What to do on a rainy day in Wellington

The national museum is home to six floors filled with more than 800,000 cultural treasures, artefacts, specimens, and artworks. There is undoubtedly enough at Te Papa to keep you happy on a rainy day. It is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day.

Explore Aotearoa’s weird and wonderful wildlife in Te Taiao Nature. Come face to face with the realities of war in ‘Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War’, featuring models made by Wētā Workshop. Or spy the biggest colossal squid ever caught. The interactive exhibitions will keep you entertained for hours, no matter the weather.

Chocolate can be enjoyed anywhere and anytime, but on a rainy day, it is best consumed inside. Wellington has its own Willy Wonka experience tucked down an inner-city laneway. Wellington Chocolate Factory makes its own sweet treats. Visitors can have a peek at the process through the windows in the store. Or, enjoy an indulgent hot chocolate in the café.

If you’re looking for something more hands-on, take a tour. See the process from bean to beautifully wrapped bar. You can also book a chocolatier experience. Make your own delicious creations, the only limit is your imagination.

The capital is a film lover’s dream destination. With multiple boutique cinemas around the city, you’re spoilt for choice. 

For a grand old picture palace, head to the 800-seat Embassy Theatre. Light House offers a cosy, intimate experience. Miramar’s Roxy Cinema comes decorated with an Oscar statuette and Wētā Workshop art. 

As a UNESCO City of Film, Wellington often hosts international film festivals. From architecture and design to the spookiest horror films, you’ll find a genre to suit your tastes. August brings the annual New Zealand International Film Festival to the city. Its selection of award-winning films and documentaries makes for a great rainy-day activity.

Beneath the road on Willis Street lies a subterranean wonderland. Head below ground to discover a fantastic selection of bars and eateries, alongside interactive entertainment. 

With a sleek, sophisticated interior filled with tunnels and vaulted brick archways, Willis Lane has a touch of New York subway chic. It’s designed to be both convenient and a destination in its own right. Mini golf, 10-pin bowling, arcade games, and karaoke lounges make the place hum with life both day and night. Licensed bars, restaurants, and quality fast food options complement the entertainment. Visit for coffee, lunch with workmates, an evening drink, or games night.

Wellington Museum tells the stories of the city and its people. Discover stories about maritime history, Māori and European settlement, growth as a region, and its evolution since becoming the capital in 1865. Located on the waterfront in a beautifully restored 19th-century wharf building, the museum’s exhibitions are spread across four floors. 

Wellington Museum has plenty of stories to keep you amused on a rainy afternoon. There’s a room that tells 100 local tales, starting from 1900. There’s also an exhibition where Māori legends come to life through holographs. A room up in the attic holds a time capsule that takes you on a 14-minute journey through local history. And there’s a moving tribute to New Zealand’s most significant shipping tragedy — the Wahine disaster.

Plunge the ball, flip the flipper, and aim for the high score. Ye Olde Pinball Shoppe is a classic pinball arcade, complete with blinking lights and crazy music. Established in 2018, the arcade offers a selection of 22 pinball machines. You and your friends can spend ages immersed in movie and cartoon-themed worlds. Try your hand at Elvira’s House Of Horrors, Ghostbusters, Fish Tales, or Weird Al’s Museum of Natural Hilarity. The arcade is also licensed, so the over-18s can grab a beer in between games.

Wellington’s original escape room offers an immersive gaming experience for all ages. Your powers of deduction will be put to the test as you and your group solve high-tech puzzles and untangle mysteries. An Escape Mate host will guide you through one of three themed escape rooms. You could save the world from an alien invasion, discover the dark secrets of Atlantis, or take on the wrath of the gods in an ancient temple. Get your brain into gear for a fun night out.

For the sharpest fun in town head to Sweet Axe. Throwing an axe is an exhilarating experience that prioritises form over force. Once you get some guidance from Sweet Axe’s friendly axe-perts your technique will take you far. The safe and supportive space is sure to develop some untapped throwing skills. Open to all skill levels 12 years and up.