck pond. You can also access the Cable Car Museum, Space Place, and Bolton Cemetery (New Zealand’s oldest European cemetery). All this while the thrum of bird and insect life serenades you. Whether it’s your first or your hundredth visit, this vast garden paradise will enchant and surprise you.

The gardens host a programme of annual events. Gardens Magic brings music and performance alongside lights and art, while the Spring Festival and Tulip Sunday celebrate the changing seasons.

An adult and two children crouch by the duckpond at the Botanic Garden in Wellington. There are green trees and a gazebo structure beside them.
Gardens Magic, an annual concert series, happening at Wellington Botanic Garden.
Looking through yellow rose bushes at the exterior of the Begonia House with a domed roof and long windows.
A blooming flowerbed with red, orange, white and yellow flowers at Wellington Botanic Garden.

The Wellington Botanic Garden is one of the oldest in Aotearoa. It contains a series of curated collections and seasonal displays. Every detail of the manicured expanse is designed and cared for by a team of dedicated staff. The international and native range includes collections of dwarf conifers, camellias, harakeke (flax), ferns, grasses, and threatened species. The Begonia House offers exotic tropical plants overlooking a vast rose garden.

The area where the garden lies has been an important site for generations. When Europeans arrived, there were already well-established pā at Pipitea and Kumutoto. The Pipitea Pā inhabitants used the area for food cultivation, building materials, food, fibre, medicine, and birds for food.

In 1844, the New Zealand Company set aside a 5-hectare strip of land to start a botanic garden reserve. At that time the area had dense podocarp forest including rimu, totara, and mataī. By 1868, it had become the Wellington Botanic Garden. Now, it’s recognised as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, as well as an important Heritage Area by the Historic Places Trust.

An adult and two children sit on a bench in front of a pond, surrounded by green plants, inside the greenhouse at Wellington Botanic Garden.
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A family walks through kapiti island with green bush and blue water surrounding them.

Kapiti Island

Kapiti Island is a 20-minute ferry from Paraparaumu Beach. A dominant feature of the Kapiti coastline, the reserve is home to many endangered species.

The monument at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is located in, Te Aro, Wellington.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

A short walk from the centre of Wellington lies Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. It is a place to reflect on and remember New Zealand’s experience of war.

A family with a young child play with piglets on the grass at Staglands.

Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Nestled in Wellington’s Hutt Valley, you’ll find Staglands Wildlife Reserve, a kid-friendly experience where you can interact with native animals.

Two people sit in the grass with their bicycles lying nearby at Mount Victoria lookout in Wellington, New Zealand with a view of the city centre, the bay and rolling hills in the distance.

Trail and a treat: Outdoor combos in Wellington

The city’s hills, beaches, and trails offer much opportunity to experience nature. Fuel your adventure with a stop-off at one of the excellent eateries offers nearby.

The exterior of Te Papa Tongarewa, half glass and half concrete.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

New Zealand’s national museum reflects the country’s identity, history, and culture.

The exterior of the New Zealand Parliament building at 1 Museum Street, Pipitea in Wellington at sunset with pink-coloured clouds in the sky above.

New Zealand Parliament Tours

Go behind the scenes of the Beehive and Parliament House with a free tour to understand more about New Zealand's history and how democracy works.

A family walking through the trees of Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre.

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre

Explore the forest, meet native birds, and learn about our connection to the land at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre at Mount Bruce in the Wairarapa region.

The teal-coloured Ika Rere electric ferry leaves its berth on the Wellington waterfront to head out into the harbour. The Wellington skyline is behind it.

East By West Ferries

Sail Wellington’s harbour with East by West Ferries from Queens Wharf to Days Bay and Mātiu/Somes Island. Enjoy stunning views then some outdoor activities.

3 people wearing black, appreciating art works on the white wall inside City Gallery.

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi

Wellington’s contemporary art gallery has temporarily moved to the National Library of New Zealand but is still bringing its changing suite of exhibitions.

Entrance to He Tohu at The National Library of New Zealand.

He Tohu at National Library of New Zealand

Located at the National Library of New Zealand, He Tohu displays the Treaty of Waitangi, the Women’s Suffrage Petition, and the Declaration of Independence.