Your guide to spring in Wellington

As spring arrives in Wellington, so too does a sense of renewal. Gardens blossom, café tables spill onto footpaths, and the city begins to stretch toward summer. 

Set into the hills of the city-fringe suburb of Newtown, Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is a top pick for a sunny day. It‘s the world’s first carboNZero-certified zoo. It features accessible, well-kept pathways that wind through 13 hectares of enclosures. Watch chimpanzees enjoying their hilltop city views, spot cheeky native kea in the walk-through aviary, and walk beside free-roaming kangaroos in the Australian precinct. 

Bursting into life on the other side of town is the Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. It hosts an incredible range of beautiful botanical plant species from around the world. There are also large collections of Aotearoa’s own unique flora and a top-notch playground. 

For anyone curious to explore the home of democracy in Aotearoa, New Zealand Parliament is a short stroll down the hill. Roam the grounds where shady pōhutukawa make for excellent picnic spots. For those wanting a closer look, a variety of guided tours are available seven days a week. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of New Zealand’s political system. 

Whether day or night, the capital has a great selection of alfresco wining and dining options. Glover Park, between Ghuznee and Garrett Streets, is a fantastic inner-city suntrap. Popular bar The Rogue & Vagabond opens onto the park and provides beanbags for a relaxed vibe. There’s a large craft beer selection, along with a menu of classic burgers and pizzas. Live music plays most weekends, so it’s a popular spot. Around the corner, laidback rooftop bar Ascot is open to the sky. Its high walls shelter you from the weather. Down by the waterfront, Foxglove blends 1930s glamour with West Hollywood lounge style. Spacious yet intimate, it offers sweeping harbour views, open fireplaces, and one of the largest living green walls in the country. 

Not to be missed for spring visitors to the capital is the World of WearableArt (WOW) Show, New Zealand’s largest arena spectacle. WOW fuses theatre, music, aerial performance, and design in an event like no other. At its heart is an international competition that invites artists from around the globe to take art off the wall and bring it to life on the human form.  

Spring also brings two major music fixtures to the city. The Wellington Jazz Festival packs over 100 gigs into five days in October. Major international and New Zealand musicians serve up a diet of soul, funk, jazz, fusion, and rhythm and blues. Waitangi Park on Wellington’s waterfront comes alive in November with a multi-stage music festival. High Tide mixes drum & bass, house, grime, and hip-hop into a wild Wellington party. 

The New Zealand Cricket Home International Season also begins in spring. There are five opportunities to see the BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS play in Wellington. From November to April, you can see them in action against England, South Africa, and the West Indies.

Whether you’re chasing sunshine, culture, or a great sunset cocktail, spring in Wellington delivers — unpredictably, unapologetically, and with style.