Originally, I went on this trip to participate in the 2023 New Zealand Fringe Festival. While things didn’t go to plan I still made the most of my week in Wellington! So here’s a post on some highlights from my stay.
Where to Stay in Wellington
If you want to be central and close to the coolest eateries and many events, look for accommodation close to the waterfront and Cuba Street.
Food & Drink in Wellington
Fidel’s – This popular brunch spot is famous for its fried chicken waffles! At the moment they operate through a pop up in their sister venue – Havana Bar.
The Library – With an extensive list of cocktails, you can pick out a drink like you’re browsing a bookshelf.
Cable Top Eatery – Sitting at the top of the cable car ride, this cafe comes with a gorgeous view overlooking Wellington.
Sights & Activities
Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa
Who could visit Wellington and not pay the iconic Te Papa Museum a visit. The museum itself is free to enter but certain limited time exhibitions may have an entry fee.
It’s best and probably most well-known exhibition is “Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War“. It has giant sculptures made with the help of Weta Workshop. These sculptures are of eight New Zealander’s who experienced the Gallipoli campaign during World War II in various ways. The exhibit is interactive, educating and beautifully haunting.
The Beehive
New Zealand’s Parliament Building has an iconic shape that’s visible from far away. There are various free tours that last around one hour that show you around the Parliament building and dives into its history, art and political decision making processes in New Zealand.
Wellington Cable Car
The ride only takes five minutes, but you end up with a fantastic view of the city, plus its fun going through the tunnel of lights!
You can purchase tickets at the ticket office on Lambton Quay or online. Tickets are $6 one way or $11 return for adults. They also have student discounts and family passes available.
The Cable Car Museum sits beside the Upper terminal so you can learn all about the history of the Wellington Cable Car. You also end up close to other Wellington attractions such as the Botanic Garden & Cable Top Eatery.
Fragrifert – Victorian Perfumery
Next to the Cable Top Eatery you can find this small artisan perfumery!
You can sample various perfumes in the Victorian themed store and I took part in a sort of scavenger hunt that involved guessing what certain perfume ingredients in glass jars along the wall were. There are hints that can be found throughout the store in displays. When I found enough of the correct answers I was awarded with a free perfume sample!
Weta Workshop
This is the iconic studio that brings to life many practical & digital effects in cinema.
The workshop provides 1 hour long guided tours from $55 per person, you can book this through Get Your Guide below:
It’s a great experience where you have the chance to see professionals working on their crafts from forging weaponry to sculpting props out of tin foil and clay.
Events
New Zealand Fringe Festival – March
NZ Fringe Festival is a week long event celebrating creativity. Often the launchpad for many artists with the festival being open access, anyone can register an event to be part of Fringe! Dance, comedy, theatre, you name it – this festival has something for everyone.
There are multiple ticketing options available, some shows are even free or koha (donation) for entry. If you know you’ll be wanting to see many shows, then there is the Fringe Addict Membership that gets you 20% off tickets to all Fringe events.
If you’re looking to further support the arts in Aotearoa, this is an event with many ways to do so. An easy option is to buy tickets with an extra donation added that go directly to the artists.
World of Wearable Art – September – October
This event of crazy clothes is more than your usual fashion show. Every year designers create garments out interesting materials according to themes and categories. The finalists are then presented in a spectacular show combining the runway with circus, dance and visual effects.
There’s also a WOW exclusive train ride run by Great Journeys New Zealand with its own exclusive show that runs from Christchurch or Auckland to Wellington during the event season.
Thanks for joining me on my journey!
Feel free to comment any other recommendations for food, drink, sights & activities around Wellington I might have missed!
I also went Wellington for New Zealand’s first Ultra Music Festival, so stay tuned for the blog post 🙂
