Are you looking for ideas on what to do in Wellington cruise port? We stopped in Wellington as part of our Australia New Zealand Cruise on Celebrity Solstice, and there are lots of things to do in New Zealand‘s capital, depending on interests and budget.
Wellington lies on the southern tip of the North Island on the shores of the Cook Strait. Wellington is home to a variety of galleries and museums, including one of our all-time favourites, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarew, where the country’s rich Maori history is celebrated.
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You can take a city tour to tick off key sights such as Wellington Cable Car, Mt. Victoria Lookout, and Wellington Botanic Gardens. Or travel to beauty spots such as the Taputeranga Marine Reserve, the Kāpiti Coast, and the Hutt Valley.
Lord of the Rings fans can join movie-themed tours, which typically stop at the prop-filled Weta Cave, run by the Oscar-winning special effects and prop studio Weta Workshop.
Where do Cruise Ships dock in Wellington?
Most cruise ships dock at Aotea Quay, which is approximately 2km from the city centre.
Cruise Ship Shuttle from Aotea Quay to Wellington City
The Port Authority provides complimentary shuttle buses to Lambton Quay and Wakefield Street at the bottom of Cuba Street. The travel time is about 15 minutes.
Wellington Ambassadors & Maps
These volunteers are at the drop-off points and will provide maps and directions and answer any questions you may have. They are easy to spot in their yellow and black clothes.
Wellington Weather
The city is windy year-round, hence its nickname, Windy Wellington. The best weather is from October through to April, with temperatures ranging between 17C and 21C. However, we were there in January, and it was cool and rainy. It didn’t stop us from enjoying this port of call, though.
Wellington Tours
There are plenty of options for tours in Wellington if you don’t want to do your own thing. We like Viator with its flexible cancellation and lowest price guarantee policies.
This half-day Wellington Sightseeing Tour takes in the city highlights, including Weta Cave, the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Wellington cable car, and Mount Victoria. If you’re at a hotel or on a cruise ship, pick-ups and drop-offs are provided. Find out more here.
The half-day Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour takes you to Mount Victoria for panoramic views of the city and Weta Cave. After lunch you’ll visit Te Kopahou Visitor Centre to learn about the local history, geography, flora and fauna then Wellington Wind Turbine, which has an amazing vantage point above the city. You have the option to take the Wellington Cable Car from Lambton Quay to Kelburn. From the top of the Cable Car you have the option to take a 20 minute walk down through the Botanical Gardens to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden (weather permitting). The driver will pick up guests at the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and continue the tour to Old St Paul’s.
For the ultimate way to see Wellington, take a Scenic Helicopter Flight over the city. Have aerial views of the Museum of New Zealand, Parliament House, and the forests and trails surrounding the city. You can see Marlborough Sounds and the Southern Alps on the horizon on clear days, then fly across Wellington’s Queen Wharf as you head back to the helipad. See photos of the tour here.
John at Capital Personalised Tours has a Private Kapiti Coast Full Day Tour where you’ll travel in luxury to the Kapiti region, just north of Wellington. John can customize the tour to suit your needs.
This Lord of the Rings Day Tour takes you on a full-day adventure through the likes of Mount Victoria, taking a stroll through the “Shire” scenes of the Lord of the Rings and their lush greenery where various scenes from the movies were shot. You will visit Weta Studios, where filming happens, then enjoy a delicious lunch with a Lord of the Rings-themed menu included in the cost of your tour. Spend the afternoon exploring the Hutt Valley and Hutt River, where other iconic scenes from LOTR were filmed, then visit the forest of the elves at Kaitoke Regional Park.
What to do in Wellington for free
Te Papa Tongarewa
New Zealand’s National Museum showcases the country’s history, geography, culture, and people. The innovative exhibits make it very interesting and you can learn a lot from here. Our favourite part was the Te Hau ki Tūranga – an exceptional meeting house at the heart of the iwi (tribal) exhibition. It was fascinating to hear about the meaning behind the house and what it represents.
For a deeper look at Maori cultural heritage and colonial history, take this 1-hour guided tour, which provides an overview of the museum’s interactive exhibits, artifacts, fine art and natural history displays. The expert guide will share insights and offers suggestions for galleries that might suit your interests.
Read about the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour here.
Te Paps’s Opening Hours
Te Papa is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Christmas Day and is free to enter – apart from some short-term exhibitions.
Walk along the Waterfront
It’s a beautiful walk along the water’s edge from Te Papa and past Whairepo Lagoon. Here you can cross the City To Sea Bridge into the main city area. There are also some beautiful art installations across the bridge.
The Old Bank Shopping Arcade
The Bank Of New Zealand opened its Head Office here in 1901. Unfortunately, this beautiful building fell into disrepair once the bank moved premises until the late 1990s. It was then restored by the company that renovated the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney.
It can be found at 233 – 237 LAMBTON QUAY.
The National Mutual Life Association Building
Thomas Turnbull designed this building, and construction started in 1883. It is one of Wellington’s oldest masonry buildings and a great example of Victorian Classical Commerical style.
The National Mutual Life remained here until 1963, when the premises became too small. It was then sold to the Bank of New Zealand and became the last of the Lambton Quay/ Customhouse Quay/Hunter Street block purchased by them.
The bank moved to its new Head Office in 1985, which subsequently led to a long battle to save this beautiful building from being knocked down. Thankfully, in 1997, work began to convert the buildings into a shopping arcade and offices. After that, they were listed under a Heritage Order.
Cuba Street
This is the place to eat, grab coffee, shop and listen to the buskers. Cuba Street is actually named after a settler ship and not the island. In 1995, it was registered as a Historic Area under the Historic Places Act.
Botanical Gardens
This inner-city garden was established in 1868 and is, therefore, one of the oldest Botanical Gardens in New Zealand. It consists of over 25ha of flora, including native forest, specialised plants, and stunning floral displays.
We took the Cable Car (see below) up to the lookout and then walked downhill through the gardens. It’s an easy walk that starts at the top where you get off the cable car and ends by Parliament House. You should allow about 45 minutes for this walk.
The gardens open daily from sunrise to sunset and are free to enter.
Parliament Buildings and The Beehive
The Beehive is an interesting building and instantly recognisable. Construction on it commenced in 1969 but did not finish until 1980. It is the Executive Wing of the Parliamentary Complex and where the Cabinet meets.
Parliament House features an Edwardian neo-classical design and dates back to 1922.
You can take a guided tour of Parliament which runs on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm. The tour size is limited, so it is advisable to book ahead.
Old St Paul’s
This quaint wooden church was built by the Anglican Church between 1865 and 1866. Old St. Paul’s is made of native timber, and the inside is simply stunning with elegant arches and beautiful lighting. It is free to enter, but a donation is requested.
Mount Victoria
I’ve put Mount Victoria in the free section as it doesn’t cost anything to walk up to the lookout. However, if you are short on time, grab a taxi or catch the number 20 bus. If walking, be prepared that it will take approximately 1.5 hours to climb to the top. Alternatively, hire an electric bike and cycle to other attractions such as the Weta Workshop, Te Papa Museum, or Pencarrow Lighthouse.
The view from the 198m high Mount Victoria is one of Wellington’s most photographed. It takes in the waters of the Cook Strait and the panorama of the city.
The Weta Cave
Entrance to just the Weta Cave Shop is free, and a behind-the-scenes documentary is played every half hour. There are artifacts from films displayed in a mini-museum, and this is where you can book tours for the workshop.
Wellington’s Beaches
We didn’t have time to visit any of the beaches in Wellington but my good friend at Coconutlands has written a fabulous post on the best 11 beaches in Wellington.
Things To Do in Wellington Cruise Port – Paid
Historic Cable Car
Buy a ticket from the ticket booth at Lambton Quay; you can choose one way or return. The journey only takes 5 minutes and, before you know it, you are at the top of Kelburn Hill. It is 119m above the city, so it has some fabulous views. There’s an indoor and outdoor viewing platform as well as telescopes (coins required).
If you’re feeling peckish, the Cabletop provides food, drinks, and snacks and is also fully licensed if you want a wine or beer.
Work on this tramline began in 1899 but became operational in 1902. If you are interested in the cable car’s complete history, you can read more on the Wellington Cable Car website.
Opening Hours and Prices
| Monday to Friday | 7:00am – 10:00pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am – 10:00pm |
| Sunday | 8:30am – 9:00pm |
| Adult Child (5-15) | $9.00 Return $4.50 | $5.00 One Way $2.50 |
There are also family tickets available for return journeys only.
Zealandia
This completely fenced ecosanctuary is a 10-minute drive from the city. Alternatively, you can take the Wellington Cable Car to the top of the Botanic Gardens and hop on the free ZEALANDIA shuttle. General Admission can be booked direct through Zealandia.
The Small Group Daytime 2-Hour Eco Wildlife Tour at Zealandia guided walking tour will introduce you to native birds such as kakariki, tui, and bellbirds; rare species like takahē; and unique reptiles including green gecko and tuatara.
Free WiFi Location
Free Wifi can be found along the waterfront, in Te Papa, and some cafes and McDonald’s.
Where To Stay
If you are lucky enough to be staying in Wellington, check out these amazing accommodation deals.
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This is really helpful. I visited Auckland a couple years ago, but didn’t get a chance to see the rest of New Zealand. Hopefully when boarders open I can get back and do an NZ road trip. I’d love to stop in Wellington to see Mount Victoria and the National Museum.
Thank you Jenn, glad you found our guide on what to do in Wellington helpful. We really enjoyed looking around and the museum was fantastic. We hope to return to New Zealand when the borders open too to see more of the South Island.
Would you believe it that we have been to Wellington so many times but never toured.
Always stopped just for a lunch or passing through on way to the ferry to South Island. Love this comprehensive guide. Will keep it as an itinerary for the next time we are there.
We do that to so many places too. We really enjoyed the museum and would have liked to have spent more time there.
Great ideas. I normally visit a history museum when on holiday as I find it very interesting to learn about a country’s past and their culture. So great recommendation and that botanical garden looks great. I love gardens and they normally do not cost much. By the way I nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award as I really enjoy your posts and the way you present everything, if you would like to accept theworldofcruiseandtravel.wordpress.com/2019/07/31/mystery-blogger-award-my-first-ever-nomination/
Thank you so much Anna. We love visiting museums and gardens too as it’s a cheap view into the culture of a place. I’ve written my blog for the award and will post it on Thursday. Thanks again for the nomination.
Wellington looks like such a lovely town! I would love to visit if I get the opportunity to go to New Zealand. I love the architecture of the buildings there. 🙂
It was a lovely place to visit. The museum was fantastic and very interesting. Wish we could have spent longer there.