You can still enjoy many Wellington sightseeing highlights even if you have just a few hours to spend here. Wellington is a compact little city making it easy to walk or drive around. There are many things to do in Wellington once you have parked your vehicle close to the waterfront and put your walking shoes on. The team here at What to do in Wellington have come up with a few realistic suggestions that will help you prioritise your time. So, before you head south to Picton on the ferry or drive north to Lake Taupo please enjoy the very best of Wellington’s sightseeing highlights.

Wonderful views of Wellington from the Mount Victoria look-out post

The Best Wellington Sightseeing Highlights

No visit is complete without a trip on the Wellington Cable Car which you will find along Lambton Quay. Enjoy the beautiful views from the top at the start of the botanic gardens. There are some fabulous photo opportunities of Wellington’s harbour and city. A small transport museum with two of the original cable cars are also on show here. The walk back down to town takes approximately 30 minutes through the gardens and if you have children there’s an excellent playground on the way. If you have time you can pop into the rather distinctive ‘Beehive’ which is part of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. Free tours begin on the hour every hour between 10am – 4pm every day excluding bank holidays.

Te Papa wellington museum with the world class Gallipoli Exhibition, now on!

Visit The Top 2 Wellington Museums

A quick tour of Te Papa museum to start off with is a must-do activity. It’s impressive collections focus on: New Zealand’s Māori, the Natural Environment, the Pacific, Art, and History. Some of the demonstrations are interactive and will be particularly enjoyable for children. There’s also one of the world’s largest caught squids and a choice of two eateries. Take in some fresh air along the water front and say hello to Mr. ‘Solace of the Wind‘.

If visiting Wellington with small children stop off at Midland Park. Your kids will love the longest slide in the Southern hemisphere there. Every Saturday between 10am to 4pm there’s an underground market close by. Products are crafted by skilled local artisans, designers and craftsmen. Depending on how hungry you are and how much time you have left pop into the highly interesting  Wellington Museum. This small but award winning museum is a little gem that celebrates Wellington’s social, cultural and maritime history.

Another excellent sightseeing spot is the Mount Victoria lookout post, situated just minutes from Courtenay Place by car. Here you can see the whole of Wellington from a 360 degree angle including the airport, city and harbour.

Wellington Restaurants and cafes

Click here for Brunch / Lunch / Afternoon Tea options (very important!) We would probably suggest Charlie Noble’s or Logan Brown’s if you have the time for a really good lunch. Otherwise there’s plenty of places to choose from on our list that range from fast food to fine dining.

Certainly one of the best coffee making centres in Wellington