Visit the NZ capital of Wellington, a city touted as the ‘coolest little capital in the world’ by Lonely Planet and ranked 12th in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey. Well, open your eyes and experience Wellington! You be the judge and decide if Wellington is deserving as we bring to you the top things to do in Wellington City, New Zealand.
Visit the Carter Observatory
Celebrate the Southern skies and go stargazing at the Carter Observatory! Featuring a state-of-the-art digital planetarium that brings you on an endless range of virtual space explorations and new multi-media exhibitions that tell of the Maori and European stories of the New Zealand southern skies, as well as how stars help in navigation. Whether or not you’re an obsessed outer space fanatic, you’ll have the most amazing outer space experience at the Carter Observatory.
Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience
A few minutes from downtown Wellington, nestled amidst the suburbs, is a whole other world- Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience. The award-winning eco-site is a must-visit if you want to have a true taste of New Zealand’s natural heritage. You find the most amazing wildlife, including the country’s native animals such as the kiwi and the extremely rare kaka. The first urban fully-fenced wildlife sanctuary is a unique sanctuary that protects the endangered species of New Zealand’s wildlife. What’s more, the wildlife roams freely in this natural habitat, but fret not, as Zealandia is a predator-free zone.
Get the best views of Wellington atop Mount Victoria Lookout
Hike to the top of the Victoria Lookout and you’ll be rewarded with an unobstructed, 360-degree panoramic view of Wellington and its surroundings. From the Cook Strait ferries that ply the harbor to Hutt Valley, the Lookout offers a view as far as the eye can see. Not to be missed if you want to snap the best pictures of Wellington. However, travelers should take note that the bus service that goes up to Mount Victoria Lookout does not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
If you’ve been researching Wellington, you would have known that the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is a popular tourist attraction in the city. The Museum of New Zealand is the one place to learn all you ever want to know about New Zealand, from its geography and wildlife and the indigenous people and vibrant artistic heritage. Aside from the historical artifacts and Maori treasures, visitors will also find a fairly extensive collection of modern and contemporary art and culture. There’s even a 10-meter (33 feet) long colossal squid! Admission to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is free.
Weta Cave
Weta Cave offers an exclusive insight into how the greatest films of all time such as James Cameron’s Avatar were brought to life. The miniature museum-cum-shop at the award-winning studio from ‘Lord of the Rings’, Weta Workshop was co-founded by Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor among several other artists. Snap pictures with Lurtz and Gollum, watch a film screening, or browse through the assortment of Weta-related movie merchandise! Best of all, entry to the Weta Cave’s museum and film screening is free.