Guidebook for Wellington
Food Scene
A pleasant 20-minute walk, good coffee and a warm wooden interior. I love their garlic mushrooms!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Villa
61 Ottawa RdA pleasant 20-minute walk, good coffee and a warm wooden interior. I love their garlic mushrooms!
Drinks & Nightlife
wide variety of craft beer, with seasonal specialties.
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sprig & Fern Tavern - Tinakori Rd
342 Tinakori Rdwide variety of craft beer, with seasonal specialties.
Parks & Nature
A bit pricey (tickets around $20 for adults) but you are guaranteed to see many of New Zealand's usually shy native birds. There are also tuatara - a very odd and ancient lizard. Well worth spending a day, as there's a good cafe for lunch on site.
255 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadA bit pricey (tickets around $20 for adults) but you are guaranteed to see many of New Zealand's usually shy native birds. There are also tuatara - a very odd and ancient lizard. Well worth spending a day, as there's a good cafe for lunch on site.
Kids playground, outdoor swimming pool, challenging uphill walking trail and a neat little cafe, all rolled into one location.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Khandallah Park
Woodmancote RoadKids playground, outdoor swimming pool, challenging uphill walking trail and a neat little cafe, all rolled into one location.
Beautiful trail along the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Vines and ferns meet overhead. There's a picnic area with free barbecues. Keep an eye out for tui, piwakawaka and kaka.
52 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Otari-Wilton's Bush
150 Wilton RdBeautiful trail along the Kaiwharawhara Stream. Vines and ferns meet overhead. There's a picnic area with free barbecues. Keep an eye out for tui, piwakawaka and kaka.
Arts & Culture
Focused on Wellington's maritime history, with delightful exhibits that seem to have come from someone's attic. A terrific place to explore with kids on a rainy day, not as touristy as Te Papa.
70 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Imuziyam yase-Wellington
3 Jervois QuayFocused on Wellington's maritime history, with delightful exhibits that seem to have come from someone's attic. A terrific place to explore with kids on a rainy day, not as touristy as Te Papa.
Shopping
Beautiful local crafts from merino to mosaic, plus food trucks and lots of artisan products
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Wellington Underground Market
102 Oriental ParadeBeautiful local crafts from merino to mosaic, plus food trucks and lots of artisan products
Essentials
A good supermarket. If you're looking for easy meals or perhaps a picnic, grab some local Kapiti cheese. Kikorangi (a creamy mild blue) is my favourite.
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Countdown Crofton Downs
124 Churchill DrA good supermarket. If you're looking for easy meals or perhaps a picnic, grab some local Kapiti cheese. Kikorangi (a creamy mild blue) is my favourite.
Getting Around
You will need cash to buy a ticket on the train ($5 into the central railway station). The conductors don't have eftpos.
Crofton Downs Station
You will need cash to buy a ticket on the train ($5 into the central railway station). The conductors don't have eftpos.