Wellington Short Break: 10 Great Things to Do

TE PAPA WALKING CUBA STREET

Day 1

Te Papa National Museum, Wellington

Te Papa starts the day with a flourish and you just might not do anything else as the day is absorbed with the Te Papa narrative. That means you might have to stay longer, a Wellington welcome guaranteed. And remember temperamental weather doesn’t mean Wellington is not adorable. Nothing is perfect and in Wellington it is the weather.

The ace up Wellington’s sleeve is the very long list of places and activities that do not cost the earth and are indoors. The city streets have wide verandas to shelter visitors and regardless of the weather it is a place encouraging people to visit year round. Who needs a glorious gold sandy beach when there is Welly magic around every corner.

Stops & extensions

Museum

Te Papa

Detour

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Walk

Walking Cuba Street

Stay

Naumi Studio Hotel, Wellington @naumihotels

Recommended Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington 231-223 Cuba St, right in the middle of the action, yet the hotel is actually quiet.

Apartments or hotel style rooms depending on the size of your family.

A reasonably priced hotel in the centre of Wellington.

PARLIAMENT TO CUBA STREET EXPLORATION

Day 2

Wellington Cable Car

Your day starts at Parliament wending your way along Lambton Quay to finish at Cuba Street. Included in this route map is the largest nineteenth century timber government building in the southern hemisphere, now a Law Faculty, you can enter the ground floor and wonder about how many forests were needed to construct this exquisite timber building. Then stroll past Wellington High Court with its striking modern facade onto Lambton Quay.

Read more

Stops & extensions

Stop 1

Parliament

Detour

Musical concerts (free) & Old St Paul’s Cathedral

Stop 2

Cable Car Museum

Detour

Space Place

Stop 3

Lambton Quay

Stop 4

Old Bank Arcade

• Te Papa, 55 Cable Street, on the waterfront. Open every day of the year, including all public holidays. Hours: 10am−6pm, and 10am−9pm on Thursdays. Free entry, though charges apply to some short-term exhibitions and activities. Getting there  Plus there is a cafe with the standard fare of a large establishment. Sausage rolls guaranteed for people who crave their lunch time snack.   You can avoid using the car park as the museum is on major bus routes or within walking distance of CBD accommodation.
• SPACE PLACE MUSEUM.40 Salamanca Rd, Kelburn. Located at the top of the Cable Car, just a short stroll from the terminus.
• Parliament bookings are either email or telephoning. Our public tours run daily, on the hour from 10am to 4pm. Check our Calendar for our daily tour schedule. Public tour group size is limited to 25 people, therefore bookings are advisable if you wish to take a tour during peak periods (such as school holidays and public holidays). Bookings need to be made 24 hours in advance of your visit. Bookings can be made by emailing tour.desk@parliament.govt.nz or by telephoning us on +64 4 817 950
• Parliament outdoor self-guided tour map PDF

Getting around

• Walking: check walking maps
• Train service: Metlink – Greater Wellington’s Public Transport Network
• Bus service: Metlink – Greater Wellington’s Public Transport Network