NZ · Wellington · 41.29°S 174.78°E

wellington

Te Papa, a busy café scene and a cable car above the harbour.

Best time
November–April is the mildest time, good for harbour walks. June–August is cool and wet; the wind blows in every season, so it's a city for layers.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via Auckland or Sydney, about 13–16 hours all in. The airport is about 20 minutes from the centre. New Zealand is 4 hours ahead of KL, 5 during daylight saving (late September to early April).
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NZ · Wellingtonwellington41.29°S 174.78°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Te Papa, a busy café scene and a cable car above the harbour.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingWellingtonNZ, Wellington
KLwellington
≈ 8,841 km from KL, as the crow flies
Wellington, New Zealand, February 2019

Photo: Bengt Nyman · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Wellington squeezes a capital's museums, cafés and wooden houses between steep green hills and a deep harbour. The centre is compact enough to walk, and the waterfront keeps pulling you back outside.

Makan

  1. Flat whiteWellington takes its coffee seriously, and small roasters are everywhere.Map ↗
  2. Malaysian foodRoti canai and nasi lemak are Wellington comfort food, thanks to a long line of Malaysian cafés around Cuba Street.Map ↗
  3. Fish and chipsEaten on the waterfront, holding on tight to the paper in the wind.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Te PapaThe national museum: Māori treasures, a colossal squid and the country's story under one roof.Map ↗
  2. Cable Car and Botanic GardenA short ride up from Lambton Quay, then a downhill walk through the gardens back to town.Map ↗
  3. Cuba StreetThe city's creative strip of op shops, cafés and cheap eats.Map ↗
  4. Mount VictoriaA lookout over the whole harbour, the city and the airport.Map ↗
  5. ZealandiaA fenced valley sanctuary minutes from the city, full of native birds.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Some of the Malaysian places around Cuba Street and Dixon Street are halal-certified; look for the certificate in the window.
  • Most hire companies prefer you to leave the car in Wellington and pick up another in Picton, rather than taking it on the Cook Strait ferry.
  • Pack a windproof jacket, whatever the season.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.