Wellington

The region of the capital, combining museums and culture, harbor-city scenery, the film industry and the Wairarapa wine country.

The Wellington Region lies at the southern end of the North Island, facing Cook Strait. The capital, Wellington, sits between hills and harbor, with Te Papa national museum, the cable car, the Mount Victoria lookout and the Zealandia eco-sanctuary; its food and coffee culture is lively, and Weta Workshop is also here. To the north, the Kāpiti Coast looks out to Kāpiti Island, and in the Wairarapa to the east, Martinborough is known for its wine. Summer weather is more settled, though it is windy all year. Wellington Airport is the main gateway, and ferries run to Picton on the South Island.

Destinations

• Wellington

Itineraries

• Classic North Island: Auckland to Wellington – Head south from Auckland to Wellington, connecting the glowworm caves, Hobbiton Movie Set, geothermal wonders, and alpi…
• Western Volcanoes & Forgotten World Highway – Travel from a surf town through SH43 to Taranaki, then follow the Whanganui River south to Wellington
• Northern Explorer Train & Volcano Route – A car-free journey from Auckland by scenic train to hike Tongariro, then south to Wellington
• New Zealand North to South: Auckland to Queenstown – Head south from Auckland through geothermal areas and Wellington, cross the strait, and explore the lakes and fjords to…