Step into the past with Walk Wellington
Perfect for travellers and locals alike, explore the city and hear past tales of this compact and interesting city on a walking tour
Where
Wellington CBD
Contact
Details
Adults $20, children under 16 free
Wellington’s history may be relatively young, but it’s varied and interesting, with many characters and moments that have shaped the people and place into what it is today.
Walk Wellington offers a glimpse into the stories of our capital city at a gentle pace your cheerful guide, well versed on the city’s streets, buildings and landmarks takes you through the compact centre and reveals the tales within.
Stopping at top locations of note, you’ll wind your way from the waterfront up through to the Parliament grounds and beyond. Over 2.5 hours you’ll hear about pivotal moments and milestones for the country, as well as quirky anecdotes. Travellers and locals alike are sure to learn something about our capital they didn’t know before.
Did you know the larger marble structure in Te Ngākau Civic Square with its cap represents and the smaller one is ? Or did you know that Wellington Town Hall originally had an ornate clock tower, which was removed following the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake? Or that the remains of an old three-masted sailing vessel lie below Old Bank Arcade?
The city’s many sculptures are the tip of the iceberg. The guide also offers information about the land reclamation project; important characters such as John Plimmer, Katherine Mansfield and William Clayton; and the significance of certain buildings and landmarks.
The guide manages to pack a lot into a relatively short span of time, also offering tips and advice for where you can continue to explore the many sides of the city - be it more of the colonial past, Māori settlement and culture, or creative expression and architecture.
Every tour covers the same top main landmarks, however, each has its own distinct style determined by your guide on the day. As volunteers, all of the guides are passionate about Wellington and its history and take you beyond the guidebooks.
The main tour offered is the Essential Wellington Walk, departing daily at 10am from the isite. On this excursion, you’ll visit the waterfront, downtown, the Old Government Building and Parliament grounds, and Old St Paul’s. In the warmer months, you can also take the Summer Evening Walk, commencing at 5pm to make the most of the twilight hours. Group walks are available on request and can be curated to suit your areas of interest. All tours are a great entry into Wellington or refresher on a city you may already know and love.
A fantastic way to familiarise yourself with the city of Wellington and its interesting history. A great mix of places visited and great local insight, highly recommend!
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