Guidebook for Wellington
Food Scene
A pleasant 20-minute walk, good coffee and a warm wooden interior. I love their garlic mushrooms!
10 locals recommend
Cafe Villa
61 Ottawa RdA pleasant 20-minute walk, good coffee and a warm wooden interior. I love their garlic mushrooms!
Drinks & Nightlife
wide variety of craft beer, with seasonal specialties.
21 locals recommend
Sprig & Fern Tavern - Tinakori Rd
342 Tinakori Rdwide variety of craft beer, with seasonal specialties.
Parks & Nature
A bit pricey (tickets around $20 for adults) but you are guaranteed to see many of New Zealand's usually shy native birds. There are also tuatara - a very odd and ancient lizard. Well worth spending a day, as there's a good cafe for lunch on site.
255 locals recommend
ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadA bit pricey (tickets around $20 for adults) but you are guaranteed to see many of New Zealand's usually shy native birds. There are also tuatara - a very odd and ancient lizard. Well worth spending a day, as there's a good cafe for lunch on site.
Kids playground, outdoor swimming pool, challenging uphill walking trail and a neat little cafe, all rolled into one location.
16 locals recommend
Khandallah Park
Woodmancote RoadKids playground, outdoor swimming pool, challenging uphill walking trail and a neat little cafe, all rolled into one location.
Beautiful trail along the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Vines and ferns meet overhead. There's a picnic area with free barbecues. Keep an eye out for tui, piwakawaka and kaka.
52 locals recommend
Otari-Wilton's Bush
150 Wilton RdBeautiful trail along the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Vines and ferns meet overhead. There's a picnic area with free barbecues. Keep an eye out for tui, piwakawaka and kaka.
Arts & Culture
Focused on Wellington's maritime history, with delightful exhibits that seem to have come from someone's attic. A terrific place to explore with kids on a rainy day, not as touristy as Te Papa.
70 locals recommend
Wellington Museum
3 Jervois QuayFocused on Wellington's maritime history, with delightful exhibits that seem to have come from someone's attic. A terrific place to explore with kids on a rainy day, not as touristy as Te Papa.
Shopping
Beautiful local crafts from merino to mosaic, plus food trucks and lots of artisan products
12 locals recommend
Wellington Underground Market
102 Oriental ParadeBeautiful local crafts from merino to mosaic, plus food trucks and lots of artisan products
Essentials
A good supermarket. If you're looking for easy meals or perhaps a picnic, grab some local Kapiti cheese. Kikorangi (a creamy mild blue) is my favourite.
21 locals recommend
Countdown Crofton Downs
124 Churchill DrA good supermarket. If you're looking for easy meals or perhaps a picnic, grab some local Kapiti cheese. Kikorangi (a creamy mild blue) is my favourite.
Getting Around
You will need cash to buy a ticket on the train ($5 into the central railway station). The conductors don't have eftpos.
Crofton Downs Station
You will need cash to buy a ticket on the train ($5 into the central railway station). The conductors don't have eftpos.