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Capital · New Zealand

WellingtonTe Whanganui-a-Tara

Give Wellington 2 nights: one full day for Te Papa and the waterfront, one for Cuba Street and Mt Victoria; on a short city-only trip with no Cook Strait crossing, 1 night is enough.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
NZD
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid Jun–Aug (wet and windy); avoid the southerly storm days any month
Airport
WLG
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • New Zealand ↗Visa-waiver visitors need an NZeTA (with the tourism levy) before travel, including many transit passengers; others need a visa. Apply only through Immigration New Zealand or its official app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • New Zealand ↗Declare all food, plant and animal products, and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents, on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration; undeclared risk items bring instant fines.
  • New Zealand ↗Drive on the left; give way as signed at one-lane bridges; an English-language licence or one with an approved translation or International Driving Permit is required.
  • New Zealand ↗Freedom camping is restricted: sleep in a vehicle only where signed as allowed, and in many places only in certified self-contained vehicles.

Wellington is New Zealand's capital and second-largest urban area, a compact harbour city wedged between hills and the sea at the southern tip of the North Island. It is the country's museum, coffee and craft-beer centre, and the North Island end of the Cook Strait ferry to Picton. Most trips use it for 1–2 nights between the ferry and the drive north, or as a city break on its own.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Wellington, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range restaurantNZ$30–55 (≈ US$18–35)
  • Street or quick mealLunch (sandwich or pie)NZ$10–18 (≈ US$6–11)
  • BeerCraft beer, pint in a barNZ$10–14 (≈ US$6–9)
  • Museum or sight ticketTe Papa entrySome touring exhibitions charge.Free
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personNZ$45 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$220 (≈ US$130)
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomNZ$420 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget NZ$90 (≈ US$55) · Mid NZ$170 (≈ US$100) · High NZ$320 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaCuba Street and the Golden MileWellington Cable Car and the Botanic GardenCoffee and craft beerCook Strait ferries to PictonWeta Workshop
Airports
WLG Wellington International Airport (5 km southeast of the centre in Rongotai; single terminal for domestic and international. Airport Express bus to the CBD, or Metlink Route 2 from Hobart Street, a 700 m walk.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Wellington: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

21°C

15°C

8 rd

Feb

21°C

15°C

8 rd

Mar

20°C

14°C

9 rd

Apr

17°C

12°C

10 rd

May

15°C

10°C

12 rd

Jun

13°C

8°C

14 rd

Jul

13°C

7°C

15 rd

Aug

13°C

8°C

14 rd

Sep

14°C

9°C

13 rd

Oct

16°C

10°C

12 rd

Nov

17°C

11°C

10 rd

Dec

20°C

14°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is compact and linear: walk the Golden Mile from the railway station down Lambton Quay, Willis Street and Manners Street to Courtenay Place. Metlink buses and trains use Snapper cards or contactless credit/debit cards; tag on and tag off or you pay the full route. Trains connect the centre with Porirua, the Hutt Valley and the Kapiti Coast — check current timetables, as frequencies differ by line and day. The cable car links Lambton Quay to Kelburn and the Botanic Garden.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Wairarapa (Featherston and Greytown)

go

Door to door: About 1–1.25 h

Metlink train from Wellington station over the Remutaka Ranges

Wine country and small towns; the hill road can close in high wind or snow.

Masterton

caution

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Metlink Wairarapa line train from Wellington station

Further than the Wairarapa towns; check the timetable before committing to a return day.

Kapiti Coast

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Kapiti line train to Waikanae or Paraparaumu

Beaches and the Kapiti Island bird sanctuary; island access and bookings need checking.

Picton and the Marlborough Sounds

overnight

Door to door: 3–3.5 h

Interislander or Bluebridge ferry across Cook Strait

Not a day trip: sail one way and continue into the South Island.

Lower Hutt and Petone

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Hutt Valley line train

Riverside walks and a short foreshore; useful on a wet day.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

CBD / Lambton Quay

Golden Mile, railway station and ferry shuttle; best for one night with bags and early trains.

Te Aro / Courtenay Place

Bars, restaurants and the Cuba Street strip; 10–15 min walk from the station, noisier at night.

Waterfront / Te Papa

Museum, Tākina and the i-SITE at 50 Cable Street; quiet evenings, short walk to everything central.

Mt Victoria / Oriental Bay

Harbour views and the lookout walk; 20–25 min walk or a short bus ride to the centre.

Porirua

Separate city 20–25 min north by train; a quieter base with its own station, and bed prices vary — check before booking.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
NZ$90–150 (≈ US$55–90) excl. bed
Mid
NZ$150–260 (≈ US$90–160) excl. bed
High
NZ$260 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × NZ$220NZ$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × NZ$170NZ$680
Airport Express bus, both ways2 × NZ$18 · checkNZ$36
Metlink Explorer day pass, zones 1–32 × NZ$13 · checkNZ$26
eSIM, about a week of data2 × NZ$25NZ$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeNZ$123
Trip total≈ NZ$339 per person per day, bed includedNZ$1,355≈ US$800

2026 estimate in NZ dollars; flights, ferry and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Flat whiteNZ$5–7 (≈ US$3–5)
Craft beer, pint in a barNZ$10–14 (≈ US$6–9)
Lunch (sandwich or pie)NZ$10–18 (≈ US$6–11)
Dinner, mid-range restaurantNZ$30–55 (≈ US$18–35)
Metlink single cash fare, 1–3 zonesSnapper or contactless is cheaper.NZ$3–6 (≈ US$2–4)
Cable car, one way2026 estimateNZ$6–8 (≈ US$4–5)
Te Papa entrySome touring exhibitions charge.Free

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Wellington is a safe city by day and mostly by night; the real risks are wind, earthquakes and late-night Courtenay Place drinking crowds. Keep bags zipped in the Cuba Street and Courtenay Place bar strips.
  • Wind is the local hazard: doors, umbrellas and light aircraft approaches all suffer. Southerly storms can close the Remutaka Hill road and cancel ferry sailings.
  • Wellington sits on active faults. In a strong quake, drop, cover and hold; stay put until authorities advise otherwise.
  • Ferry crossings to Picton are weather-dependent and sell out in summer: book ahead and keep a buffer before a flight.
  • International flights from Australia often land after midnight, when most airport facilities are shut.
  • The airport runway is short and windy landings can go around; keep your seatbelt on until the plane stops.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
111
Non-urgent police
105

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

WellingtonTe Whanganui-a-Tara

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Ki tēnei wāhi, koaTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance111
  • Non-urgent police105

Embassy

Most embassies and high commissions are in Wellington, the capital; check your own country's listing for the address and hours.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • WLG → CBD, Airport Express: about NZ$9 (≈ US$6) with Snapper, about 25 min (check)
  • WLG → CBD, Metlink Route 2: about NZ$4 (≈ US$3), 700 m walk to Hobart Street (check)
  • WLG → CBD, rideshare: about NZ$20 (≈ US$12) (check)
  • Ferry Wellington → Picton: 3–3.5 h; book ahead in summer

Say or show

  • Kia ora — Kia ora — hello / thank you (KEE-ah OR-ah)
  • Ngā mihi — Thank you (ngah MEE-hee)
  • Koa — Please (KOH-ah)
  • Kei hea te wharepaku? — Where is the toilet? (kay HAY-ah teh FAR-eh-PAH-koo)
  • E hia te utu? — How much is it? (eh HEE-ah teh OO-too)
  • Ka taea te utu mā te kāri? — Can I pay by card? (kah TAH-eh-ah teh OO-too mah teh KAH-ree)

Tipping is not expected; 10% for very good service in a restaurant is a bonus.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Wellington. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (wet and windy); avoid the southerly storm days any month · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 5 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for WLG: last Airport Express and Route 2 departures checked, taxi and rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: railway station and Lambton Quay, Civic Square and the waterfront, Cuba Street and Courtenay Place, Mt Victoria and Oriental Bay.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Te Papa, cable car, Botanic Garden, Weta Workshop) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Storm and ferry-disruption fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to New Zealand

Sources