WellingtonEvents
Band performing on stage at Newtown Festival, looking out towards the street packed full of people

The city’s most colourful suburb delivers the country’s largest street fair.

The beloved Newtown Festival returns for its 32nd year. This Wellington event calendar highlight delivers Aotearoa’s largest free music festival and street party. Multiple streets are closed off across the inner suburb and opened up to people of all ages. Live music can be found across 16 stages featuring 200 artists across the day. More than 420 stalls deliver food, crafts, clothes, retro finds, and art. 

There are heaps of activities and street performances as well, so bring your friends and . From dawn to dusk, there’ll be a celebration of culture and community togetherness.

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Two people stroll along Oriental Bay Parade in Wellington holding hands on a sunny day.

Your guide to summer in Wellington

Visit an island, scream in a stadium, or indulge in ice cream. Here’s how to enjoy some of Wellington’s best summer days.

A hand holding a dish inside Margot, with 2 other dishes already on the table.

Beyond the central city, great food awaits

The quality of Wellington’s cafés, restaurants, and bars is not confined to the inner city.

Three people are taking a selfie at the Mount Victoria Lookout with a view of Wellington harbour and city centre behind them.

Top 10 Wellington must-dos

There’s so much to see and do in the capital. To get you started, here are the top 10 things to do when you visit.

Two people dining at Volco on Egmont Street being served their food

Wellington city brunch: Start your morning sunny side up

Wellington is a city that takes its mid-morning meal seriously. Whether you’re in the mood for eggs just the way you like them, a vegan feast, or a sweet treat, you’ll find a meal to suit your cravings.

A vinyl record player with a pair of headphones laying on top at Xreeps Record Parlour, a record store in Petone, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

For the record: Where to buy vinyl in Wellington

Help keep independent music alive with this list of where to get your wax or find your favourite artists.

Two friends enjoy iced coffees on the exterior seating at Pour & Twist on a sunny day.

Capital cool: Iced coffee in Wellington

Whatever way you serve it, Wellingtonians love their coffee. Here’s where to stay cool, calm, and caffeinated in the capital.

Two cyclists wear helmets while riding e-bikes along Wellington's waterfront.

Outdoor activities in Wellington

Getting outside doesn’t have to mean just going for a walk. Wellington has a wealth of outdoor activities that will get your blood (and adrenaline) pumping. When it’s one of those unbeatable good days, get some fresh air on these outside adventures

Two customers clink their wine glasses and enjoy their food at Graze Wine bar.

Wine not? A full-bodied list of Wellington wine bars

Part of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, Wellington is the perfect place to sample a local drop (or two).

Two smiling people sit on a wooden bench petting a lemur during a Close Encounter experience at Wellington Zoo.

Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo

The first carboNZero-certified zoo in the world, Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo puts conservation at the centre of everything it does.

Two people browse through books outside Pegasus Books in Left Bank off Cuba Street. Pegasus Books is an older wooden building with shelves of eclectic books outside.

Wellington’s independent bookstores

Bookworms will be in heaven in Wellington, where independent bookstores are around every corner. From secondhand treasures to the newest releases, there’s a title for everyone. So, clear off your bedside table and pull up a comfy chair. Here’s where to find your next best read in Wellington.