Location: Wellington
Top Things to do in Wellington
What to do and see in Wellington, North Island: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Wellington boasts a compact downtown area that’s easy to explore on foot and a wealth of architectural styles, from 19th-century wooden cottages to Art Deco masterpieces. Discover the city’s Maori roots at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea and the Museum of New Zealand. Sip coffee and people-watch in lively Courtney Place, or survey the city from scenic Mount Victoria. When the sun goes down on Windy Wellington, take a nocturnal tour of Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to meet some colorful inhabitants.
Restaurants in Wellington
1. West Wind Recreation Area
2. ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,744 reviews
Imagine a lush forest full of rare native animals. Discover ZEALANDIA – an ecosanctuary home to over 40 rare native species and 32km of walking tracks. Explore the outdoors at your own pace or be led by a guide! Our nature experts will show you the best places to spot wildlife like kakariki, tuatara and takahe on a ZEALANDIA by Day tour. Relax at Rata cafe with delicious food made from sustainably sourced ingredients and admire the views over the lake. Browse locally designed art, jewellery, homewares, books, clothes and gifts at the store where the products you buy have purpose and help the sanctuary to operate. For something a little more adventurous, see how the sanctuary transforms after dark on a ZEALANDIA by Night tour and search for thousands of glow worms and over 150 kiwi. Experience this world-renowned conservation success that lies only minutes from Wellington’s CBD. As a not-for-profit, your visit helps us ensure the future flourishing of New Zealand’s native wildlife.
Reviewed By Ealgian - New York City, United States
I hope my comparison of Zealandia to Jurassic Park is not interpreted in a negative fashion. Growing up in the era of those films that gave me a deep appreciation for our natural world as well as the unique talent of human beings to mess up that natural world, it was the first comparison that came to mind upon visiting Zealand. There is truly no place like it on earth. The combination of science, engineering, and love for our planet and its creatures that Zealandia represents is infinitely inspiring. You will see and hear so many fascinating creatures here, especially birds. The tour guides will also share interesting facts about how the work of preservation is done, and the clever solutions people have devised to undo some of the damage humans have wreaked on NZ. If you take the night tour, there's a good chance you'll see kiwi birds (to see them for certain, highly recommend the Kiwi Birdlife Park in Queenstown).
3. Wellington Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,501 reviews
Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, caring for animals since 1906. The Zoo is a not for profit charitable trust and we're proud to be the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo. We are guided by our kaupapa Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! We must look after our environment, so all things will flourish. It is up to us collectively to make a difference for animals and the wild places they call home. See our website for entry prices and to plan your visit. If you have accessibility needs, you can find more visitor information on our website.
Reviewed By judemgard - Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
Reasonably priced and spot-on size-wise with approachable rangers and a wide range of animal environments this zoo is great in every way for kids. Take a full day and a picnic ( the food is great here but over-subscribed leading to lunchtime queues). There are water-fountains, playgrounds and picnic areas, the animals seem well-cared for and it is a treat for any animal lover. I kept losing the kids I was with but all OK and a measure of how much there is to explore. Roll on tagging!
4. Otari-Wilton's Bush Native Botanic Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 277 reviews
Otari Native Botanic Garden and Wilton's Bush Reserve is the only public botanic garden in New Zealand dedicated solely to native plants. The Garden is a unique plant sanctuary and forest reserve and includes 100ha of native forest and 5ha of plant collections. Some of Wellington's oldest trees are here, including an 800-year-old rimu. It is classified as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. Just a 10-minute drive from the CBD or take the no. 14 bus bound for Wilton and get off at the Warwick St/Wilton Rd stop. Tell the bus driver and they will be sure to stop.
Reviewed By Car0le88 - Manchester, United Kingdom
A friend took us on the Otari-Wilton Bush trails- first the circular then on to the yellow trail to see the 800 year old tree. The trails were amazing, quite a few steps up and once you get all the way to the top to see the tree, some interesting trails back to the carpark. Would love to do some more next time we visit NZ. Beautiful specimens of plants and trees.
5. Staglands Wildlife Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 762 reviews
Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Cafe is less than an hour from Wellington and a 'must see' attraction for anyone either living in or visiting Wellington. Staglands offers a unique experience for people of all ages to feed and freely interact with a wide range of native and exotic birds and animals in an environment that has been created with nature's materials. Open daily 9:30am-5pm. Adults $24, Children $12 (3 and under no charge)
Reviewed By job356
Staglands is set in a little valley, beautiful bush setting, this is a day out adventure, bring your lunch or enjoy the cafe, feed the animals, walk thru bird aviaries, so many other animals to enjoy, you can even go on a tractor ride, I’ll be back
6. Williams Reserve
7. Taputeranga Marine Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
Taputeranga Marine Reserve is close to, yet a world away from, Wellington's city center. You can get there in 15-20 minutes on Bus #1 to Island Bay from Courtenay Place or other nearby stops along the Central Business District's main bus route. Get off Bus #1 at the last stop, and you will be just steps away from The Esplanade, where you will find the marine reserve along the shore in either direction. Taputeranga Island will be straight ahead. To the right will be the Sirens Rocks and Owhiro Bay. To the left will be Houghton Bay. To return to Wellington, jump back on the #1 across the street from where you got off. What's here? NATURE. Beautiful scenery, unspoiled beaches, a snorkeling trail, a chance to surf or to dive. No fishing or taking of any kind: it's a reserve, after all. There are no concessions for food, drink or a rest stop, although you'll find benches or the odd picnic table if you've brought lunch with you. But you can probably get what you need, from food and drink to information, equipment, and bookings at dive shops, in Island Bay's commercial area, or you can take your chances further along The Esplanade toward Owhiro Bay where may also be some services. On the way there, you'll pass the Beach House and Kiosk Cafe, with an interesting menu and a big deck with views of Cook Strait. If you're the adventurous, outdoorsy type, you can hike to Taputeranga Marine Reserve from Wellington on the Southern Walkway, which runs 11 km from Oriental Parade in Wellington to Shorland Park in Island Bay, although the trail will bring you to The Esplanade above Island Bay at Houghton Bay, where the marine reserve begins. So you will be "there" after 9.5 or 10 km. It's a hilly route, and you'll want to stop and see the sights, so plan 2.5 hours if you're in reasonably good shape, otherwise 3 or more. There are short cuts that will get you there faster if you skip the overlook atop Mt. Victoria and instead start at Plimmerton Park at the end of Majoribanks Street. From the park, you can skirt to the right along the Hataitai trail to join the Southern Walkway a bit further on, and thereby save both time and energy. And you can take bus #1 back to Wellington from the Southern Walkway's terminus at Shorland Park in Island Bay, just a few steps from where you got off it. Bring your camera. Even on a blustery day there are great photos to be had. See the pictures I've attached to get an idea of what you will experience here. There's a boat ramp at Owhiro Bay. Perhaps there are in-season rentals, but in mid-September when the weather was still changing from winter to spring, I couldn't find any way to get a short cruise on the water. Summertime may be different. The Taputeranga Marine Reserve is one of those not-to-be-missed places. How extraordinary that it is so near to, and so easy to get to, from New Zealand's capital city!
8. Butterfly Creek
9. Percy's Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By manisha_sp - Auckland, New Zealand
This is a lovely short walk to do if you are strapped for time but would like to do a short walk in Wellington's Lower Hutt. The walk to the waterfall is really beautiful.
