Top Things to See
Wellington offers an excellent mix of top cultural venues, historic districts and modern entertainment areas to keep visitors busy throughout their stay. The city also has one of the most pleasant natural environments in the world, with a stunning harbour full of activity and plenty of hilly parkland that is open to the public for leisurely walks. Its compact and vibrant urban atmosphere makes Wellington a reliable crowd-pleaser that’s easy to explore.
 Dowse Art Museum
The city’s best institution for the myriad arts and crafts of New Zealand is the Dowse Art Museum. While City Gallery offers a stimulating view at the contemporary art of New Zealand, the Dowse focuses on fine art creations. The museum runs a constantly changing programme of exhibits that showcases the very best photography, glasswork, jewellery, sculpture and ceramics in the country. The museum is located in Lower Hutt. Phone: +64 4 570 6500.
 Island Bay
Wellington’s coastline is made up of several bays, harbours and inlets. Island Bay is one of the most scenic and accessible from the city core. Fishing boats of all sizes pass by swimmers, divers and kayakers taking advantage of the beauty and cleanliness of the water. A small island just offshore can be reached during low tide, when the beachcombing and wandering is at its best.
 Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa)
One of the world’s largest and most impressive national museums is also Wellington’s main attraction. Paying tribute to all things New Zealand, Te Papa is a must-see for any visitor to the country. An eye-popping mix of high-tech interactive exhibits and cultural displays provide a fully comprehensive education of New Zealand. From the natural beauty and power of the islands to the fascinating Maori heritage, visitors can easily spend a day discovering the seemingly endless treasures contained here. The museum is located on Cable street. Phone: +64 4 381 7000; website: www.tepapa.govt.nz/Tepapa/English/.
 Staglands Wildlife Reserve
Just minutes from the urban scene of Wellington lies this beautiful wildlife reserve in the scenic Akatarawa Valley. New Zealand’s indigenous natural environment has been protected and nurtured in this 10 hectare area of parkland. A wonderful network of paths takes visitors through the setting, which is filled with birds, fish and animals. The park centre offers interactive activities like hand-feeding the animals and educational tours. The reserve is located in Hutt Valley. Phone: +64 4 526 7529.
The Waterfront
This spectacular part of the city is arguably the heart and soul of Wellington. The entire length of the inner-city waterfront area, from Oriental Parade all the way to Queen’s Wharf, is lined with parks, outdoor venues, cultural centres and plenty of eating and drinking options. Several of the city’s best museums such as the Te Papa are here, as is the famous Ferg’s Rock-n-Kayak store where you can rent skates, bikes or kayaks from professionals. A superb biking and walking path network makes it easy to move along this amazing strip of waterfront development.
Thorndon
To get a glimpse at what Wellington looked like in its earliest days, head over to the inner-city suburb of Thorndon. One of the few remaining original urban pockets that survived the 1855 earthquake, it has an incredibly historic ambiance. The rich architecture that dots Ascot street and Tinakori road is charming, as are the shops, cafés and grand old churches that line these throughfares. You can easily spend a day or more wandering Throdon’s quaint streets.
 Wellington Botanic Garden
One of the natural highlights of Wellington is its remarkable Botanic Garden, which was established in 1868. More than 62 acres of towering native trees, plants and seasonal flowers fill this hillside oasis, which is arguably the best site in Wellington for a leisurely and relaxing stroll with views. The Rose Garden and Begonia House are a riot of colour between November and May. The garden is located along Tinakori road. Phone: +64 4 499 1400.
Top Things to Do
Enjoy a taste of New Zealand culture by watching a performance by one of its national arts groups. Wellington has evolved into New Zealand’s performance art capital, offering visitors a wealth of music, dance and theatre to choose from. The New Zealand Ballet, National Orchestra and Opera, as well as four hugely popular professional theatre companies all call Wellington home. If you get the chance, catch a show at the renovated historic Westpac St James Theatre.
 Learn about the natural side of Wellington on a guided bushwalk through the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Amazingly located right in the heart of Wellington, this 623-acre preservation area was created in 2001 as a safe habitat for native birds like the kiwi and tuatara. The 90-minute guided tour takes visitors through the different environments of the basin, teaching visitors about the history of this part of the city as well as the nature and wildlife.
 Observe democracy in action at the Parliament Buildings. Easily identified by the beehive shape of the administrative headquarters, the cluster of buildings around Parliament are both architecturally and historically important. A one-hour tour will give you the lay of the land, then head over to the action-packed Debating Chamber where you can watch legislation in action. Just be sure to check when the House is in session if you want to see the debates.
 See the stars of the southern hemisphere at the Carter Observatory. Most visitors to New Zealand come from the northern hemisphere, and are well-used to looking at the stars in their half of the sky. The Carter Observatory in the Botanic Garden is a welcoming facility that encourages people to get an up close view of the different stars that can only be seen in the southern half of our planet.
Take a ride on one of Wellington’s famous historic cable cars. The ride may only last five minutes, but the views along the way are undeniably the finest around. If the weather cooperates, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views across the city and the entire harbour. At the top is a quaint Cable Car Museum which will fill you in on the 100-year-old history of this Wellington icon.
Wander along Oriental Parade and check out the relaxing side of life in Wellington. This popular section of the city’s expansive waterfront district is full of pleasant buildings housing a variety of coffee shops, bars and boutiques. The views from Oriental Parade across the harbour are among the best, especially when you’re sitting at a quaint little café. A lovely walking and biking path runs along the waterfront making it easy to move between sections of the harbour.
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