Shopping · Wellington · New Zealand
Shopping in Wellington
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tony Wills, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Wellington shopping is about independent design, vintage clothing, books and food rather than big malls, with Lambton Quay for mainstream fashion and Cuba Street for one-off finds. Best souvenirs: Wētā Workshop collectibles, Local coffee beans and Craft beer.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Wētā Workshop collectibles
Where to shop
Lambton Quay
The main shopping street, with New Zealand and international fashion, outdoor gear and department stores.
Cuba Street
Vintage clothing, records, bookshops, design stores and second-hand finds.
Jackson Street, Petone
Heritage shopfronts with homeware, vintage and gift shops across the harbour.
Markets
Harbourside Market
Sunday-morning fresh produce and food-truck market beside Te Papa.
What to buy
Wētā Workshop collectibles
Film props, miniatures and figurines from the Wētā Cave shop in Miramar.
Local coffee beans
Freshly roasted beans from Wellington's many independent roasters.
Craft beer
Bottles and cans from local breweries, sold in specialist bottle shops.
Merino knitwear
Light, warm merino and possum-merino jumpers, hats and socks made in New Zealand.
Pounamu
Carved greenstone pendants; choose certified New Zealand pounamu.
New Zealand books and design
Local fiction, Māori art prints and design objects from independent bookshops and galleries.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Te Aro
Cuba Street
Wellington's best-known street is a pedestrian strip of cafés, bars, vintage clothing and record shops, street performers and the swinging Bucket Fountain.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- After dark
Market · Te Aro
Harbourside Market
Every Sunday morning, stalls beside Te Papa sell fruit and vegetables at low prices alongside bread, coffee and food trucks.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Shopping
- Outdoors
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Flat white, Craft beer, Martinborough Pinot Noir and Pavlova. Independent cafés across Te Aro, Cuba Street and the CBD, many roasting their own beans. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Oriental Bay | $$$$ | Art deco apartments and a city beach on the harbour |
| Mount Victoria | $$ | Steep streets of wooden houses above Courtenay Place |
| Kelburn | $$ | Hilltop suburb by the Botanic Garden and Victoria University |
| Petone | $$ | Harbour-side suburb with a beach and the cafés of Jackson Street |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in NZD. Tipping is not expected; prices include tax and service. Rounding up or leaving about 10% for excellent service in restaurants is appreciated but optional.
- Use a Snapper card on buses for lower fares than cash.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May–July; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- January: Wellington Lantern Festival — Lunar New Year celebrations on the waterfront (usually January or February)
- February: New Zealand Festival of the Arts (in some years, usually February–March)
- March: CubaDupa — street music and performance festival on Cuba Street (usually late March)
- June: Wellington Jazz Festival (usually June)
- August: Wellington On a Plate — food festival with the burger competition (usually August)
- August: Beervana — craft beer festival (usually August)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Lambton Quay and CBD
The main shopping street, government buildings and the cable car terminal
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Wellington?
Wētā Workshop collectibles, Local coffee beans, Craft beer and Merino knitwear.
+Where is the best shopping in Wellington?
Lambton Quay: The main shopping street, with New Zealand and international fashion, outdoor gear and department stores.
+What are the best markets in Wellington?
Harbourside Market.