For couples · Wellington · New Zealand
Romantic things to do in Wellington
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Wellington's romance is in its views and evenings: harbour sunsets, candlelit wine bars and quiet walks above the city. Couples tend to stay in Thorndon.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 2
- Area for couples
- Thorndon
- Best months
- December–March
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at Mount Victoria
Walk up through the town belt to watch the light fade over the harbour and city.
2.Cable car and Botanic Garden
Ride up to Kelburn and wander down through the rose garden on a summer evening.
3.Oriental Bay evening
Stroll the promenade at dusk, then dine at a waterfront restaurant.
4.Martinborough wine weekend
Cycle between vineyards and stay in a cottage in the Wairarapa.
5.Cocktails in Te Aro
Seek out the small cocktail bars hidden in Te Aro's lanes and side streets.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · Mount Victoria
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
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
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
Thorndon
North of Parliament, Thorndon is one of the city's oldest suburbs, with Victorian wooden houses on Tinakori Road, Old St Paul's, the Katherine Mansfield House and a handful of cafés and boutique stays. It is a short walk from the railway station and the Botanic Garden.
- Good
- Historic, quiet streets; Walk to the station and Parliament; Close to the Botanic Garden
- Watch out
- Limited accommodation; Steep walks up from the CBD
- Nearby
- Old St Paul's, Katherine Mansfield House, Botanic Garden, Parliament
Romantic day trips
- Martinborough (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — Over the Remutaka Hill in the Wairarapa, the small town of Martinborough is surrounded by vineyards known for Pinot Noir, many within cycling distance of its central square.
- Days Bay and Eastbourne (About 25 minutes by ferry) — Across the harbour, Days Bay has a sheltered beach, a café, kayak hire and bush walks, with the seaside village of Eastbourne a short walk along the coast.
- Picton and the Marlborough Sounds (About 3 hours 30 minutes each way by ferry) — The Cook Strait ferry sails through the forested waterways of Queen Charlotte Sound to the small port of Picton, gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and the Marlborough wine region.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Pāua fritter, Green-lipped mussels and Crayfish. During Wellington On a Plate in August, the most popular restaurants and events book out.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Wellington romantic?
Wellington's romance is in its views and evenings: harbour sunsets, candlelit wine bars and quiet walks above the city.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Wellington?
Sunset at Mount Victoria: Walk up through the town belt to watch the light fade over the harbour and city.
+Where should couples stay in Wellington?
Thorndon: Wooden villas, embassies and Wellington's oldest streets.