Model wearing the Axminstress garment by Kate MacKenzie superimposed on Wellington's skyline.

20 years of WOW in Wellington

Celebrate 20 years of the World of WearableArt Show in Wellington with special offers, deals, and a trip around the city on the WOW Wanderer.

The World of WearableArt (WOW) Show: RISE is Aotearoa’s largest arena spectacle. For 20 years, Wellington has been the perfect stage for WOW to dream big, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

If you're in the city during the WOW season, there's plenty to discover beyond the bright lights of the TSB Arena. Local businesses have a range of offers for food, shopping, experiences, and more, only available during WOW. Look out for the WOW-branded window sticker at participating retail and hospitality businesses as you explore the city, or check out the list of offers below. 

The WOW Wanderer will also be running during the show season. Shining in beautiful RISE colours, this hop on/hop off bus loops around Wellington's shopping and dining areas on show days. The service is exclusive to WOW ticket holders so make sure you have your show ticket handy to present to the driver. View the timetable and more information below.

Two people drinking from cocktails in Dragonfly, a bar on Courtenay Place.
Brown bottles of moisturiser and candles are on display shelves at Wellington Apothecary.
A young couple shopping at Old Bank Arcade in Wellington.

Special offers

The WOW show season runs from 18 September to 5 October 2025. During this period there are a range of offers available in Wellington city at shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and more. As you explore the city, keep an eye out for the window decals on participating businesses, and stop in to see what they have on offer.

Some offers are exclusive to WOW ticket holders, so make sure you have your ticket handy to unlock the deals.

Hop on the WOW Wanderer

The WOW Wanderer is a free hop on/hop off bus loop around Wellington CBD, available exclusively to WOW 2025 ticket holders. It stops at key shopping, culture, and hospitality areas around the city to help you enjoy more of what the capital has to offer.

The service runs Wednesday to Sunday from 17 September to 5 October, between 9:30am and 4:30pm. The full loop takes around 30 minutes.

To take the WOW Wanderer, present your valid WOW 2025 show ticket to the driver to hop on. Ride as often as you like throughout the day. Seating is limited, so peak times may mean less availability.

While on board, hear fun trivia and information on exclusive deals from your friendly driver. Whether you’re exploring before the show or winding down after, the WOW Wanderer is your backstage pass to the best of Wellington.

Timetable and map [PDF 4.98 MB]

Disclaimer: The deals listed on this page are offered at the discretion of the business. WellingtonNZ and WOW are not responsible for the availability, or content of these offers. While we do our best to keep this information up-to-date, we recommend confirming directly with the business before making plans.

Hero image credit: Axminstress, Kate MacKenzie, New Zealand.