Itinerary Wellington

December is early summer in Wellington—this is an excellent time to visit, with mild to warm temperatures, long daylight hours, and a vibrant atmosphere. The city is lively with festivals and the waterfront comes alive; however, pack for possible wind!

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	$2,200
🏨 Accommodations	$790
🧳 Gear	$100
🗺️ On-site	$350
Total	$3,440

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇳🇿 Wellington - 3 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏛️ Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum) ⭐⭐⭐ (~2.5h)

  • NZ’s national museum; interactive Māori and Pacific exhibits. Guided tours recommended for deep culture immersion.

• [ ] 🌳 Wellington Botanic Garden ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Historic botanic garden with native flora, sculptures, rose gardens—take the Cable Car up and stroll down.

• [ ] 🏙️ Cuba Street District ⭐⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Iconic, colourful pedestrian street with bohemian vibes, street performers, historic Wellington shops.

• [ ] 🛕 Wellington Cable Car & Museum ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Classic ride from Lambton Quay to Kelburn; scenic views over the city and informative small museum.

• [ ] 🏛️ New Zealand Parliament Buildings ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Guided tours available; see the famous “Beehive” and learn about NZ’s unique political history.

• [ ] 🎨 City Gallery Wellington ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Contemporary art exhibitions in Civic Square; rotating NZ and international installations.

• [ ] 🏙️ Oriental Bay ⭐ (~1h)

  • Sweeping urban beach, great for a scenic walk along the waterfront promenade.

• [ ] 🎨 Cable Top Eatery & lookout ⭐ (~0.5h)

  • For panoramic city & harbour views—combine with Cable Car visit.

• [ ] 🌳 Zealandia Ecosanctuary ⭐⭐⭐ (~2.5h)

  • Urban wildlife haven—guided day tours to spot unique native birds and learn about conservation.

• [ ] 🏛️ Museum of Wellington City & Sea ⭐ (~1h)

  • Discover the city’s maritime story in a heritage building on the waterfront.

• [ ] 🌳 Frank Kitts Park & Wellington Waterfront ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Art walk, pop-up festivals, city views; excellent for a casual stroll.

• [ ] 🏙️ Mount Victoria Lookout ⭐⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • The city’s best panoramic viewpoint—walk or taxi up for sweeping photos.

• [ ] 🌳 Otari-Wilton's Bush ⭐ (~1h)

  • Impressive native botanic reserve; guided tours available.

• [ ] 🛕 St. Paul's Old Cathedral ⭐ (~0.5h)

  • Historic wooden Gothic-revival church in Thorndon; lovely stained glass.

• [ ] 🎨 Katherine Mansfield House & Garden ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Author’s childhood home, literary history & period garden.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Hippopotamus Bar & Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Elegant French-inspired fine dining & cocktails with harbour views, inside the luxury QT Hotel.

• [ ] 🍸 Crab Shack ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Laid-back seafood and drinks on the waterfront.

• [ ] 🍸 Hawthorn Lounge ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • A speakeasy-style bar celebrated for its vintage cocktails.

• [ ] 🍸 The Library Bar ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Cozy with literary-themed cocktails and live music.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Logan Brown ⭐⭐⭐

  • Iconic Wellington restaurant in a heritage bank; NZ-sourced degustation menus.
  • Specialty: Paua ravioli. Tasting menu ~NZ$120+.

• [ ] 🍜 Shepherd ⭐⭐

  • Modern NZ cuisine, local produce, innovative tasting plates.
  • Mains from ~NZ$38+.

• [ ] 🍜 Charley Noble ⭐⭐

  • Grill, seafood, premium steaks—buzzy central location.
  • Mains from ~NZ$36.

• [ ] 🍜 Ombra ⭐

  • Venetian-inspired tapas; lively, relaxed spot on Cuba St.
  • Small plates from ~NZ$12–18.

• [ ] 🍜 Moore Wilson's Fresh ⭐

  • Gourmet food market: sample local cheeses, fresh pastries, NZ specialities.
  • A casual must for food lovers.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Weta Workshop Tours (~1.5h)

  • See behind-the-scenes movie magic from “Lord of the Rings”.

• [ ] 🏙️ Wellington Night Market (Fridays/Saturdays) (~1h)

  • Street food and live music on Cuba Street.

• [ ] 🏙️ Matiu/Somes Island (~3h)

  • Short ferry ride to a wildlife sanctuary island in the harbour.

🎬 Films & series to watch

🇳🇿 Wellington

• [ ] 🎬 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) — ⭐ 9.0 — Iconic filming in Wellington & Weta Workshop. — Prime Video
• [ ] 🎬 What We Do in the Shadows (2014) — ⭐ 7.7 — Quirky vampire comedy filmed in Wellington; local humour. — Hulu
• [ ] 📺 Top of the Lake (2013) — ⭐ 7.5 — NZ-set crime drama showcasing stunning scenery. — Amazon Prime
• [ ] 📺 Wellington Paranormal (2018) — ⭐ 7.6 — Comedy spin-off from What We Do in the Shadows, set around Wellington. — YouTube

🍜 Local specialties

🇳🇿 Wellington

• [ ] Paua (Abalone) Ravioli
• [ ] Fresh Green-lipped Mussels
• [ ] NZ Lamb
• [ ] Whitebait Fritters
• [ ] Hokey Pokey Ice Cream

📍 Maps - places to pin

🇳🇿 Wellington

1. 🌤️ Te Papa Tongarewa (National Museum)
2. 🌙 Hippopotamus Bar & Restaurant
3. 🛍️ Moore Wilson's Fresh
4. 🏨 QT Wellington Hotel
5. 🍽️ Logan Brown

✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Wellington

• [ ] ✈️ Wellington → London

🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Wellington	3	QT Wellington Hotel (5⭐)	$790
Total	3 nights		$790