Wellington New Zealand Travel- 11 BEST Things to do in Wellington

Here are the top 11 things to do in Wellington, New Zealand. Be sure to stay until the end, because our number one activity will totally fascinate you. Number 11. Ride a ferry to South Island. Wellington is a city on North Island, but from here you can get to some of the cool cities on the South Island, including Christchurch and Queenstown, by ferry. So if you don't fancy flying or would like to gain a whole new experience in New Zealand, I suggest taking a ferry to the South Island. Indeed, riding a ferry to South Island is a common activity for many tourists that come to Wellington. This ferry trip takes about three hours and you'll be in for quite an experience, so relax and take in the amazing scenery of the Cook Strait as you ferry. If you look close enough, you'll also spot some dolphins frolicking around in the cool waters, and this can only be best described as a once-in-a-lifetime sight. Finally, the ferry will dock at the picturesque town of Picton, where you can spend a night or two exploring the town. Number 10. Hang out with fur seals. The famous Red Rocks in Wellington is home to more than 200 adorable fur seals, and a visit to Auhiro Bay will bring you face-to-face with them. It takes only a 30-minute drive from the city to reach this spot, and there's a lot of history waiting for you here too. You should know that Red Rocks wasn't named by accident. Instead, this interesting name is tied to the Maori story of Kupe, a Polynesian explorer who cut himself on shellfish and bled on the rocks. Whether this really happened or not can't be confirmed, but the Red Rocks have been in existence for more than 200 million years now. If you visit in winter, you'll only get to see the bachelor male seals who come around because they were not lucky to breed with bigger colonies in South Island. However, you will still have enough to trigger your fascination. Number 9. Walk the Paths of the Dead. This site is a must-see for lifelong Lord of the Rings fans. Of course, they are not actually called the Paths of the Dead, but are officially known as the Putangirua Pinnacles. Well, these are extremely photogenic earth pyramids that were formed millions of years ago, and we have the heavy rains and flooding to thank for this as they caused the sediments from the Putangirua stream to combine together into these pyramids. While here, you can take a leisurely walk through 1.5 kilometers of Pinnacles Track, which would take only 45 minutes. This will lead you through breathtaking sceneries to the lookout point, which has even more amazing views for you. Number 8. Visit Zealandia. For an affordable sum, you can get up close and personal with unique and rare creatures in the first fully fenced animal sanctuary in the world. Zealandia has gained a hugely positive reputation for being home to endangered species. This sanctuary was built to protect native wildlife, and you'll find them here in huge numbers, including the green gecko, tuatara, and beautiful birds. Luckily, an expert is available to take you on a guided walking tour for two hours, where you'll learn all about the species that call Zealandia home. Each tour is limited to 10 people, which is great for enjoying a more personalized experience. However, we suggest that you book tours in advance to avoid disappointment. Number 7. Visit the Weta Cave. Here's another special location for Lord of the Rings fans worldwide. A guided tour of the famous Weta Cave, which was established by the director of the Lord of the Rings movies, Sir Peter Jackson, will take you through carefully crafted costumes and props that will bring memories of the movie. No doubt about it, the movie has a well-earned reputation for being one of the best spatial effects companies in the world. And here, you'll get to learn about all the effects used in the movies and even take a picture with the Tracy brothers. It's free to visit the Weta Cave, but you'll have to part with a few dollars to go on a tour of the workshop with a knowledgeable guide who will show you the ropes. Number 6. Explore the Wellington Botanical Gardens. If it's a sunny day, then it's a perfect time to take a stroll through the 25 hectares of specialized plants that make up the Wellington Botanical Gardens. No doubt, this will give you a renewed appreciation for nature, especially the blooming roses. The Wellington Botanical Gardens were first used in 1869 for food cultivation by the native Maoris. However, today, it has been divided into various sections, including the Otari Wilton Bush Collection, Rock Gardens and Rose Gardens. Many people would say that the rose section of the gardens is the prettiest, with about 110 breathtaking rose beds that bloom from November to April. However, the rock gardens aren't so bad either, with a wide variety of shrubs and a huge chance of spotting geckos running around. If this is something that tickles your fancy, then you can get the best views around Duck Pond. Rest assured that you will love every bit of it. By the way, if you want to learn how to save money on airfares, then click the link in the description below. This guide teaches you how to always get the cheapest flights. Number 5. Ride a Cable Car. Surely, you could never get sick of the view of Wellington while riding on the historic cable car in the city. The ride starts from Lambton Quay and will take you through epic views until it ends at the Kelburn Lookout. This cable car is as high as 400 feet above sea level. Although the ride is just a 5-minute journey, it will definitely be an unforgettable experience. And after you get to your destination, you can walk back to the city through the botanic gardens. You can also stop at the Cable Top Eatery for a hearty New Zealand meal after the exhilarating ride. And the best news yet is that this whole experience will only cost 9 New Zealand dollars for a return trip. Number 4. Picnic at Oriental Bay Beach. Just a 20-minute brisk walk from Wellington will take you to one of the best beaches in New Zealand, Oriental Bay Beach. This beach is super popular in the country and is safe for swimming so you can visit with your family. Also, the lifeguards are available all through the summer months, even though this is the busiest time. So if you're around in the summer, be sure to grab a space on the beach as early as possible so you can catch up on all the fun. While here, you can also stop over at the Boat Cafe on the beach for tasty food and drinks that will give your taste buds a true feel of the country's culinary prowess. Indeed, there's so much to love about Oriental Bay Beach and you will most likely not exhaust them. Number 3. Hike through Mount Victoria. You can get even more magnificent views of Wellington from the top of Mount Victoria, where there's the perfect lookout to give you an unfiltered 360-degree panoramic view of the city, including the Miramar Peninsula, Hutt Valley, and various beaches. To get this view, however, you have to hike through the long 2.8-mile loop track that starts from Courtenay Place, while the return track will take you through Oriental Bay. Altogether, the entire hike should take about an hour and 30 minutes to complete successfully, but then you can take the shorter track, which is just 45 minutes and starts from Majoribank Street. While at it, I absolutely recommend staying back for the sunset views as this is truly magical and you will love every bit of it. Number 2. Compete in an obstacle course. If you think you have what it takes to compete in an obstacle course, then you should head over to the Adrenaline Forest Obstacle Course in Wellington, which is located just in Porirua. Over here, you can join in on various fun challenges that are available here. The challenges include a Tarzan jump, crossed logs, an Indiana jump, and wrecking balls among others. Some of the best challenges here are really easy, while others will definitely scare you. Luckily though, before you get on the obstacle course, an experienced guide will teach you the safety system that will help you navigate the course without a guide. No doubt this is an exciting activity worth checking out and you won't regret doing just that. Number 1. Visit the Carter Observatory. Undoubtedly, lovers of space will easily fall in love with the Space Place at Carter Observatory. Surely, this is a great spot to learn about the famous starry skies of New Zealand. And interestingly, the country is also home to the beautiful Southern Lights, which you can view firsthand at this observatory. Meanwhile, there's no shortage of multimedia exhibits at the Space Place here in the Carter Observatory. You can learn all about the galaxies, stars, and different planets that make the universe so fascinating. Luckily, getting admitted into the observatory for telescope viewings and the planetarium show is quite affordable. It's affordable under 20 New Zealand dollars, and you can rest assured that it is totally worth it. Click here for more things to do in New Zealand.