When in Wellington
Want to try New Zealand’s finest wines, explore laneways and climb epic peaks? An action-packed short break awaits across the Tasman.
DAY 1 Dine in buzzing laneways
Start your day with a hand-brewed filter coffee at Pour and Twist (pourandtwist.com), where retro coffee-making equipment lines the walls. Make a beeline for Evil Twins (eviltwins.co.nz) to grab one of their chilled jar drinks – maybe a triple espresso with oat milk – to sip as you go.
Weave through Wellington’s maze of inner-city alleys during the day, making sure to swing by Hannahs Laneway, a former shoe factory turned food-lovers paradise. Brewpub
Fortune Favours (fortunefavours.beer) is a local favourite of the city’s booming craft beer scene. It features steampunk décor and 15 taps pouring specialty creations such as a Peanut Slab Porter. Grab a tasting paddle to enjoy with a lunchtime burger on the balcony overlooking the action of hip Ghuznee Street below.
Later, head to new hotspot Liberty (libertyrestaurant.co.nz), a chic neo-bistro serving Te Matuku Bay oysters with cava rosé vinegar foam. Nightcap? Take a short walk from dinner to rustic cocktail bar Kuikui Lane (kuikui.co.nz) to close the day with smoked rosemary gin.
DAY 2 Immerse yourself in creativity
You won’t be short of culture in Wellington, with 55 museums and galleries to explore. The celebrated Museum of New Zealand Te Papa
Tongarewa (tepapa.govt.nz) tops any must-visit list. The waterfront landmark houses six storeys of exhibitions including those detailing Māori heritage and culture. The museum’s Toi Art gallery showcases the national art collection and leading contemporary New Zealand works.
Wētā Workshop (wetaworkshop.com) crafts physical effects for some of the world’s
most renowned TV shows and films, including Avatar and The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Sneak past the giant trolls at the yellow Hobbit door and join a Wētā Workshop Experience tour, where you can explore props, costumes and miniatures. Leave time to visit the world’s most immersive souvenir shop Wētā Cave, for authentic collectibles and prop replicas.
DAY 3 Hike picture-perfect trails
The 9.1-kilometre Escarpment Track (wellingtonregionaltrails.com) follows the jewel-green hills of the Kāpiti Coast. The track reaches a summit of 220 metres above the Tasman Sea, where the views to Kapiti Island are spectacular.
A 45-minute train ride from Wellington will whisk you to Paekākāriki, where the trail begins. Don’t forget to grab snacks and water at the Village Grocery Store before starting your walk. The intermediate-level track can be handled by older children but the adventure factor is satisfyingly high thanks to 1200 steps up and down steep hills, narrow pathways cutting across ridgelines and two thrilling swing bridges strung across small valleys. Once you reach your destination of Pukerua Bay, jump on a train and head back to Paekākāriki for a dip at the beach – you’ll have earned it.
DAY 4 Sip around local wineries
The village of Martinborough is an hour’s drive north-east of Wellington and is home to more than 20 boutique wineries and some of New Zealand’s best pinot noir.
Part of the Wairarapa wine region, the mostly small, family-run wineries here are clustered within a five-kilometre radius, which makes a brilliant argument for hiring a bike to explore the landscape punctuated with neat rows of vines. Start in Martinborough’s quaint colonial-era village square before pedalling off on a journey of discovery. Taste premium wine in an intimate setting at Ata Rangi (atarangi.co.nz) before making your way to the region’s envelope-pushing natural and biodynamic producers at Cambridge
Road (cambridgeroad.co.nz). Stop for a glass of pinot and a casual platter lunch at Poppies Martinborough (poppies martinborough.co.nz).
DAY 5 Ride epic peaks
Wellington’s surrounding peaks are a lure for adventurers of all ages and abilities. Seven kilometres from the city centre, the Mākara
Peak Mountain Bike Park (wellington regionaltrails.com) has more than 45 kilometres of mountain biking trails, which snake through 250 hectares of native bushland. Hire a bike from Mud Cycles (mudcycles.co.nz) just down the road and choose your trail, whether that’s the gentle, beginner-friendly Magic Carpet or the hair-raising vertical drops of Trickle Falls. You can also take to the trails on foot (bikes have right of way) but whatever your form of transportation, the adrenalin fix comes with stunning views across Wellington.