Itinerary suggestions for Wellington and region
The Wellington region is full of rich and diverse experiences. Wellington offers visitors the excitement of a vibrant, sophisticated city, yet has beautiful nature attractions and world renowned wineries right on its doorstep.
With so much to see and do here are some suggestions to get you on your way:
DAY 1: Immerse yourself in Wellington
Whilst walking across town, stop and enjoy the variety of stores, cafés, restaurants and bars. Coffee is serious business in Wellington. You can’t leave this boutique city until you have sampled the local café culture.
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Start your day with an espresso hit. Check out iconic Wellington cafés such as Mojo or Caffe L’Affare which roast their own coffee beans on-site.
Experience the wide array of shopping Wellington has to offer. With hundreds of stores packed into two kilometres, it’s a shopaholic’s paradise. Visit designer fashions on Lambton and Willis Street or boutiques and funky stores in the creative Cuba quarter.
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Discover Wellington designers Starfish, Mandatory and Andrea Moore or internationally acclaimed New Zealand designers including Kate Sylvester, Karen Walker and Zambesi.
Wellington is home to more than 300 cafés, bars and restaurants, and it rivals the world’s top culinary destinations for flavour and variety.
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Dine out at restaurants such as Vivo Wine Bar, Logan Brown, Matterhorn or Chow.
DAY 2: Get Cultured
New Zealand’s cultural capital offers everything from high drama to low-down funk. A strong vein of film production, theatre, visual and performance art runs through Wellington. Immerse yourself in the city’s many boutique art galleries and design stores. A must do while in Wellington is a visit to the innovative and interactive national museum, Te Papa.
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Check out Te Papa’s national art collection and ever changing world class exhibitions.
Wander along Wellington’s stunning waterfront and read poems cast in stone on the Wellington Writers Walk.
Enjoy a quick bite to eat at a quirky Cuba Street café or a decadent three course lunch at one of the city’s finest establishments. The options are endless.
Catch a live performance at one of the city’s theatres. Afterwards, experience the vibrant nightlife along Cuba Street and Courtenay Place.
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Go where the locals go, try a cocktail at Motel, Hawthorn Lounge or Duke Carvell's Swan Lane Emporium.
DAY 3: Explore our local wineries
For those interested in food and wine, head to the Wairarapa and discover the boutique wine village of Martinborough, just over an hour north of Wellington. Here you will find 36 wineries nestled around the town square.
Explore the region by bicycle, meet passionate winemakers and taste some of the world class wines on offer. Indulge in a gourmet lunch accompanied by a glass of award-winning Martinborough Pinot Noir at one of the local vineyards.
Vist Greytown - New Zealand’s most complete main street of original Victorian wooden architecture. Browse the range of stylish and interesting specialty shops and enjoy a coffee at one of its great cafes.
Finish the day by sampling delicious olive oils at the region’s oldest commercial olive grove, Olivo. Or experience decadent delights from specialist food producers.
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Enjoy nature at its most untouched. Spend a day amongst beautiful native New Zealand bush, where kiwis have been released into the wild. Journey just 45 minutes north of Wellington to Kapiti Island, where you will find yourself on a small island steeped in Maori history.
Experience Kapiti Island Alive where your host will share Maori stories while you learn about the native flora and fauna. Climb to the top of the island and take in incredible vistas or you may even choose to stay overnight and go on a kiwi spotting journey at dusk.
DAY 4 - 6: Experience the South Island right on Wellington's doorstep
Take a three hour cruise on the Interislander and discover the stunning Marlborough Sounds. On your arrival in Picton head to New Zealand’s largest wine growing region where the Sauvignon Blanc is internationally acclaimed.
Pick up a wine map from the local information centre or book a tour with one of the local operators. Alternatively immerse yourself in the Marlborough Sounds by mountain biking or walking the stunning Queen Charlotte Track.
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If time permits take a drive from Marlborough to Kaikoura, a township known for its whale watching. Several different species of whale can be seen from Kaikoura’s coast at different times of the year. Local tour operators offer the chance to watch whales, dolphins and other marine life on a daily basis. Take the opportunity to swim with the dolphins.
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Take a short 20 minute flight from Wellington to Nelson and experience the diverse beauty that the region has to offer, from the clear blue waters of Tasman Bay to deep alpine lakes and vast unspoilt forests.
Spend the day sea kayaking and taking a guided walk in Abel Tasman National Park, one of New Zealand’s most popular national parks and a unique playground of immense beauty.
The Wellington region is full of rich and diverse experiences. Wellington offers visitors the excitement of a vibrant, sophisticated city, yet has beautiful nature attractions and world renowned wineries right on its doorstep.
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