Outdoors · Wellington · New Zealand
8 best outdoor things to do in Wellington
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Wellington Botanic Garden, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne and Mount Victoria Lookout. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 14–19 hours across 8 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 14–19 hours
- Areas
- Kelburn, Karori and Mount Victoria
Outdoors in Wellington
Garden · Kelburn
1.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
Nature · Karori
2.Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne
Book a guided night tour for the best chance of seeing kiwi; daytime visitors should go early when the birds are most active.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
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
Waterfront · Oriental Bay
4.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
.jpg){kind=link}
Zoo · Newtown
5.Wellington Zoo
Check the daily talk and feeding schedule at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · South coast
6.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
Island · Wellington Harbour
7.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
8.Harbourside Market
Arrive early for the best produce and a coffee before the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Kelburn | Wellington Botanic Garden | 1.5 hours |
| Karori | Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne | 2–3 hours |
| Mount Victoria | Mount Victoria Lookout | 1–1.5 hours |
| Oriental Bay | Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay | 1–2 hours |
| Newtown | Wellington Zoo | 2–3 hours |
| South coast | Red Rocks coastal walk | 2–3 hours return |
| Wellington Harbour | Matiu/Somes Island | Half a day |
| Te Aro | Harbourside Market | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. The longest visit is Matiu/Somes Island; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne: Night tours are small and sell out; book ahead.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Kelburn and Karori): Wellington Botanic Garden → Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Mount Victoria and Oriental Bay): Mount Victoria Lookout → Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Newtown): Wellington Zoo, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (South coast): Red Rocks coastal walk, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Wellington Harbour and Te Aro): Matiu/Somes Island → Harbourside Market, at least 4 hours.
The best months to be outside
- February: highs of 21°C (70°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Usually the warmest and most settled month, ideal for coastal walks and swimming at Oriental Bay.
- January: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Summer holidays bring long evenings and warm, often breezy days; calm days on the harbour are glorious.
- March: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 8 rainy days, busy crowds. Mild, often settled early autumn weather and a busy events calendar.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Te Aro — Cuba Street cafés, Courtenay Place bars and Te Papa on the waterfront
- Oriental Bay — Art deco apartments and a city beach on the harbour
- Mount Victoria — Steep streets of wooden houses above Courtenay Place
- 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?
Wellington Botanic Garden. Spread over a hillside between Kelburn and Thorndon, the garden combines native forest, exotic trees, playgrounds and the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, which blooms from about November to April.
+Which of these are free in Wellington?
Wellington Botanic Garden, Mount Victoria Lookout, Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay and Red Rocks coastal walk.