Rainy day · Wellington · New Zealand
7 things to do in Wellington when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Te Papa Tongarewa, Space Place at Carter Observatory and Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 10–11 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free. June is usually the wettest month, with about 13 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–11 hours
- Areas
- Te Aro, Kelburn and Miramar
Wellington on a rainy day
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
Museum · Kelburn
2.Space Place at Carter Observatory
Go on a clear evening to look through the telescope as well as seeing a planetarium show.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
Experience · Miramar
3.Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours
Book a workshop tour if you are interested in film-making; the free Wētā Cave alone takes only about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours with a tour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Art
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
Museum · Lambton Quay and CBD
5.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
Gallery · Te Aro
6.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
Historic site · Thorndon
7.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Te Aro | Te Papa Tongarewa and City Gallery Wellington | 3–4 hours + 1 hour |
| Kelburn | Space Place at Carter Observatory | 1.5 hours |
| Miramar | Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours | 1.5 hours with a tour |
| Lambton Quay and CBD | Parliament and the Beehive and Wellington Museum | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Thorndon | Katherine Mansfield House and Garden | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 3 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours. The longest visit is Te Papa Tongarewa; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours: Workshop tours run at set times and fill up; book online.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Te Aro): Te Papa Tongarewa → City Gallery Wellington, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Kelburn, Miramar and Lambton Quay and CBD): Space Place at Carter Observatory → Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours → Parliament and the Beehive, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Lambton Quay and CBD and Thorndon): Wellington Museum → Katherine Mansfield House and Garden, at least 2 hours.
The wettest months
- 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.
- August: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool and damp but busy with food events; hotels fill during the city's main food festival.
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 and Wellington Museum.