Brian And Christine's Guidebook
Sightseeing
An easy, flat, scenic walk that loops around Wellington Harbour. You can start the walk from the Railway Station or numerous places from the city - the waterfront is never too far away from the central city. You can walk around to Oriental Bay and beyond if you’re feeling energetic.
42 locals recommend
Wellington Waterfront
An easy, flat, scenic walk that loops around Wellington Harbour. You can start the walk from the Railway Station or numerous places from the city - the waterfront is never too far away from the central city. You can walk around to Oriental Bay and beyond if you’re feeling energetic.
New Zealand’s national museum located on Wellington’s waterfront. Spread over six floors it has something for everyone. A great place to visit for the day if the weather’s not good.
142 locals recommend
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
55 Cable StNew Zealand’s national museum located on Wellington’s waterfront. Spread over six floors it has something for everyone. A great place to visit for the day if the weather’s not good.
A must do while in Wellington - the cable car runs between Lambton Quay in the central city to/from the suburb of Kelburn. The trip takes approximately 5 minutes each way.
An option is to take the cable car from Lambton Quay, wander down through the Botanical Gardens, perhaps lunch at Picnic, (cafe in the Rose Gardens by the car park) then head back up the hill to get the Cable Car down into Wellington again. If on Public transport from Hillview, the bus from Cortina Avenue would drop you just up from Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay with the return home bus stop just down from Cable Car Lane.
142 locals recommend
Wellington Cable Car
280 Lambton QuayA must do while in Wellington - the cable car runs between Lambton Quay in the central city to/from the suburb of Kelburn. The trip takes approximately 5 minutes each way.
An option is to take the cable car from Lambton Quay, wander down through the Botanical Gardens, perhaps lunch at Picnic, (cafe in the Rose Gardens by the car park) then head back up the hill to get the Cable Car down into Wellington again. If on Public transport from Hillview, the bus from Cortina Avenue would drop you just up from Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay with the return home bus stop just down from Cable Car Lane.
This suburb is located close the CBD (central business district) and with the closest beaches to the central city, it’s a lovely part of Wellington, day or night, for a drive around or a wander. Oriental Bay is part of Wellington Harbour with lovely views back to the city and surrounding hilly suburbs. It’s basically a continuation of the Wellington Waterfront walk.
For the cooler months if you fancy a swim, there’s a large indoor swimming pool called Freyberg Pool (lane swimming available) before you get to Oriental Bay Beach which is a popular swimming spot in summer. Good cafes and coffee carts are located around the Bay.
93 locals recommend
Oriental Bay
This suburb is located close the CBD (central business district) and with the closest beaches to the central city, it’s a lovely part of Wellington, day or night, for a drive around or a wander. Oriental Bay is part of Wellington Harbour with lovely views back to the city and surrounding hilly suburbs. It’s basically a continuation of the Wellington Waterfront walk.
For the cooler months if you fancy a swim, there’s a large indoor swimming pool called Freyberg Pool (lane swimming available) before you get to Oriental Bay Beach which is a popular swimming spot in summer. Good cafes and coffee carts are located around the Bay.
Great for panoramic views and photos of Wellington and beyond, a popular spot for tourists visiting the city.
178 locals recommend
Mount Victoria Lookout
Lookout RoadGreat for panoramic views and photos of Wellington and beyond, a popular spot for tourists visiting the city.
Peter Jackson fan..? Worth a trip to Miramar (Wellington Airport side of the city). The Weta Cave open hours are 9 -430pm Monday to Sunday.
174 locals recommend
The Weta Cave
1 Weka StPeter Jackson fan..? Worth a trip to Miramar (Wellington Airport side of the city). The Weta Cave open hours are 9 -430pm Monday to Sunday.
Lots of short (flat) or long (hilly) walks through the Botanical Gardens. Nice cafe by the Rose Gardens (a short flat walk from the car park) called ‘Picnic’.
Some tracks in the Gardens take you up to the suburb of Kelburn where there are some nice shops (suggest The Vogue Store for gifts and women’s clothing) and cafes. You can then do a loop around by the top of the Cable Car and walk back down to the Gardens. Or get the Cable Car into Lambton Quay, Wellington for a spot of shopping if you’re not limited by car parking restrictions.
203 locals recommend
Wellington Botanic Garden
101 Glenmore StLots of short (flat) or long (hilly) walks through the Botanical Gardens. Nice cafe by the Rose Gardens (a short flat walk from the car park) called ‘Picnic’.
Some tracks in the Gardens take you up to the suburb of Kelburn where there are some nice shops (suggest The Vogue Store for gifts and women’s clothing) and cafes. You can then do a loop around by the top of the Cable Car and walk back down to the Gardens. Or get the Cable Car into Lambton Quay, Wellington for a spot of shopping if you’re not limited by car parking restrictions.
Enjoy a short or long walk through Zealandia, there’s an admission fee if you want to go for a walk. (Guided walks available - check the Zealandia website or ring them). Otherwise there’s a Zealandia Visitor Centre that includes gift shop on site, a theatrette with a short video about Zealandia’s history and a nice cafe (Rata) that overlooks the lake and over to the tree covered hills that are free to enter.
255 locals recommend
ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadEnjoy a short or long walk through Zealandia, there’s an admission fee if you want to go for a walk. (Guided walks available - check the Zealandia website or ring them). Otherwise there’s a Zealandia Visitor Centre that includes gift shop on site, a theatrette with a short video about Zealandia’s history and a nice cafe (Rata) that overlooks the lake and over to the tree covered hills that are free to enter.
Worth the drive up via the suburb of Brooklyn. If it’s windy you’ll experience Wellington’s wind but also great views.
If you fancy a movie there’s a boutique movie theatre in Brooklyn called the Penthouse which has a nice cafe also.
Or if you fancy continuing your drive, you can drive to the south coast via Ohiro Road in Brooklyn.
47 locals recommend
Wellington Wind Turbine
Owhiro Bay ParadeWorth the drive up via the suburb of Brooklyn. If it’s windy you’ll experience Wellington’s wind but also great views.
If you fancy a movie there’s a boutique movie theatre in Brooklyn called the Penthouse which has a nice cafe also.
Or if you fancy continuing your drive, you can drive to the south coast via Ohiro Road in Brooklyn.
A good place to visit on Wellington’s south coast, possibly following a visit to the Brooklyn wind turbine. There is an easy coastal walk (sturdy shoes recommended) to a fur seal colony from the car park. Note: keep a reasonable distance from the seals so you don’t stress them.
48 locals recommend
Red Rocks - Pariwhero
A good place to visit on Wellington’s south coast, possibly following a visit to the Brooklyn wind turbine. There is an easy coastal walk (sturdy shoes recommended) to a fur seal colony from the car park. Note: keep a reasonable distance from the seals so you don’t stress them.
PETONE (in the Hutt Valley) - a good place for a flat walk by the sea on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour. Nice, very popular, cafe halfway along the beach front called Seashore Cabaret.
Jackson Street in Petone has some lovely shops and cafes, well worth the visit. Also, in Beach Street (off Jackson Street), there’s a popular boutique movie theatre called the Lighthouse Cinema.
Beach Kiosk
The EsplanadePETONE (in the Hutt Valley) - a good place for a flat walk by the sea on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour. Nice, very popular, cafe halfway along the beach front called Seashore Cabaret.
Jackson Street in Petone has some lovely shops and cafes, well worth the visit. Also, in Beach Street (off Jackson Street), there’s a popular boutique movie theatre called the Lighthouse Cinema.
If you fancy continuing on from Petone, the coastal suburbs of Days Bay and Eastbourne are worth a visit.
En route if it’s a lovely day, you could stop at Compass Cafe, 100 Port Road, in the Seaview Marina (photo attached below). A neat little cafe right on the water, great for a coffee and something light to eat.
On to Days Bay then Eastbourne which are lovely (small) areas to wander around. (Days Bay is good for swimming in summer).
If you fancy some exercise, there’s a coastal walk at the end of Muritai Road, Eastbourne called the Pencarrow Coastal Trail or Pencarrow Lighthouse walk. There are bikes for hire at the start or just go for a wander. The lighthouse is about 8kms from the start of the gravel track so a lot of people prefer to bike there if you want to go that far.
29 locals recommend
Eastbourne
If you fancy continuing on from Petone, the coastal suburbs of Days Bay and Eastbourne are worth a visit.
En route if it’s a lovely day, you could stop at Compass Cafe, 100 Port Road, in the Seaview Marina (photo attached below). A neat little cafe right on the water, great for a coffee and something light to eat.
On to Days Bay then Eastbourne which are lovely (small) areas to wander around. (Days Bay is good for swimming in summer).
If you fancy some exercise, there’s a coastal walk at the end of Muritai Road, Eastbourne called the Pencarrow Coastal Trail or Pencarrow Lighthouse walk. There are bikes for hire at the start or just go for a wander. The lighthouse is about 8kms from the start of the gravel track so a lot of people prefer to bike there if you want to go that far.
A lovely little cafe right on the water. Great coffee and light, tasty, treats.
Compass Coffee Seaview Marina
100 Port RdA lovely little cafe right on the water. Great coffee and light, tasty, treats.
Food scene
If you fancy a drive, the vineyards in Martinborough (in the Wairarapa) are worth a look. Martinborough is 79 kilometres from Hillview, a drive of about 70 minutes over the Remutaka Range. Greytown, another Wairarapa suburb, is worth a look too if you have time - great boutique shopping and cafes.
36 locals recommend
Martinborough
If you fancy a drive, the vineyards in Martinborough (in the Wairarapa) are worth a look. Martinborough is 79 kilometres from Hillview, a drive of about 70 minutes over the Remutaka Range. Greytown, another Wairarapa suburb, is worth a look too if you have time - great boutique shopping and cafes.
Trails
For those keen on a good walk....
Mt Kau Kau is part of the Northern Walkway and the Skyline Walkway. A track to Mt Kaukau can be accessed from the end of our street. The return walk to the top of Mt Kaukau (where this photo was taken) takes approximately 1.5 hours. You need to be relatively fit and have good track shoes or tramping boots as it’s a hilly walk with the summit 430 metres above sea level. (This photo doesn’t do the extensive views of Wellington City, Wellington Harbour, the South Island and eastern hills justice).
43 locals recommend
Mount Kaukau
Mt Kau Kau is part of the Northern Walkway and the Skyline Walkway. A track to Mt Kaukau can be accessed from the end of our street. The return walk to the top of Mt Kaukau (where this photo was taken) takes approximately 1.5 hours. You need to be relatively fit and have good track shoes or tramping boots as it’s a hilly walk with the summit 430 metres above sea level. (This photo doesn’t do the extensive views of Wellington City, Wellington Harbour, the South Island and eastern hills justice).
This walking track is part of Te Araroa (New Zealand’s trail), a 3000km route stretching from Cape Reinga in the far North to Bluff in the South. The track is not for the faint hearted and you need to be OK with heights as it reaches 220 metres above sea level. The track runs from the Kapiti Coast suburb of Paekakariki to Pukerua Bay and is high above State Highway 1. Please check the website for more information about the trail.
59 locals recommend
Escarpment Walkaway
State Highway 1This walking track is part of Te Araroa (New Zealand’s trail), a 3000km route stretching from Cape Reinga in the far North to Bluff in the South. The track is not for the faint hearted and you need to be OK with heights as it reaches 220 metres above sea level. The track runs from the Kapiti Coast suburb of Paekakariki to Pukerua Bay and is high above State Highway 1. Please check the website for more information about the trail.
Another lovely Wellington walk that walks along the entrance to Wellington Harbour for part of the walk. Again, is hilly in parts and good walking shoes needed but you don’t need to be super fit, just take it slowly and enjoy the scenery.
Eastern Walkway
72 Sidlaw StAnother lovely Wellington walk that walks along the entrance to Wellington Harbour for part of the walk. Again, is hilly in parts and good walking shoes needed but you don’t need to be super fit, just take it slowly and enjoy the scenery.