Visiting Mount Victoria Lookout

About Mount Victoria Lookout

The summit lookout, about 196 metres above the harbour, gives a 360-degree view over the city, harbour, airport and Cook Strait. The forested town belt below was a filming location for the hobbits' hiding scene in The Lord of the Rings.

Tip: Walk up through the town belt trails from Courtenay Place or Oriental Bay; sunset is the best time.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
• Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
• Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
• Where: Mount Victoria, steep streets of wooden houses above Courtenay Place.

Best time to visit Mount Victoria Lookout

Mount Victoria Lookout is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:

• February: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
• January: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
• March: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.

For the view at golden hour: in mid-February the sun sets at about 20:25 local time (calculated for Wellington).

When to visit Wellington has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day Wellington itinerary visits Mount Victoria Lookout on day 3, together with Wellington Botanic Garden and Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours.

• No. 6 of the 18 sights in our Wellington things-to-do list.
• Listed in free things to do in Wellington.
• One of the picks in outdoors in Wellington.

If you like Mount Victoria Lookout

• Wellington Botanic Garden — Kelburn, 1.5 hours
• Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay — Oriental Bay, 1–2 hours
• Red Rocks coastal walk — South coast, 2–3 hours return

Staying near Mount Victoria Lookout

Stay in Mount Victoria ($$) to walk here: steep streets of wooden houses above Courtenay Place. All areas to stay in Wellington.

Questions travellers ask