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.
By plane
Wellington International Airport has direct connectivity to the rest of New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji, across various airlines. Domestic air services are regular and fast. Flights leave for Auckland and Christchurch international airports hourly, and travel time is usually an hour. Queenstown is an hour and a half away, with multiple flights daily. Flights to Rotorua take just over an hour.
By ferry or cruise
The capital is a coastal gateway between the North and South Islands. There are regular ferry services across the Cook Strait to and from Picton. The three-and-a-half-hour journey takes you through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. You can sail with either Interislander or Bluebridge. Taking a vehicle is easy, just drive on and off.
Cruise ships often stop in the city. The port hosts over 120 ships every year and is a ten-minute drive from the central city.
By car
If you are driving, Wellington is connected to two of the country’s major state highways, SH1 and SH2. The drive time from Auckland is approximately nine and a half hours, and Rotorua is five and a half hours.
Wellington is also part of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail. Keep an eye out for the brown road signs displaying grapes as you travel along the scenic driving route.
By train
The train station is in the centre of the city.
Great Journeys of New Zealand have a regular Northern Explorer train service, which connects Auckland and Wellington. The scenic 648km journey takes one day and includes multiple stops along the way.
If you’re heading to the South Island via ferry, jump on a Coastal Pacific train from Picton to Christchurch.
Once you’re here
You’ve arrived! Find out how you can get around once you’re in the capital.
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Anjali Burnett: a local guide to fashion
There are a tight group of fashion designers and stores in the city. Ingenuity and inventiveness are words often associated with them. Co-founder of local label twenty-seven names, Anjali Burnett, knows many of them as both a colleague and a customer.
Megan Dunn: a local guide to arts and culture
Author, curator and art writer Megan Dunn keeps her finger on the cultural pulse of the city. She knows where to find the top galleries, installations, and espresso martinis.
Megan Wyper: a local guide to coffee
Whether it’s a speedy takeaway or a masterpiece in a tulip cup, the Wellington coffee scene is brewed to perfection. Megan Wyper is someone with a nose for good coffee. She gives the lowdown on where to find a great grind.
Max Gordy and Stina Persen: a local hospitality guide
Wellington is heaven if you’re a foodie. Husband and wife, Max Gordy and Stina Persen from the award-winning Graze Wine Bar, run down their list of tasty finds.
Your guide to cruise in Wellington
Wellington is the perfect cruise destination. As a compact and walkable city, it allows you to see and do a lot in one day. Here’s what you need to know when docking in Te Whanganui a Tara.
Your guide to spring in Wellington
Spring in Wellington is a bit like the city itself — lively, unpredictable, and full of surprises. As the days grow longer and the city bursts into bloom, you’ll find pockets of sunshine, crisp sea breezes, and the occasional gust. Pack sunglasses and a raincoat and get ready to shake off the winter chill.
12 hours in Porirua
From dawn until dusk Porirua has you covered. Spending a day in the city will give you your fill of beautiful walking tracks, outdoor activities, and great food.
A long weekend in Wellington
How much hospitality, arts, culture, nature, and wildlife can you fit into three days? Come to Wellington to find out.
Welly-would: A film buff’s guide to Wellington
Lights, camera, and action. With special effect tours, huge production studios, and boutique cinemas, get a taste of movie magic in Wellington.