Top Things to do in Greater Wellington
What to do and see in Greater Wellington, North Island: The Best Historic Sites
Discover the best top things to do in Greater Wellington, New Zealand including Government House, Pencarrow Lighthouse, Katherine Mansfield House and Garden, Old St Paul's, Wellington Cable Car, Wright's Hill, Sexton's Cottage, Karori Cemetery Tour, Old Government Buildings, Wellington Railway Station.
Restaurants in Greater Wellington
1. Government House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 99 reviews
A beautiful heritage building, Government House in Wellington is the principal residence for New Zealand's Governor-General. Designed in the office of the Government Architect, John Campbell, the designer of Parliament Buildings,the house was built between 1908 and 1910. A major strengthening and refurbishment project was undertaken in 2008,with the official reopening taking place in March 2011. Built mostly of wood, Government House has eight guest suites and a self-contained apartment for the Governor-General, as well as a ballroom, conservatory, sitting rooms, service rooms, kitchens and offices. The formal rooms can be visited by the public,schools and community groups Visitors may also tour the gardens if the weather is fine.
Reviewed By dpr8 - San Francisco, United States
Took the free tour the government house offers, and it was quite impressive and informative. You will be asked to leave all personal items at the front desk, so if you have separation anxiety with your phone, do be aware that, too, is not allowed to be with you.
2. Pencarrow Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
At the storm-lashed entrance to Wellington Harbour, New Zealand’s first lighthouse tells stories of early settlement, shipwreck, and one very strong woman. The pilgrimage to Pencarrow Lighthouse makes a memorable day trip from Wellington city or the Hutt Valley. Starting from pretty Eastbourne, it’s a return walk of around four hours, or 1.5 hours on a bicycle (bike hire is available at the gate during summer). The rugged stretch of coastline leading to Pencarrow Head offers spectacular scenery complete with whirling birds and rocky beaches strewn with flotsam. On a blowy day, it’s easy to imagine the danger facing ships passing through the treacherous heads. Interpretation panels illuminate tales of trials and tragedy. The lighthouse has its own captivating story to tell, for not only was it the country’s first permanent lighthouse, it was also home to its first and only female lighthouse keeper – Mrs Mary Jane Bennett.
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
JUST TO NOTE: reviewer Julie P's posted photos appear to be of the red-striped Cape Palliser Lighthouse, further up the coast, and not the Pencarrow Lighthouse, which is white and located on a cliff overlooking the entrance to Wellington Harbor. That said, views from the high promontories all along this coastline, colorfully and aptly dubbed "The Storm Coast" for the bus tours run by P & O Cruises, are pretty breathtaking. So either way, Cape Palliser or Pencarrow Head, you can't go wrong. There are actually two lighthouses at the harbor entrance: an upper one, built of cast iron in England and shipped in sections for installation atop the cliff east of the harbor entrance in 1859; and a lower one, a secondary lighthouse dating from 1906 on the beach below. The upper one is properly thought of as the main one -- or, if you will, as THE Pencarrow Lighthouse. The footpath leading up to the main light from the coastal road is dotted with interpretive signs giving interesting information on its building, its operation, its light-keepers, and its historical significance. There's a little side track that will take you to the spot where the two-year old daughter of George and Mary Jane Bennett, keepers of an earlier lighthouse on that spot, was buried in 1852. George himself drowned in the harbor in 1855, leaving his widow as the keeper until 1865, when she left for England with her remaining children. The views of Cook Strait, the high mountain ranges of the South Island 50 or 60 miles distant, and the south coast of greater Wellington between Baring Head and Devil's Gate are impressive. If you're lucky, you may also see schools of dolphins leaping in the strait, or even the occasional whale. Because there is a vast lakes area (the Parangarahu Lakes, comprising Lake Kohangapiripiri and Lake Kohangatera) in the interior, connected to the lighthouse trail by well-signed hiking tracks, you can walk quite far inland to get stunning pictures of Pencarrow Light from afar, delightfully showing its prominence in a large, natural context. You can also use those tracks to re-connect with the coastal road further up Cook Strait, then walk back around the promontory from the other side for some splendid views pictures of the two lighthouses in a ruggedly beautiful setting. If you are interested in experiencing and/or photographing those larger views, you may wish to read my recent review of East Harbour Regional Park, under the title "Heading to Old Pencarrow Lighthouse? Explore Vast Lakes District Right Nearby." There are considerable distances involved here, and no real shelter, so if you decide to come to Pencarrow, be sure to get up-to-the-minute weather information. Conditions can change very rapidly, as attested by the number of shipwrecks recorded right here, including the 1968 sinking of the ferry "Wahine" with the loss of 51 lives. Fierce winds can arise suddenly, and temperatures can plummet as weather degrades. But on a balmy day, with gentle winds and lots of sunshine, a visit here just cannot be beat. Make sure bring water, as none is available at the lighthouse. Highly recommended.
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. Old St Paul's
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,197 reviews
Be embraced by the beauty of this gorgeous wooden Gothic Revival cathedral - still sacred, welcoming to all, in the heart of Wellington's heritage precinct. Breathtakingly beautiful - the capital city's famous Old St Paul's, constructed entirely of native timbers, is one of New Zealand's greatest heritage places. Experience the wonderful and sometimes quirky stories of this former cathedral, its historic location and its people. Gaze at Old St Paul's unique architecture, admire its exquisite embroidered furnishings and be awed by the colours of its beautiful stained glass windows. The site where Old St Paul's stands was formerly part of Pipitea Pā, and for almost 100 years, Old St Paul's served as the parish church of Thorndon and the Anglican Cathedral of Wellington. It remains a place of spiritual significance to many and is a popular venue for a wide variety of cultural events and celebrations.
Reviewed By costaricatravel09 - Battle Ground, United States
Old St Paul’s is a wonderful Gothic Revival wooden church built by the Anglican Church and completed in 1866. The inside of the church is breathtaking with its beautiful wooden arches and stained glass windows. This is a beautiful heritage building and amazingly almost was destroyed in 1960 (like many buildings) when the new St Paul’s church was built close by. Well worth the visit.
5. Wellington Cable Car
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,509 reviews
The highlight to any visit to Wellington is a trip on Wellington Cable Car. In just 5 minutes you will reach the top of the Botanic Garden where panoramic views of the city and harbour are the reward. You can also visit the Space Place Observatory here. Before you head back down make sure to visit the Cable Car Museum (free entry), which provides a history of the city's symbolic mode of transport and see the original cars and winding machinery on display. There are walking tracks that start at the top of the Cable Car if you're keen on a stroll back to the city. The Cable Cars leave every 10 minutes and evry 15 minutes before 8pm.
Reviewed By Probal - Sydney, Australia
It was a fun ride up with some great views and the walk back down through the botanical gardens to the city was great and lots of fun.
6. Wright's Hill
7. Sexton's Cottage
8. Karori Cemetery Tour
9. Old Government Buildings
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 135 reviews
In its heyday New Zealand’s largest and grandest wooden building housed our entire public service. Government Buildings is an outstanding example of New Zealand’s architectural heritage and one of the great wooden buildings of the world. Like many colonial buildings of the era, it was built to resemble a stone palace. This was to convey strength and stability in a young country undergoing rapid growth and change. To avoid being seen as extravagant, the new government chose to build in timber including extensive use of kauri, and it remains probably the world's largest timber office building. The constant threat of fire meant that it also became one of New Zealand’s first smoke-free buildings. Today, the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington occupies most of the building. Visitors may view the displays on the ground floor and the Cabinet room on the first floor. Contact us to arrange a tour
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
This building, dating from 1876, once housed the entire NZ civil service as well as government ministers and the cabinet. Now the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington, it is open to weekend visitors curious to see one of the world's largest wooden buildings and to learn the details of its original construction and its 1994-1996 restoration using native woods, especially kauri. This is no ordinary timber. One of the oldest woods in the world, it can be dug up from where the trees fell thousands of years ago and then reworked to shimmering and durable beauty, almost as if newly harvested. Cut down in huge numbers during early settlement and now endangered by a fungus-like pathogen causing dieback, kauri is precious to Kiwis and great efforts are being made to protect remaining forests. Even during the 1990s restoration, no new kauri trees were felled. Instead, old wood was salvaged and repurposed. Some of it came from Whangerei -- from the old post office and the hotel there -- and some from the Devonport naval base. You may also notice that two kauri trees flank the main entrance. Planted decades ago, they are now of pretty good size, but of course nothing compared to all the giant, thousand year old trees felled to create the building. You will see other beautiful native woods too, such as rimu, used for baluster railings and trim, and totara, used for pilings. The interior woodwork in this building is stunning, especially the famous multi-story "hanging staircase," beautifully if impractically designed by William Clayton. You can walk 3 flights up and back down. Not to worry: the staircase was propped up almost from the time it was built in 1876. In the 1990s restoration, it was greatly strengthened using steel beams that are hidden from view. The beauty is enhanced by a gorgeous, custom-made carpet featuring the old "Victoria Regina" logo in dark blue and gold. The interpretation here, including cut-away sections to show interior construction, is easy-to-follow and interesting whether you know about such things or not. And there are fascinating small touches, like the "Little Lion," originally part of the coat of arms over the building's main entrance. Removed for restoration in 1980, it was found too fragile for replacement, so it is on display here, with its original paints removed and "1876" carved into the base to indicate its inclusion in the original building. I found it quite charming. It all adds up to what someone who knows more than I do called a "triumph in timber." You can enjoy a very pleasant hour here, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Let me mention that there's also a small, but very interesting, exhibition on women's suffrage, including appropriate recognition given to "allies" like Sir John Hall, a rich, conservative politician from Canterbury who presented the successful 1893 petition for women's voting rights. You can see a mock-up of his desk, with the draft petition on it. Hall argued that women should have the vote because their concern for home and children would, in his view, promote legislation to reduce suffering, improve lives, and lead to better government. Maybe he was onto something. Highly recommended.
10. Wellington Railway Station
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 202 reviews
Reviewed By ADHIII - Westerville, United States
My husband and I booked a side excursion from our tour group on a free day to take the train to Martinborough for a wine tasting. We presented our voucher to the ticket desk, which went fine. The voucher included specific instructions about where to disembark the train and that someone would be waiting for us. We easily boarded the train and were on our way. The ride was fine, but one of the staff aboard the train stopped by our seat and asked if we were getting off at Martinborough. We told her yes, at which time she instructed us that we would now get off at the stop after. We weren't sure how she received communication that our ride would now be at the next stop, but trusted her. When we exited the train at the stop she instructed us; our ride was not waiting. We tried to ask her, as she was helping a school group off the train at the rear and was waved away. She obviously didn't have time for us. The train left and we were stranded without a ride. Luckily, another van driver was receiving passengers to take to Martinborough, and offered us a ride. It all worked out, but we're a bit disappointed in the lady who worked on the train for leading us astray and especially for not trying to correct the issue. Would definitely feel sure about using the train system again, but would not be so sure about listening to alternate instructions from the staff.
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