Wildlife and nightlife
Wellington is known as New Zealand’s arts and culture capital. A special blend of heritage buildings, museums and galleries, fine food and live entertainment make this city an enlivening place to visit in any season.
More than half the region’s 423,800 residents live further afield, in the riverside Hutt Valley, the seaside Kapiti Coast and the rural Wairarapa.
Part of Wellington’s charm is its close proximity to nature. The central city is nestled between a beautiful harbour and forested hills. Wildlife sanctuaries, islands, seaside villages, beaches and regional parks provide huge scope for hiking, mountain biking or just watching the birds.
Many visitors choose to base themselves in the vibrant inner city, where boutique shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants are an easy walk away, if not right outside your door. At night, the city likes to stay up late for live theatre, music and dance.
Less than an hour’s drive from Wellington, the Wairarapa feels a world away. It’s where Wellingtonians escape the city at weekends to kick back among the vineyards. A string of historic villages reveal boutiques, antiques, delis and wineries. Cyclists enjoy the flat rural backroads and the forest parks are filled with native birds and crystal-clear swimming holes.
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Did you know?
Local Rugby stories
Wellington’s impressive harbour-front stadium is a million miles away from its predecessor, the windswept Athletic Park.
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NZ History
Bachelor party
Male fur seals that haven’t managed to hold a breeding territory gather as bachelors on the coast near Wellington.
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Te Ara: Encyclopedia of New Zealand
