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New Zealand's capital offers both locals and visitors alike a long list of activities to keep them busy when in the area. From vineyard tours, museums hopping and exploring hidden gems, see all of our top recommendations for things to keep you busy while in Wellington.
Take a scenic journey on New Zealand's only operating funicular railway. The ride is short, starting in Wellington CBD and goes up towards the Kelburn Lookout. When you reach the top, there are plenty of worthy sites to explore including the Botanic Gardens, Mount Victoria, Space Place and Zealandia. You can take the cable car back down to Wellington CBD or take the 40-minute scenic stroll back down.
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Book a day tour that will take you to famous locations in Wellington from The Lord of the Rings and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of the trilogy. You'll visit sites like Weta Workshop where props were made for the films and dig into a Lord of the Rings themed lunch at Scorch-O-Rama cafe.
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One thing Wellington definitely isn't short on is museums. History and culture buffs will be delighted to know there are multitudes of places to learn about history, art and space in Wellington. Te Papa, also known as the Museum of New Zealand, stands out as the most popular museum in the region. If you're short on time, you can take a guided tour around the museum, but if you have time to roam around, you're free to take a guided tour and stick around afterwards for as long as you like to explore the exhibitions.
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It's no secret Wellington is a hot spot for foodies, but if you want to know which cafes and restaurants the locals rate, a food tour should be on your radar.
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Wellington is one of the best wine regions in New Zealand. Just an hour away from the city centre, you'll find Martinborough, which is home to award-winning vineyards. You can take a guided tour to Martinborough to try locally produced wine and local gourmet cuisine. A wine tour is the perfect activity for friends or partners to have fun and relax among the fresh country air with an award-winning glass of wine in hand.
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Space Place is filled with interactive exhibits and galleries that will mesmerise kids (and big kids). Explore the universe by day then look through the historic Thomas Cooke telescope by night to see the stars and planets.
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There are over 46 kilometres of beaches spanning across Wellington. One of the closest to the city is Oriental Beach, offering a relaxing place to swim and bask in the sun. Lyall Bay also comes highly recommended. It's a great surfing beach and has a number of eateries nearby that are worth a visit. A tour along the coast of Wellington will take you to multiple beaches and you may even spot some seals along the way.
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Zealandia is a wildlife sanctuary that protects New Zealand's endangered species and preserves Wellington's landscape. Spanning over 225 hectares, explore the urban sanctuary at night by torchlight with a guide.
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One of the many things Wellington does well is its markets. Some of the best are located centrally, so if you have some time to spare before your next adventure or you're keen to make a day of it, you're sure to find time to visit a market during your trip. Wellington Market, Harbourside Market and Wellington Night Market are local favourites. It's free to browse, but you'll likely give in to temptation when you see the display of food available across the stalls.
Wellington Botanic Garden is a few minutes from Wellington CBD and can be reached by travelling on the Wellington Cable Car. You'll find some of New Zealand's oldest exotic trees, large garden sculptures, a duck pond, herb garden and a cafe filling some of the 64 acres. Visitors can explore the Wellington Botanic Garden from sunrise to sunset daily.
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