Suggested Itineraries - Arts and Culture

If you are interested in arts and culture, Wellington is the place for you! New Zealand’s cultural capital offers everything from high drama to lowdown funk. It’s home to the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Opera.

Every two years, Wellington also plays host to the vibrant and popular New Zealand International Arts Festival, which alternates with the insane but fabulous Cuba Street Carnival!

A strong vein of film production, theatre, visual and performance art runs through Wellington. There are galleries to suit every taste. From classical to Cuban, Elgar to electronica, music suffuses the atmosphere. World-class auditoriums from the Michael Fowler Centre to Victoria University of Wellington ensure a full programme of top quality listening. 


Day 1

  • Visit the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which houses the Toi Te Papa Art of the Nation exhibition.
  • Tour the City Gallery, which offers an excellent representation of New Zealand’s dynamic contemporary culture.
  • Then enjoy lunch at the City Gallery’s café, Nikau Gallery Café.
  • Take a drive to Porirua and visit the Pataka Museum.
  • Whilst in the regions, you may also want to visit the recently revamped, TheNewDowse, a cultural hub in Lower Hutt.
  • Enjoy dinner at one of Wellington’s trendy restaurants and include a drink at an upmarket bar along Courtenay Place. 


Day 2

  • Spend a full or half day with Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences who have a range of interactive arts and cultural tours, including Hidden Treasures Tour, Capital Arts Tour and Maori Treasures Tour.


If you have more time, be sure to:

  • Pick up a Wellington Writers Walk guide from the Wellington i-SITE Visitor Centre and read poems cast in stone, set against the stunning harbour backdrop.
  • Take a leisurely walk around the city and check out the many boutique art galleries peppered about Wellington.
  • Or pick up the Arts Map from the Wellington i-SITE for a more comprehensive experience of Wellington’s arts scene.
  • And remember to check out our events calendar which has an interesting line-up all year round.
  • For a more regional experience, check out Expressions Arts & Entertainment Centre in Upper Hutt.