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How many days in Wellington? 3 days, Te Papa, the cable car and Zealandia
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
New Zealand's capital is small, steep and squeezed between a deep harbour and green hills, so almost everything is walkable along the waterfront or up a short climb. It is also the windiest city in the country, with gusts that come straight off Cook Strait. Give it three days: one on the waterfront with Te Papa, one up the hills by cable car to the gardens and Zealandia, and one for the film studios of Miramar and the evening scene on Cuba Street. It makes a natural stop before or after the ferry to the South Island.
Short answer
Two days covers Te Papa, the waterfront, the cable car and Cuba Street. A third adds Zealandia, Weta Workshop and the view from Mount Victoria, or a wine day in Martinborough.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Te Papa and the waterfront
Morning. Spend the morning at Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum, on the harbour (general entry free; some exhibitions charge). See the colossal squid, the earthquake house that shakes you, and the Maori meeting house Te Hau ki Turanga, built in 1842.
Afternoon. Walk the waterfront west past Frank Kitts Park and the Wellington Museum in the old Bond Store (free) to Queens Wharf, and take the 20-minute East by West ferry to Matiu/Somes Island if the weather is calm.
Evening. Stroll along Oriental Parade to the beach, then eat on Courtenay Place; a main course costs NZ$28-40.
If the wind is strong, check ferry services before you go; harbour crossings are cancelled in big southerlies.
Day 2: Cable car, Botanic Garden and Parliament
Morning. Ride the red Wellington Cable Car from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn (about NZ$6-7 one way), running since 1902. At the top, see the small Cable Car Museum (free) and the city view, then walk down through the Wellington Botanic Garden to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden (about 30-40 minutes).
Afternoon. Take a free tour of Parliament, including the round Beehive building designed by Basil Spence, and the debating chamber; tours run about every hour and you leave bags at security.
Evening. Walk Cuba Street, with its bucket fountain, secondhand shops and bars, and eat at the Cuba Street Night Market on Friday evenings (dishes about NZ$10-15).
Wellington claims more cafés per person than New York; order a flat white (about NZ$5.50-6.50) on Lambton Quay.
Day 3: Zealandia, Weta Workshop and Mount Victoria
Morning. Walk or take a shuttle to Zealandia (about NZ$25-30), a 225-hectare valley surrounded by a predator-proof fence, where you can see takahe, kaka and tuatara. Night tours (about NZ$90-100) give a chance to see wild kiwi.
Afternoon. Take a bus or taxi 20 minutes east to Miramar for Weta Workshop, the special effects studio behind The Lord of the Rings, for a 90-minute tour (about NZ$55-60).
Evening. Drive or walk up Mount Victoria (196 metres; about 30-40 minutes on foot from Courtenay Place through the town belt) for sunset over the harbour, the airport runway and the Remutaka ranges. Then have dinner back in town, or a pint at one of the brewery taprooms in Te Aro.
Book Weta and Zealandia night tours a few days ahead in summer.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and combine the cable car and Parliament with Zealandia on Day 2. You lose Weta Workshop and Mount Victoria.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can go over the Remutaka hill to Martinborough (about 1 hour 20 minutes by car), with vineyards producing pinot noir, or walk the coast to the fur seals at Red Rocks south of the city (about 4 km each way from Owhiro Bay, flat but exposed; seals are present mostly from May to October). Kapiti Island, a bird sanctuary off the coast about 1 hour north, takes booked day trips with a permit. Interislander and Bluebridge ferries cross to Picton in about 3.5 hours.
Where to stay in Wellington
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Te Aro / Cuba Street hostels | Central beds near cheap food and nightlife. | NZ$100-160 |
| Mid-range | Waterfront / Lambton Quay | On the harbour, a short walk to Te Papa and the cable car. | NZ$200-330 |
| Mid-range | Thorndon | Quiet old houses near Parliament and the railway station. | NZ$180-280 |
| Comfort | Harbour-view hotels / Oriental Bay | Boutique hotels and apartments facing the bay. | NZ$350-650 |
Getting around
The centre is walkable: Te Papa to Lambton Quay is about 15-20 minutes. Metlink buses and trains cover the suburbs; pay with a Snapper card or contactless. The Airport Express bus runs to the centre in about 20-30 minutes (about NZ$10-12); taxis cost about NZ$30-40. Trains from Wellington station run to the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, though for Martinborough a car is easier.
What to eat in Wellington
Wellington is a coffee and craft beer city. Try local roasters such as Flight and Customs, and breweries such as Garage Project in Aro Valley and Fortune Favours off Cuba Street. Order paua (abalone) fritters, whitebait fritters in spring, and Bluff oysters in autumn. Dumplings, roti and grills at the Cuba Street Night Market are cheap. A brunch costs about NZ$22-30, a restaurant dinner NZ$60-100. In August, the Visa Wellington on a Plate festival runs special menus and the burger competition across the city.
Best time to visit
December to March, with highs of 19-22°C and the calmest weather. Spring and autumn are changeable and windy. Winter, June to August, is cool (10-13°C) and wet, but has the city's festivals, the Matariki Maori new year celebrations in June or July, and fewer visitors. Wind can hit at any time; pack a windproof jacket.
Month-by-month weather for Wellington →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | NZ$60 | NZ$130 | NZ$260 |
| Food & drink | NZ$50 | NZ$90 | NZ$160 |
| Sights & tickets | NZ$10 | NZ$50 | NZ$110 |
| Local transport | NZ$8 | NZ$20 | NZ$50 |
| Total per person, per day | about NZ$130 | about NZ$290 | about NZ$580 |
Approximate 2026 prices in New Zealand dollars, including 15% GST; international visitors pay the IVL levy with their NZeTA entry authority before travelling.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Te Papa really free?
General entry to Te Papa's permanent exhibitions is free for everyone at present, though some touring exhibitions charge, and the museum has discussed charging international visitors in future, so check before you go. Guided highlights tours cost extra and are worth it for the Maori collections. Allow at least 3 hours.
How windy is Wellington?
Very, at times. The city sits in a gap where winds funnel through Cook Strait, with average gusts above 60 km/h on many days and storms of more than 100 km/h a few times a year. It also changes quickly. Umbrellas often break; a windproof jacket is more useful. Ferries and flights are occasionally cancelled.
Should I take the ferry to the South Island?
Yes, if you are travelling on. The Interislander and Bluebridge ferries cross Cook Strait to Picton in about 3.5 hours, through the Marlborough Sounds at the end. Book ahead in summer, especially with a car. The crossing can be rough in strong winds, so bring seasickness tablets.
Do I need a car in Wellington?
No. The centre is compact and walkable, and buses, trains and the cable car cover the main sights. Parking is expensive and streets are steep and narrow. Rent a car only for a day trip to Martinborough or the south coast, or if you take one on the ferry.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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