Te Papa Tongarewa
New Zealand's national museum on the Wellington waterfront, covering Māori culture, natural history, art and the country's history. Many displays are hands-on, which makes it good for all ages.
Wellington
Film studio tours, waterfront walks, a lively cafe scene and the Te Papa museum mark this compact capital.
Attractive locations
Wellington Cable Car
A short funicular railway that climbs from Lambton Quay to the hill suburb of Kelburn, with views over the harbour and city. It links the centre with the Botanic Garden at the top.
Wellington Botanic Garden
A hillside garden above the city with rose gardens, native bush, lawns and lookouts. Paths wind downhill from the top of the cable car, making a pleasant walk back to the centre.
New Zealand Parliament Buildings
The country's seat of government, including the round Beehive, an unusual building that is a symbol of Wellington. Guided tours let visitors see the debating chamber and learn how the system works.
Mount Victoria
A hill near the city centre with a lookout that gives a wide view of the harbour, the central city and the surrounding hills. Walking tracks and forest paths lead up from the streets below.
Zealandia
A fenced wildlife sanctuary in a valley near central Wellington where rare native birds such as the kākā and tūī live. Trails and guided walks lead through restored forest.
Wētā Workshop
The film props and effects studio behind The Lord of the Rings and other movies, with a behind-the-scenes tour in Miramar. Visitors see models, costumes and craft work.
Airports
Wellington International Airport WLG
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Wellington.
Woodbourne Airport BHE
It is about 80 km in a straight line from Wellington.
Picton Aerodrome PCN
It is about 69 km in a straight line from Wellington.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the New Zealand page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan16.7 °C51 mm
- Feb17.0 °C58 mm
- Mar15.9 °C58 mm
- Apr14.0 °C70 mm
- May12.5 °C80 mm
- Jun10.7 °C92 mm
- Jul9.8 °C86 mm
- Aug10.1 °C82 mm
- Sep10.9 °C70 mm
- Oct11.9 °C77 mm
- Nov13.3 °C64 mm
- Dec15.3 °C69 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 86% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
111 for police, fire and ambulance.
local government
New Zealand Police (111 and 105)
Helps with: National police. Call 111 when you need an emergency response from Police, Fire or Ambulance. Call 105 to report things that do not need urgent police help.
Who qualifies: Anyone in New Zealand, including visitors.
Phone: 111
ngo
New Zealand Red Cross
Helps with: New Zealand's national Red Cross society. Contact its national office in Wellington by phone or post for its humanitarian services.
Who qualifies: People in New Zealand who need its services.
Phone: 0800 733 27677
Address: 69 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington
embassy
Diplomatic missions in New Zealand (MFAT order of precedence)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The foreign ministry page lists heads of mission in New Zealand and the city each is based in.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or high commission.