Free things to do · Wellington · New Zealand
9 free things to do in Wellington
Wellington without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Wellington without paying an entry fee: Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Botanic Garden, Mount Victoria Lookout and Parliament and the Beehive are all free. Te Papa, Wellington Museum, Parliament tours, the Botanic Garden and Mount Victoria cost nothing.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–July
Free sights and experiences
Museum · Te Aro
1.Te Papa Tongarewa
Pick two or three floors rather than trying to see everything; the Māori and nature exhibitions are good starting points.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
- Art
Garden · Kelburn
2.Wellington Botanic Garden
Visit the rose garden in summer, then continue down to Bolton Street Cemetery and Thorndon.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Kids
Viewpoint · Mount Victoria
3.Mount Victoria Lookout
Walk up through the town belt trails from Courtenay Place or Oriental Bay; sunset is the best time.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Couples
Architecture · Lambton Quay and CBD
4.Parliament and the Beehive
Join a free guided tour; when the House is sitting you can also watch debates from the public gallery.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Oriental Bay
5.Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay
Walk it on a calm evening and stop for ice cream or fish and chips at Oriental Bay.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
Street · Te Aro
6.Cuba Street
Explore the side streets too; Left Bank Arcade and the lanes off Ghuznee Street hide small cafés and shops.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Museum · Lambton Quay and CBD
7.Wellington Museum
Combine it with a ferry trip from Queens Wharf to Matiu/Somes Island or Days Bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Nature · South coast
8.Red Rocks coastal walk
Walk at low tide, keep at least 20 metres from seals and check the wind forecast first.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Active
Religious site · Thorndon
9.Old St Paul's
Combine it with Parliament and Thorndon's historic streets on a walking loop.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Te Aro | Te Papa Tongarewa and Cuba Street | 3–4 hours + 1–2 hours |
| Kelburn | Wellington Botanic Garden | 1.5 hours |
| Mount Victoria | Mount Victoria Lookout | 1–1.5 hours |
| Lambton Quay and CBD | Parliament and the Beehive and Wellington Museum | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Oriental Bay | Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay | 1–2 hours |
| South coast | Red Rocks coastal walk | 2–3 hours return |
| Thorndon | Old St Paul's | 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
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Experience · Lambton Quay and CBD
Wellington Cable Car
Ride up and walk back down through the Botanic Garden to Thorndon or the CBD.
- Time needed
- 1 hour with the lookout
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- History
Gallery · Te Aro
City Gallery Wellington
Cross the City to Sea Bridge from Civic Square afterwards to reach the waterfront.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Island · Wellington Harbour
Matiu/Somes Island
Take a picnic and allow at least two hours; check the ferry timetable, as sailings are limited.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- History
- Off the beaten path
Market · Te Aro
Harbourside Market
Arrive early for the best produce and a coffee before the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Outdoors
Historic site · Thorndon
Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Read one of her Wellington stories, such as 'The Garden Party', before you go.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Te Papa, Wellington Museum, Parliament tours, the Botanic Garden and Mount Victoria cost nothing.
- Use a Snapper card on buses for lower fares than cash.
- Buy fruit at the Sunday Harbourside Market and picnic on the waterfront.
- Stay in Petone or Kelburn for lower rates with quick trains or the cable car to the centre.
- Hotel prices rise sharply during big events, rugby tests and conferences; book early for those dates.
- Happy hours in Te Aro bars and taprooms bring drink prices down in the early evening.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Wellington expensive to visit?
Wellington is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Wellington?
Te Papa Tongarewa: Pick two or three floors rather than trying to see everything; the Māori and nature exhibitions are good starting points.