Wellington Region Travel Guide – Attractions & Tours

Featured Lists

(WT-shared) Shoestring at wts wikivoyage / CC BY-SA 1.0

Wellington Region: Unmissable Highlights

Wellington combines cultural landmarks with distinct geological features. The city center features the historic Cable Car running to the Botanic Garden, the kinetic Bucket Fountain on Cuba Street, and the Beehive, which houses the New Zealand Executive. Nearby, Zealandia protects native wildlife within a predator-proof fence, while the Wētā Cave showcases the region's film production history. Further afield, the Putangirua Pinnacles display dramatic badlands erosion, and the Interislander ferry connects the North Island to the South across the Cook Strait.

13 places

Mandy Simpson / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Wellington Peaks and Viewpoints

Wellington’s dramatic topography, shaped by tectonic activity, offers a diverse array of elevated vantage points. This collection spans the region’s geography, from the 196-meter summit of Mount Victoria and the historic Kelburn cable car terminus to the rugged Wairarapa coastline. Highlights include the geological earth pillars of the Putangirua Pinnacles, WWII coastal defense ruins on the South Coast, and panoramic views of the Cook Strait from the Tararua and Aorangi Ranges.

19 places

Wellington Alpine & Wilderness Huts

This collection features backcountry shelters across the Tararua and Aorangi Forest Parks near Wellington. These huts range from historic timber structures like Field Hut, built in 1924, to high-altitude bivvies on rugged ridgelines. The network provides essential refuge for hikers on the Southern and Northern Crossings, offering bunk platforms, wood-burning stoves, and access to the region’s alpine tops and remote river valleys.

20 places

CC-BY-SA-3.0

Wellington's Sacred Sites

Wellington's religious landscape spans from the 19th-century timber Gothic architecture of Old St Paul’s to rural pioneer churches in Makara and the Kapiti Coast. This collection includes Pukekaraka in Otaki, the oldest Catholic mission station in New Zealand still in use, alongside serene Buddhist meditation retreats like Green Mountain Zen. These sites represent the region's diverse spiritual heritage, showcasing early colonial history, Māori mission influence, and contemporary community spaces.

14 places

Touko Maksimainen / CC BY 2.5

Wellington's Natural Wonders

Wellington's landscape is defined by its dramatic interaction between land and sea. This collection highlights geological rarities like the Putangirua Pinnacles' badlands erosion and the raised beach platforms of Turakirae Head. Coastal landmarks include Cape Palliser, the North Island's southernmost point, and the historic Castlepoint Lighthouse. From the tidal inlets of Porirua Harbour to the native bush-clad Korokoro waterfall and the distinctively weathered Honeycomb Rock, these sites showcase the region's diverse geomorphology and rugged southwestern shoreline.

16 places

Wellington Region — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good

18° (feels like 14°) · extremes 12°–21°
15° at night
8 rainy days
16 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 9 · very high

Typical weather in February

Good

19° (feels like 15°) · extremes 12°–21°
15° at night
7 rainy days
15 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in March

Good

18° (feels like 13°) · extremes 11°–20°
14° at night
8 rainy days
16 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
16°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in April

Good

16° (feels like 11°) · extremes 10°–18°
13° at night
9 rainy days
12 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

14° (feels like 9°) · extremes 8°–17°
12° at night
11 rainy days
11 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
14°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in June

Poor

13° (feels like 7°) · extremes 6°–15°
10° at night
13 rainy days
7 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in July

Poor

12° (feels like 6°) · extremes 5°–14°
9° at night
13 rainy days
9 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in August

Poor

12° (feels like 6°) · extremes 5°–14°
9° at night
13 rainy days
11 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in September

Poor

13° (feels like 6°) · extremes 6°–15°
10° at night
11 rainy days
13 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Windy
12°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Poor

14° (feels like 8°) · extremes 8°–16°
11° at night
12 rainy days
14 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Windy
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Fair

15° (feels like 10°) · extremes 9°–18°
12° at night
10 rainy days
15 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Windy
14°C · too cold to swim
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in December

Good

17° (feels like 12°) · extremes 11°–19°
14° at night
11 rainy days
13 sunny days
9 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 9 · very high

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5; NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: New Zealand Dollar NZD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers: 111
Electricity: Type I
230 V · 50 Hz

Languages: English, Māori
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Left
Calling code: +64

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Tours & Activities

Related destinations

New Zealand Wellington City Martinborough South Wairarapa District Kapiti Coast District

Other Destinations

Auckland Region Auckland South Island Waikato Region Bay of Plenty Manawatu-Wanganui Region Northland Region Hawke's Bay Region Taranaki Region Gisborne District Chatham Islands Wharekauri / Chatham Islands / Rēkohu

Wellington Region

Featured Lists

Wellington Region: Unmissable Highlights

Wellington Peaks and Viewpoints

Wellington Alpine & Wilderness Huts

Wellington's Sacred Sites

Wellington's Natural Wonders

Wellington Region — Map

Climate & when to visit

Typical weather in January

Typical weather in February

Typical weather in March

Typical weather in April

Typical weather in May

Typical weather in June

Typical weather in July

Typical weather in August

Typical weather in September

Typical weather in October

Typical weather in November

Typical weather in December

Practical information

Tours & Activities

Wellington Region – Add to Your Trip

Related destinations

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