Top Things to do in Greater Wellington
10 Museums in Greater Wellington That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Greater Wellington, New Zealand including The Pointon Collection, The Vintage Aviator Museum, Katherine Mansfield House and Garden, Wellington Museum, Kapiti Coast Museum, Featherston Heritage Museum, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Fell Locomotive Museum, National War Memorial, Nairn Street Cottage.
Restaurants in Greater Wellington
1. The Pointon Collection
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Private Collection of Vintage & Veteran Cars, motorcycles & automobilia displayed to resemble a 1930's country garage. This includes an extensive collection of garage equipment, signs, tools & manuals. All vehicles on display are in driveable condition. An extensive collection of original period clothing (1870 - 1970) is rotated every 3 months & the displays are changed accordingly - this includes wedding gowns, evening gowns, daywear, accessories etc. All visitors are greeted & taken on a tour of the complex - which also includes gardens & craft shop.
Reviewed By Gmacuku - Waiau Pa, New Zealand
Not just about vintage cars. More the wile range of tools and memorabilia from the period. Well worth visiting and if you have a guided tour with the Pointon’s then all the better.
2. The Vintage Aviator Museum
3. Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
Enter the 1888 home of a fashionable colonial family and discover the world and writing of internationally acclaimed New Zealand writer Katherine Mansfield at her birthplace. Enjoy a heritage garden and changing exhibitions. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Entry fees apply, guided tours by arrangement. Reopened October 2019 following redevelopment.
Reviewed By 953KateB - Melbourne, Australia
For any person who enjoys literature and the story of authors, this is an excellent Museum. It would also be of interest for people with a fascination for domestic colonial life in the Victorian era. The new timeline of Katherine Mansfield‘s life is excellent and equates to reading a biography. The bookshop has a range of volumes of her short stories, biographies, information books about Mansfield’s life in Wellington and Victoriana. The open hours are posted on the gate or you can call them.
4. Wellington Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,345 reviews
Wellington Museum celebrates the people and the events that have shaped the character and soul of the Capital City of New Zealand and it’s region. Visitors are transported to the 1800s, and then explore the city’s metamorphosis. The Ngā Heke exhibition showcases prized taonga, Te Whanganui a Tara (The Great Harbour of Tara), and contemporary work from Māori artists and poets. Reach the top floor and you’ll be greeted by the delightfully bizarre; The Attic, which embraces the more peculiar side of Wellington’s history. Explore, listen, and even time travel. The Museum Store is a gem of a place to get a unique gift for yourself or a loved one, find exquisite New Zealand made memorabilia. The Museum is located at the heart of Wellington’s waterfront, just two minutes from the shopping on Lambton Quay and the iconic cable car. It is free and listed as one of the must-dos while in the world’s coolest little capital.
Reviewed By Meatpie40 - Te Anau, New Zealand
this rates better than te papa in my opinion, lots of informative displays and curiosities, great focus on local history and plenty of interactive stuff to play with
5. Kapiti Coast Museum
6. Featherston Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
7. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14,040 reviews
Experience the whole of New Zealand in one building! Te Papa is New Zealand's bold, innovative and interactive national museum. Explore the great treasures and stories of this country, its unique natural environment, Maori culture and taonga (treasures), dynamic art heritage, and its fascinating history. Te Papa is located on Wellington's spectacular waterfront. Open 10am to 6pm every day except Christmas Day. General admission is free.
Reviewed By trishydishy
What a great museum - added bonus of seeing the terracotta warriors and Peter Jackson's marvellous and moving Gallipoli exhibition - saved our trip to Wellington which we found mostly CLOSED!!
8. Fell Locomotive Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By TheAngelTree
Small, but very informative museum. Good for anyone interested in social history, not just railway enthusiasts. The guide was welcoming and gave us information we may not have picked up otherwise.
9. National War Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 343 reviews
Reviewed By mvjtk9 - Safety Harbor, United States
Dedicated to New Zealanders and military allies from other areas including Great Britain, U.S., Turkey, Australia, Pacific Islands, etc. the memorial is very impressive and has a crupt with an unknown soldier.
10. Nairn Street Cottage
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as having 'outstanding significance,' Nairn Street Cottage was built by William Wallis in the 1850s as a home for his family. It is Wellington's oldest original cottage and tells the story of the Wallis Family, who lived in the cottage for three generations. Admission includes a tour of the clapboard cottage and the stunning heritage gardens, where the story of these early settlers and their descendants is brought to life. Open hours: Summer season; January-March 2016: Open daily, with tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. Winter season, March-December 2016: Tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. Closed: Monday-Friday.
Reviewed By JacqiB - Wellington, New Zealand
Fascinating slice of history shown int his cottage that was owned and lived in by three generations of one family who built it in the mid-1800s. I highly recommend the guided tour with the very informative and interesting guide (my group had Emma). Don't miss the rooms upstairs or the scullery and outhoue and the garden with the chooks (hens).
