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Wellington Attractions

:: Click Here For A List Of Wellington Accommodation

Welcome to our Wellington Attractions webpage where you will find a myriad of attractions from arts and culture to heritage and exciting outdoor action – Wellington is an excellent place for entertainment. Whether you want to be outdoors or indoors, expect to be captivated and enthralled.

Wellington, capital city of New Zealand, has an enormous daily influx of domestic and international visitors and the variety of accommodation is second-to-none. Wellington is situated at the southern end of New Zealand's North Island and is surrounded by hills, a rugged coastline and has one of the most beautiful harbours in the world.

The city is compact and interesting – downtown Wellington is ideally explored on foot. Made up of four quarters each with their own distinct mix of shopping, cafes, transport, and accommodation, Wellington's intense urban experience is unrivalled in the country.

There are so many attractions on offer in Wellington that it is almost difficult to know where to begin, so for a spectacular overview of the city and harbour, ride the cable car from Lambton Quay (behind the downtown shops) up to the hilltop district of Kelburn. The cars move along a cable in the ground, not in the air. You can ride back down or spend an hour or more strolling back to sea level through the Botanic Garden and the gorgeous Lady Norwood Rose Garden.

Wellington is also a cultural centre—home to Te Papa, New Zealand's bold, innovative national museum set on Wellington's waterfront. Visitors can get a unique and authentic experience of New Zealand's treasures, stories and people.

You can take a tour of New Zealand's Parliament Buildings, nicknamed the Beehive, which will provide an insight into New Zealand's political heritage. Free, daily, one-hour guided tours of Parliament begin on the hour at the Visitor Centre in the foyer of the Beehive (Executive Wing). Take a tour with one of the trained guides to visit key parts of Parliament's buildings and learn about the parliamentary processes.

The Museum of Wellington City and Sea presents stories of Wellington in an interactive and entertaining way. Entry is free and they are open every day of the year.

Established in 1980, City Gallery Wellington was the first significant non-collecting exhibition based public gallery in New Zealand. Since moving to its current location in Civic Square in 1993, City Gallery Wellington has achieved a reputation for innovation and style, inspiring and challenging its audiences with a world-class programme of exhibitions and arts-related projects. City Gallery Wellington is open daily from 10am – 5pm (except during exhibition changeover and Christmas Day). Admission is by donation. Admission charges may apply to major exhibitions.

Visit Katherine Mansfield's Birthplace – the childhood home of the famous writer – intricately restored to match the descriptions of the house in her stories. The House is in Thorndon – a 10 minute walk from Parliament Buildings or Old St Paul’s. Open six days a week 10.00am - 4.00pm, closed Mondays, Christmas Day and Good Friday (and for private functions).

Old St Paul's Cathedral is a magnificent gothic style church built from New Zealand native timbers. Old St. Paul's attracts thousands of visitors each year and is a popular venue for weddings and other services. Open daily 10.00am - 5.00pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Capital E will keep children amused for hours - it is an award-winning facility, based in Civic Square, attracting up to 200,000 visitors each year. Open Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm. Admission varies. Fully equipped for people with disabilities.

Wellington Zoo is home to more than 500 animals. The animals live in family sized units, in enclosures designed to be as natural and similar to the environment they would inhabit in the wild. Some of the animals live in mixed-species enclosures. A great place to spend a day with the family. Wellington Zoo is open 9.30am - 5.00pm every day, except Christmas Day. Last admission is at 4.15pm.

It's fun to hire a sea kayak and paddle around the picturesque bays of Wellington Harbour – whether it’s a light paddle along the waterfront, a kids games session or a full trip with our experienced guides, you are sure to have a great time.

If you're set on seeing New Zealand's unique native birds, the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is the place. Karori Sanctuary is a safe haven for endangered native birds and other wildlife, located minutes from downtown Wellington. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

This is by no means a complete list of every single one of Wellington's numerous attractions but we hope it has given you some great ideas of what to add to your "must-see" list – have fun!!