Top 10 Wellington must-dos
There’s much to see and do in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. These are a few of the special experiences that shouldn’t be missed.
When your cruise ship arrives into you’ll have a spectacular view of New Zealand’s capital city. Wellington has a flat, compact downtown area, surrounded by green hills. You can fit a lot into one day, so make the most of your time by visiting unique sites, meeting some friendly locals, or doing some shopping.
Wellington welcomes ships of all sizes each season, from small expeditions to large ships carrying 4,000-plus people.
From port to city
Cruise ships dock at CentrePort, about 1.5km (or 1 mile) from downtown Wellington. Check with your crew onboard as to whether you will be walking or shuttled off port. Allow enough time to return to port as taxis are not permitted to pick up or drop off at port.
Shuttles pass by the region’s largest sports stadium and Wellington Railway Station before dropping passengers off on Lower Lambton Quay. This is Wellington’s main retail street. The cruise shuttle stop is opposite New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings and outside the historic Old Government Buildings.
Popular cruise activities
Most ships are in Wellington for around eight hours. Many cruise passengers like to do a half-day tour in the morning, lunch at one of the many spots in town, and explore the city in the afternoon.
You could check out the Wellington Cable Car and Wellington Botanic Garden, then hit the shops. Or taste your way around the craft beer or cheese scone scene in the city.
Taking a pre-booked tour
Shore excursions pre-booked with the cruise line will leave from and return you to the ship. If you have pre-booked an independent tour, the tour operator will provide pick-up details as part of your booking information. Many operators will pick you up from the accredited operator area at CentrePort.
Booking tours on the day
There is no booking facility at CentrePort. The Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre isat 50 Cable Street, inside Tākina Wellington Exhibition and Convention Centre. Here you can make independent tour bookings on the day, depending on availability. City sightseeing operators will pick up and drop off on the Wakefield Street side of Tākina Convention Centre, at 217 Wakefield Street.
Information and ambassadors
Each season, Wellington City Ambassadors are ready to greet you at key locations around the city. Dressed in black and yellow, these local volunteers provide a friendly welcome to Wellington. They will have a handy map specifically for cruise visitors and can help you with information and directions. There is also an information container dockside. Here, you can pick up brochures and maps and find suggestions for making the most of your day.
Meeting friends or family
Friends and family cannot pick up or drop off from the port. You can meet them at the cruise shuttle stop or somewhere central, such as the Wellington Railway Station, the isite, or their favourite café.
Getting around
It’s easy to explore the downtown area on foot, and bike and scooter hire options are also available throughout the city. If you want to catch a public bus to one of Wellington’s key attractions, you can pay your fare to the driver with New Zealand money. You can also pay for your bus journey using a contactless debit/credit card or mobile device through Apple Pay/Google Pay (fees apply).
Plan your journey with Metlink
The basics
Banks do not offer currency exchange services so use one of the bureau de changes or an ATM near the cruise shuttle stop if you need cash. The main shopping areas have pharmacies, supermarkets, and postal services.
Your cruise day inspiration
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