Local Attractions

Te Papa Tongarewa / Museum of New Zealand is the country’s national museum and art gallery. A hugely popular attraction, with free entry, it has permanent exhibitions on New Zealand’s geology and natural environment, New Zealand’s indigenous people, the Maori, and Pacific culture, as well as art, history and heritage. These are complemented by an ever changing array of local and international exhibitions.
Image: Te Papa Tongarewa/Museum of New Zealand

Zealandia – the Karori Sanctuary Experience is a large (225ha) urban island sanctuary, where native fauna – reptiles and birds – live predator-free behind a specially built fence. The sanctuary offers the public guided tours, walks, interactive experiences, all in a beautiful location just minutes from central Wellington.
Image: Zealandia

Wellington’s famous cable car has been taking locals and tourists to and from the heart of the city to the suburb of Kelburn since 1902. At the Kelburn terminus is a museum dedicated to the history of the cable car. This is well worth a visit.
www.museumswellington.org.nz/cable-car-museum/
Image: Wellington Cable Car Limited

The cable car’s terminus at Kelburn is just one entry point to Wellington’s Botanic Gardens. Occupying land close to the city between Kelburn and Thorndon, the gardens, established in the 1860s, are full of indigenous and exotic flora in a beautifully landscaped setting.
Image: Michael Kelly

Completed in 1865, and added to seamlessly in the following decades, Old St Paul’s is New Zealand’s finest timber Gothic church. Its interior, full of native New Zealand timbers, is its crowning glory. Now owned by the Government, Old St Paul’s is open to the public most days.
Image: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Located on the entrance to Queens Wharf, in the former Wellington Harbour Board head office, the Wellington Museum is dedicated to offering an insight into the rich social and cultural history of Wellington. It uses interactive devices and exhibitions to engage visitors on a journey through Wellington’s past.
Image: Wikipedia Commons

Wellington’s bohemian, alternative street is the place to shop, eat or just wander to get a taste of a different side of the capital city.
Image: Michael Kelly

Wellington’s nightlife is concentrated in and around Courtenay Place, which runs east-west for two blocks in Te Aro. Frequented by tourists and locals during the day, the area comes alive at night, particularly after 11pm.
Image: Wellington City Council

Sitting opposite each other at the intersection of Lambton Quay and Molesworth Street, the nation’s parliament and the former home of the civil service are two of the city’s grandest buildings. You can take a guided tour of Parliament. Government Buildings, possibly the largest timber office building in the world and now home to Victoria University’s Law Faculty, has interpretation on its ground and first floors.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/wellington-kapiti/places/wellington-central-area/government-buildings/
Michael Kelly

Opened in 1926, the Otari Native Botanic Garden is New Zealand’s only botanical museum. It adjoins Wilton’s Bush, the most complete remnant of the original forest that once covered Wellington. Located in the suburb of Wilton, the reserve includes picnic areas, walking tracks and the unique collection of native plants.
Michael Kelly