Guidebook for Wellington
Parks & Nature
ZEALANDIA is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.
255 locals recommend
ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadZEALANDIA is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, 6 of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.
Visit Wellington Zoo, the world's first carboNZero certified zoo. Passionate about connecting people with animals and saving animals in the wild, Wellington Zoo is open 364 days a year.
115 locals recommend
Wellington Zoo
200 Daniell StVisit Wellington Zoo, the world's first carboNZero certified zoo. Passionate about connecting people with animals and saving animals in the wild, Wellington Zoo is open 364 days a year.
We have some excellent hiking trails right on our doorstep that wind through the regenerating native bush in Polhill Reserve. The entry point is only 3 minutes away from the bottom end of Karepa Street.
The Polhill Reserve loop is suitable for those of average fitness and takes from 45 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on your fitness level.
There are plenty of shorter walks you can take if you want something easier: 2 suggestions: Head down to Aro Street (around 30 minutes) for refreshments including craft beer (Garage Project), coffee, or bread or pastries (Arobake), or alternatively walk up to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine for stunning panoramic views of Wellington.
11 locals recommend
Polhill Reserve
Polhill Reserve loopWe have some excellent hiking trails right on our doorstep that wind through the regenerating native bush in Polhill Reserve. The entry point is only 3 minutes away from the bottom end of Karepa Street.
The Polhill Reserve loop is suitable for those of average fitness and takes from 45 minutes to a couple of hours, depending on your fitness level.
There are plenty of shorter walks you can take if you want something easier: 2 suggestions: Head down to Aro Street (around 30 minutes) for refreshments including craft beer (Garage Project), coffee, or bread or pastries (Arobake), or alternatively walk up to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine for stunning panoramic views of Wellington.
Arts & Culture
Only a short 10 minute drive away on the waterfront, Te Papa is New Zealand's bold and innovative national museum and a recognised world leader in interactive and visitor-focused museum experiences. ... Discover the treasures and stories of New Zealand at Te Papa, our bold and innovative national museum.
65 locals recommend
Te Papa Tongarewa
Only a short 10 minute drive away on the waterfront, Te Papa is New Zealand's bold and innovative national museum and a recognised world leader in interactive and visitor-focused museum experiences. ... Discover the treasures and stories of New Zealand at Te Papa, our bold and innovative national museum.
Food Scene
Situated in Brooklyn Village, 10 minutes walk away, Salty Pidgin bistro serves great food, and has a an extensive award-winning wine list, as well as an ever-changing selection of craft beers on tap. Whether you just want to have a drink and a snack, or a full meal, Salty Pidgin is highly recommended!
31 locals recommend
Salty Pidgin
5 Todman StSituated in Brooklyn Village, 10 minutes walk away, Salty Pidgin bistro serves great food, and has a an extensive award-winning wine list, as well as an ever-changing selection of craft beers on tap. Whether you just want to have a drink and a snack, or a full meal, Salty Pidgin is highly recommended!
A personal favourite of ours, and 10 minutes away by car. Husk is a cool little eatery, bar and craft brewery - home of Choice Bros brewing. After contract brewing at many of their favourite New Zealand breweries including Townshends, Kereru & Panhead, the Bros decided it was time to find their own space - and thus HUSK was born.
Easily missed, Husk is located down a private alleyway off Ghuznee Street... Look for the barrel at the entrance.
Excellent food and service, good beer, and a great vibe. Open
7 days, 8am till late.
9 locals recommend
HUSK
62 Ghuznee StA personal favourite of ours, and 10 minutes away by car. Husk is a cool little eatery, bar and craft brewery - home of Choice Bros brewing. After contract brewing at many of their favourite New Zealand breweries including Townshends, Kereru & Panhead, the Bros decided it was time to find their own space - and thus HUSK was born.
Easily missed, Husk is located down a private alleyway off Ghuznee Street... Look for the barrel at the entrance.
Excellent food and service, good beer, and a great vibe. Open
7 days, 8am till late.
Established by renowned Wellington chef Paul Hoather, Charley Noble specializes in showcasing fresh local ingredients, natural wine and craft beer. The menu is wood-fired influenced, catering for every taste. Although Paul has recently retired to his home town of Nelson, he is still involved as a consultant. Good food, a great atmosphere, and good service, Charley Noble is 10 - 15 minutes by car.
33 locals recommend
Charley Noble
1 Post Office SquareEstablished by renowned Wellington chef Paul Hoather, Charley Noble specializes in showcasing fresh local ingredients, natural wine and craft beer. The menu is wood-fired influenced, catering for every taste. Although Paul has recently retired to his home town of Nelson, he is still involved as a consultant. Good food, a great atmosphere, and good service, Charley Noble is 10 - 15 minutes by car.
With a quirky New Orleans theme, and casual but friendly service, Sweet Mothers Kitchen is worth a visit. To quote their website: "Sweet Mother’s Kitchen draws on influences from New Orleans with Cajun and Creole dishes plus Mexican snack food. All day breakfast (till 5pm) on Saturday and Sunday. We serve Supreme coffee free range eggs, corn-fed chicken and free-range pork." If you go during a busy time, be prepared to wait for your food order - but this place gets busy for a reason.
29 locals recommend
Sweet Mother's Kitchen
5 Courtenay PlWith a quirky New Orleans theme, and casual but friendly service, Sweet Mothers Kitchen is worth a visit. To quote their website: "Sweet Mother’s Kitchen draws on influences from New Orleans with Cajun and Creole dishes plus Mexican snack food. All day breakfast (till 5pm) on Saturday and Sunday. We serve Supreme coffee free range eggs, corn-fed chicken and free-range pork." If you go during a busy time, be prepared to wait for your food order - but this place gets busy for a reason.
Mr Go's serves Asian hawker-style street food with a kiwi influence. Their Gua Bao (steamed bun stuffed with a choice of chicken, pork, tofu, fish or beef) are not to be missed, but everything on the menu is very tasty and reasonably priced. Good selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails. Mr Go's is ten minutes away at the lower end of Taranaki Street, just up from the intersection with Courtenay Place. Open Monday to Sunday, 11.30am till late.
28 locals recommend
Mr Go's
3 Taranaki StMr Go's serves Asian hawker-style street food with a kiwi influence. Their Gua Bao (steamed bun stuffed with a choice of chicken, pork, tofu, fish or beef) are not to be missed, but everything on the menu is very tasty and reasonably priced. Good selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails. Mr Go's is ten minutes away at the lower end of Taranaki Street, just up from the intersection with Courtenay Place. Open Monday to Sunday, 11.30am till late.
Named after the beneficial fungus that affects wine grapes, Botrytis, Noble Rot is a wine bar and restaurant just off Cuba Street. They have an impressive 400+ wine list, covering a wide range of grape varieties and regions. Using the Coravin Wine Preservation system, they are able to offer over 40 wines by the glass, including Grand Cru Bordeaux and many of NZ's finest such as Waiheke Island's 2008 Stoneyridge Larose. Noble Rot is not to be missed if you're a wine lover or foodie.
5 - 10 minutes away by car.
12 locals recommend
Noble Rot Wine Bar
6 Swan LnNamed after the beneficial fungus that affects wine grapes, Botrytis, Noble Rot is a wine bar and restaurant just off Cuba Street. They have an impressive 400+ wine list, covering a wide range of grape varieties and regions. Using the Coravin Wine Preservation system, they are able to offer over 40 wines by the glass, including Grand Cru Bordeaux and many of NZ's finest such as Waiheke Island's 2008 Stoneyridge Larose. Noble Rot is not to be missed if you're a wine lover or foodie.
5 - 10 minutes away by car.
If you love seafood, Ortega Fish Shack is worth a visit if you can get a booking! Great atmosphere - downstairs very busy and vibrant, and upstairs a little more laid-back. Excellent food and an extensive wine list. All the dishes are good, but don't miss the oysters if you're an oyster lover.
10 - 15 minutes away by car.
57 locals recommend
Ortega
16 Majoribanks StIf you love seafood, Ortega Fish Shack is worth a visit if you can get a booking! Great atmosphere - downstairs very busy and vibrant, and upstairs a little more laid-back. Excellent food and an extensive wine list. All the dishes are good, but don't miss the oysters if you're an oyster lover.
10 - 15 minutes away by car.
Consistently one of Wellington's top restaurants since they opened in the grand old National Bank building in 1996, Logan Brown combine stunning ambiance, very good food, and friendly but highly professional service. With a menu featuring produce-driven modern NZ cuisine, they use seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, and are committed to fair trade, free range and organic produce and sustainably caught fish.
If you're happy to vacate your table by 7.30, there's a pre-theatre bistro menu at $45pp (available at 5.30pm Tuesday to Sunday), and they also offer a great-value $25 main-plus-wine lunch deal.
You can be there 5 minutes from when your Uber picks you up!
41 locals recommend
Logan Brown Restaurant
192 Cuba StConsistently one of Wellington's top restaurants since they opened in the grand old National Bank building in 1996, Logan Brown combine stunning ambiance, very good food, and friendly but highly professional service. With a menu featuring produce-driven modern NZ cuisine, they use seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, and are committed to fair trade, free range and organic produce and sustainably caught fish.
If you're happy to vacate your table by 7.30, there's a pre-theatre bistro menu at $45pp (available at 5.30pm Tuesday to Sunday), and they also offer a great-value $25 main-plus-wine lunch deal.
You can be there 5 minutes from when your Uber picks you up!
Entertainment & Activities
Built in 1939, the Penthouse is an art deco cinema with four screens, ten minutes walk away in Brooklyn village. It has a fully licensed cafe offering lunch, brunch and dinner.
40 locals recommend
Penthouse Cinema & Cafe
205 Ohiro RdBuilt in 1939, the Penthouse is an art deco cinema with four screens, ten minutes walk away in Brooklyn village. It has a fully licensed cafe offering lunch, brunch and dinner.
Shopping
If you're into martial arts, check out Fuji Mae in Brooklyn village. Established in 2003 after the owner René Kunz returned from competing at the ITF World Champs in Warsaw, Poland to find a big gap in the market for a true retail shop for martial artists that encompassed every art/style.
Fuji Mae New Zealand
52 Cleveland StIf you're into martial arts, check out Fuji Mae in Brooklyn village. Established in 2003 after the owner René Kunz returned from competing at the ITF World Champs in Warsaw, Poland to find a big gap in the market for a true retail shop for martial artists that encompassed every art/style.
Everything Else
Should you need to visit a hairdresser during your stay, our 'Tuscan' tower building also houses Salon Bella, a unique boutique hair dressing salon with relaxing views over Polhill reserve. Pauline and Belinda are highly skilled stylists and colourists.
Salon Bella
58 Karepa StShould you need to visit a hairdresser during your stay, our 'Tuscan' tower building also houses Salon Bella, a unique boutique hair dressing salon with relaxing views over Polhill reserve. Pauline and Belinda are highly skilled stylists and colourists.
Drinks & Nightlife
Little Beer Quarter describes itself as "Wellington's beer geek heaven, tucked away in the Edward St Precinct." With 14 rotating taps, 2 handpulls and a wide selection of beers in the fridge, LBQ is a good place to sample NZ craft beer.
30 locals recommend
Little Beer Quarter
6 Edward StLittle Beer Quarter describes itself as "Wellington's beer geek heaven, tucked away in the Edward St Precinct." With 14 rotating taps, 2 handpulls and a wide selection of beers in the fridge, LBQ is a good place to sample NZ craft beer.