24 hours in the Kāpiti Coast
If you only have a day to spend in the Kāpiti Coast then you’ll need to get cracking. The sunny coast has a great selection of things to see, do, and eat.
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.
Looking for more?
At start of items
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.
Twelve 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.
Your guide to autumn in Wellington
Autumn in Wellington brings with it plenty of crisp mornings and settled days. Wander the hills, see an exhibition, and enjoy a meal outside (but you might want to bring an extra layer).
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.
Your guide to winter in Wellington
‘Brr’, you say? Yes, it’s winter in Wellington, so the chills are multiplying. Don’t worry, though — the city has plenty of fun to warm you up. So, grab your coat and scarf and head out the door.
48 hours in Wellington
It’s compact and walkable, has a calendar full of events, and is stacked with great bars and restaurants. Wellington is the perfect weekend getaway.
24 hours in Wellington
If you’ve only got a day in Wellington and want to get a feel of what the city is like – get ready for a whirlwind tour of tastes, sights, and sounds. If you don’t fit everything in, you can always come back for more.