History · Wellington · New Zealand
7 historic sites to see in Wellington
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: SPCarterObservatory, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Cable Car and Parliament and the Beehive. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 11–13 hours across 4 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 11–13 hours
- Areas
- Te Aro, Lambton Quay and CBD and Wellington Harbour
Historic sites in Wellington
Museum · Te Aro
1.Te Papa Tongarewa
It includes Rongomaraeroa, a contemporary marae, and the general collection is free to enter.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Rainy day
- Kids
- History
- Art
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Experience · Lambton Quay and CBD
2.Wellington Cable Car
A small free museum at the top tells the line's history and displays an original car.
- Time needed
- 1 hour with the lookout
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- History
Architecture · Lambton Quay and CBD
3.Parliament and the Beehive
Free guided tours start from the visitor centre.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Lambton Quay and CBD
4.Wellington Museum
Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Island · Wellington Harbour
5.Matiu/Somes Island
Walking tracks pass former quarantine and wartime internment buildings and give views back to the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- History
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Thorndon
6.Old St Paul's
No longer a parish church, it is used for concerts and weddings and is open to visitors.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Thorndon
7.Katherine Mansfield House and Garden
Restored rooms and a Victorian garden recreate her childhood home, with exhibitions on her life and short stories.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Te Aro | Te Papa Tongarewa | 3–4 hours |
| Lambton Quay and CBD | Wellington Cable Car, Parliament and the Beehive and Wellington Museum | 1 hour with the lookout + 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Wellington Harbour | Matiu/Somes Island | Half a day |
| Thorndon | Old St Paul's and Katherine Mansfield House and Garden | 30 minutes + 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Te Papa Tongarewa; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Te Aro and Lambton Quay and CBD): Te Papa Tongarewa → Wellington Cable Car, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Lambton Quay and CBD): Parliament and the Beehive → Wellington Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Wellington Harbour and Thorndon): Matiu/Somes Island → Old St Paul's, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Thorndon): Katherine Mansfield House and Garden, at least 1 hour.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool and increasingly wet; a good month for museums, galleries and cafés.
- June: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. Winter begins: short, wet days with occasional clear, still spells; fur seals appear on the south coast.
- July: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 13 rainy days, quiet crowds. The coldest month, rarely frosty in the city; cosy bars and museums make the most of it.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Te Aro — Cuba Street cafés, Courtenay Place bars and Te Papa on the waterfront
- Lambton Quay and CBD — The main shopping street, government buildings and the cable car terminal
- Thorndon — Wooden villas, embassies and Wellington's oldest streets
- Kelburn — Hilltop suburb by the Botanic Garden and Victoria University
More of Wellington
All things to do in Wellington · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Wellington?
Te Papa Tongarewa. The Museum of New Zealand, opened in 1998 on the waterfront, covers Māori and Pacific culture, the country's history, natural history, earthquakes and New Zealand art across six floors.
+Which of these are free in Wellington?
Te Papa Tongarewa, Parliament and the Beehive, Wellington Museum and Old St Paul's.