Top Wellington Art & Culture

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

Beat the crowds and explore this award-winning exhibitions before opening. Explore Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War with the peace and stillness this subject matter deserves by entering the exhibit half an hour before the public. Te Papa has joined forces with Weta Workshop to create an exhibition like no other. After a short introduction from a Te Papa Host, you will wander freely at your own pace through this gallery. Garnering international acclaim and various awards, this space is best experienced before the museum's doors are opened for general admission. * See eight extraordinary New Zealanders captured frozen in time on a monumental scale - 2.4 times human size * Learn about the battles that took place in this culturally-defining event * Discover more about the ANZAC story through 3D maps and projections, miniatures, models, dioramas, and a range of interactive experiences.

Combine a tour of Wellington and the Lord of the Rings locations during this half-day excursion from Wellington port. Follow your guide, a LOTR specialist, to locations including the Weta Workshop, the LOTR filming and post-production facilities, and Mt. Victoria. Entrance fees and round-trip transportation from Wellington port provided. This small-group tour, limited to 15 people or fewer, ensures an intimate experience.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand’s best-kept nature sanctuaries and a predator-free haven for native birds. On this day trip to the island, take a ferry from Paraparaumu Beach and spend your day walking the island, identifying kākā, kōkako, kererū and more with the help of your nature guide. Enjoy a chef-prepared lunch on the island before you head back to the mainland.

The hills around Wellington offer a spectacular backdrop for a cycling tour, but you don’t need to worry about biking uphill. This 4-hour electric bike tour takes all the effort out of cycling, so you can concentrate on admiring the sights and enjoying the views.

Whether it’s your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic Weta Cave and the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, ride the Wellington cable car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views from the top of Mount Victoria.

Wellington, long-celebrated for its bohemian liberal arts and cafe culture, is fast-becoming renowned as New Zealand’s capitol of craft beer. Visit four Wellington and Hutt Valley breweries, tasting a range of tasty local beers at each establishment on this small group day tour designed for lovers of ales, stouts, lagers and everything hoppy in-between.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Wellington Airport to your hotel doorstep, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by climate-controlled shuttle.

Board the InterIslander ferry for a 3-hour cruise across Cook Strait, which links New Zealand’s capital city in the North Island to a charming enclave in the South Island. The Wellington-to-Picton ferry offers daily service one way, with jaw-dropping views along one of the world’s most scenic waterways.

Enjoy a hassle-free end to your time in Wellington with this shared departure transfer to Wellington Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation doorstep and transferred by comfortable shuttle to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides.

Combine award-winning wine and gorgeous scenery on a full-day tour from Wellington to Martinborough that also explores Hutt Valley, the Rimutaka Ranges, the Wairarapa coast, and Lake Onoke. You'll visit Martinborough wineries for cellar tours and tastings, pause for lunch in a vineyard restaurant, then eat dinner at the edge of Lake Onoke after a short shoreline hike. This Martinborough wine tour includes meals and a wine tasting, and it's limited to 11 people to ensure personalized service.

Get a personal introduction to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s premier museum based in Wellington. This 1-hour guided tour provides an overview of the museum’s interactive exhibits, artifacts, fine art and natural history displays so that you can better explore the collection on your own. You’ll get a deeper look at Maori cultural heritage and colonial history with an expert guide who share insights and offers suggestions for galleries that might suit your interests.

When you ship docks in Wellington, explore New Zealand's vibrant capital city while getting fresh air and exercise on an electric bike tour. Ride along the Wellington Waterfront and Miramar Peninsula, pedaling past beaches, urban landmarks, and residential neighborhoods with a guide and small group. Stop often to snap photos, and use the bike’s battery power to easily scale Mt. Maupuia for stellar views over the city and coast.

The whole Wellington region is known for its mountain biking, but visitors often stick to the shorter central city trails to avoid hiring a car. On this tour, enjoy a longer ride through bird-filled native forest, over bridges and through rail tunnels. Equipment, transport and food are taken care of - all you need to is to be ready and dressed at your accommodation.

Wellington’s south coast is both a popular choice and a missed opportunity for visitors; although a visit to Weta Workshop is a popular choice, many visitors pass up the chance to see the rocky beaches and rough surf that Wellington locals have learned to love. From the Weta Cave to the Taputarenga Marine Reserve, this small group tour offers the full south coast experience.

Get a 60-minute introduction to the highlights of Te Papa’s ‘taonga,’ meaning a ‘cultural treasures’ in the Māori language. While admission to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is free, a small-group tour with a museum guide offers more insight on the enrich your understanding of this unique culture.

Discover the top attractions of Wellington on this all-day guided tour. The itinerary includes a drive up to the top of Mount Victoria for the views, a visit to Weta Studios on the Miramar Peninsula to see where "Lord of the Rings" was filmed (if option selected), a ride on the Wellington Cable Car, plus stops at the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and Old St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Martinborough - just a stone's throw from central Wellington - is one of New Zealand's most prestigious and awarded wine areas. This full-day tour includes tastings at three boutique wineries, showcasing some of the finest local drops from the region, and travels through beautiful natural scenery featured in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For those less inclined to wine, stop at a local brewery to try some craft beers.

Martinborough is known as one of New Zealand's premier wine regions. This private tour takes you to three of the best Martinborough wineries—Palliser Estate, Poppies Martinborough, and Te Kairanga Wines—tastings included. Cellar door experiences let you sample world-class wines. Departure time is flexible, with hotel or port pickup from Wellington.

Explore the outskirts of Wellington and the landscape beyond on this helicopter flight tour. While listening to commentary from your pilot/guide, fly over the rugged shores and seal colonies of the South Coast, the Cook Strait, the Karori Rock Lighthouse, and the Makara Wind Farm.

Whether you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit or are simply interested in movies and special effects in general, this guided tour makes it easy to visit Weta Workshop. Save time and the hassle of driving around Wellington with return transfers. At Weta Workshop, learn more about the exhibits on display on a guided tour. A fun half-day excursion for the whole family.

Welcome to Weta Workshop’s home.  The movie industry doesn’t often open its doors!  Here, you’ll be thrilled by genuine, life-size movie props from a number of different contemporary movies.  Learn how Weta turns a director's vision into scenery, models, and figures. Some of the most captivating Hollywood films use Weta's props, and this tour explains why.

Wellington is home to a thriving culinary scene, with more cafes and restaurants per capita than New York City. With new eateries regularly opening and local favorites shutting shop, it can be hard to pick out the must visit spots. On this private tour, your guide showcases Wellington's best artisan coffee roasters, cheesemongers and gelaterias.

This tour is all about you. We travel in luxury to the Kapiti region just north of Wellington and can customize the tour to suit your needs.