Top Wellington Outdoor Activities - page 2

The Kiwi Night Encounter offers one of the best chances in New Zealand to see kiwi up close, an experience many describe as a must-do in New Zealand. Your evening begins in the visitor centre, where experienced guides introduce you to kiwi and the conservation work behind their protection. You’ll then be guided to a purpose-built habitat designed to support natural kiwi behaviour while allowing for quiet, respectful observation. As darkness falls, a resident pair of North Island brown kiwi emerge to forage — probing the ground, moving through the undergrowth, and displaying their natural nocturnal behaviours. Small group sizes ensure a calm, low-impact environment throughout the experience. While kiwi are the focus, Ruru (morepork) are often seen and heard overhead and may be observed flying through the habitat as they feed — offering a glimpse into the wider nocturnal ecosystem. Ngā Manu is a working conservation reserve, and all encounters are shaped around the wellbeing of animals.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Wellington Airport to your hotel doorstep and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by climate-controlled shuttle so you can sit back and enjoy the views in comfort on the drive into the city.

Enjoy a hassle-free end to your time in Wellington with this shared departure transfer to Wellington Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation’s doorstep and transferred in a comfortable shuttle to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides as the fee remains the same, even if there’s traffic.

Whether it’s your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic special-effects Wētā Cave and the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, ride the Wellington Cable Car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views from Mount Victoria.

Soar over Wellington Harbour in a helicopter during this 15-minute flight. Learn about the history, culture, and environment of the harbor's landscape through your pilot's commentary. Get views and aerial photo ops of the Cook Strait, Matiu Somes Island, and some of Wellington city's landmarks.

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

The essential introduction to Wellington! Jump on a bike and our guide will show you around the Wellington Waterfront and introduce you to some fascinating past and present figures who have made Wellington the creative capital it is today. This tour is perfect for those with just a couple of hours to spare or who prefer their riding to be only on cycle paths. This route is only 10km so the riding is easy and the distance is short (if you're after a longer bike ride, check out our Half Day Tour). Our Introduction to Wellington tour is set at an easy pace with plenty of time for questions and taking photos at each of the tour stops. Our tour focuses on six city shaping people and we’ll point out some key Wellington landmarks along the way including the Parliament, Wellington Stadium, Te Papa Museum, Cuba St, Oriental Bay, Wellington Railway Station and the historic Wellington Waterfront. We use regular bikes for this tour as it's mostly flat, but you can upgrade to an electric bike.

Get out of Wellington city for the day and enjoy the rural atmosphere of Martinborough and the South Wairarapa wine country on this private full-day wineries tour. Over the day you’ll visit four wineries and enjoy tastings at each, plus a delicious lunch at one. The tour is customizable so you can request specific wineries in advance.

Enjoy a 7-hour private tour from Wellington to the South Wairarapa and Martinborough. Visit a chocolate factory, olive oil press and honey factory. Savor a platter lunch at one of the wineries we visit and local cheese and craft beer tastings. On the way back to Wellington, take in views from the Remutaka ranges.

Explore New Zealand's small capital city while getting fresh air and exercise on an electric bike tour. Ride along the Wellington Waterfront and Miramar Peninsula, pedaling past beaches, urban landmarks, and residential neighborhoods with a guide leading the way and keeping you safe. Stop often to snap photos, and use the bike’s battery power to easily scale the city’s hills, for stellar views over the city and coast.

Kapiti Island is a predator-free nature sanctuary off the Kapiti Coast, but few people get to visit, especially overnight. This 2-day experience offers the rare opportunity to stay on the otherwise uninhabited island, with Department of Conservation permits included. Take a hike and spot native birds in the forest, dine on chef-prepared meals, look out for New Zealand’s endangered, nocturnal kiwi bird, and stay in your choice of accommodation.

Gather your friends and family for this 90-minute indoor activity. During this challenging game, everyone will have to work together to complete the mission, which involves the ancient temple of a long-lost civilization. You and your team have been recruited as special agents to investigate the ruins and stop the Death Gods before they destroy the world.

Escape from Wellington for the day on this private fully-day tour of the beautiful Kapiti Coast. Enjoy a variety of sights and attractions to suit your needs and interests, including the views from Paekakariki Hill, the Nga Manu Wildlife Centre, and the Tuatara Brewery. This is an ideal tour for travelers short on time in the Wellington region who want to explore beyond the city.

Get out of Wellington for the day and explore scenic wine-making country in South Wairarapa on a private tour. One benefit of going with a private guide and driver is you can sample local wines without worrying about driving home. Visit two wineries, scenic Cape Palliser Lighthouse, and a seal colony, and relax over lunch at a top restaurant in Martinborough.

Choose this day-tour for a personal and comfortable visit to a number of craft beer breweries in Wellington.  With beverages and lunch included, you’re all set to have a low-stress, informal day away from the hustle and bustle of your cruise ship. This is a great way to understand, from beer to beer, why the city is the craft beer capital of New Zealand.  Make the most of Wellington’s array of craft beer and its friendly, knowledgeable residents!

Explore the mysteries of Stonehenge Aotearoa! This unique open-air observatory, nestled in the beautiful Wairarapa countryside, is a modern take on ancient stone circles like Stonehenge and Callanish. Discover how people from cultures around the world used the sun, moon, and stars to navigate the globe and mark the passage of time. Wander among the massive stones and learn to identify constellations, track the movements of the sun, and understand the cycles of the moon. Our self-guided tour provides fascinating insights into the history of astronomy and the ingenuity of our ancestors. Stonehenge Aotearoa is a fascinating experience for all ages, whether you're a seasoned stargazer or simply curious about the world around you. Come unlock the secrets of the universe!

This private tour ensures visitors their own dedicated driver/guide for the entirety of the experience. This tour captures the best of Wellington, including scenic drives of the bays; a visit to the famous Weta Cave and Workshop; a variety of memorials and monuments; the Parliament buildings; and Old St. Paul’s Cathedral. This tour is filled with history and culture.

While on the Animals of Aotearoa group tour, you will have the chance to befriend many of Aotearoa’s local legendary animals. During this tour, you will learn about the natural behaviors of these animals and hear how our team of expert Zoo Keepers care for them. This is a fantastic chance to understand the important role these species play in Aotearoa’s ecosystem. Wellington Zoo is a charity caring for animals and people. As the world’s first Toitū carboNZero Zoo, proudly holding the QualMark Gold certification, your visit will be both enjoyable and sustainable. 10% of proceeds from all Animal Experiences help us save wildlife and wild places through the Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund.

Get out of Wellington city for the day on this exciting mountain bike outing on the Remutaka Cycle Trail, suitable for riders of all levels. Enjoy riding through bird-filled native forests, over bridges, and through rail tunnels at your own pace. Mountain bikes (pedal, not electric), gear, transport from central Wellington, and food are all taken care of so you can have active fun.

If you’ve only got a few hours, this is the most rewarding way to see Wellington. Wander through tranquil bush tracks, pass by famous filming locations, and pop out on the summit for unbeatable panoramic views. This short, scenic adventure is ideal for tourist, business travellers, conference attendees, and anyone wanting to feel the magic of Wellington in a short window of time.

Wellington has a wide range of culinary delights to discover, but for most tours, you have to join a group of other travelers and head to restaurants that might not interest you. Instead, on this private full-day food tour, customize the itinerary to your tastes and sample some of the best cuisine the city has to offer, from award-winning chocolate to international French cheeses.

The tour will begin at any location between Wellington and Palmerston North, taking you and your camera around the Kapiti Coast and Manawatu Beaches, where you will capture the majestic Te Horo Beach, Waitarere Beach, Foxton Beach and more. On a one-day scenery photography tour, there is an opportunity to observe wildlife, practice macros and long exposure shots, and capture captivating coastal sunsets while exploring the panoramic beaches of Kapiti Coast and the Foxton area. The tour offers a distinctive experience, providing an opportunity to access isolated places and reveal the native wild landscapes to the camera. The tour can be booked as a private tour. The official tour page is https://bit.ly/kapititour/.

This accommodation option is inside the nature reserve, meaning you have unlimited access to the reserve during your stay and the whole place to yourself after hours. It is a self-contained wooden lodge with one bedroom and two single beds, and a double pull out couch. It hosts a kitchette, washing machine and dryer, and private bathroom.

Discover the Remutaka area’s rich rail history and natural beauty on an eBike (electric bike) day trip. The flagship of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this trail is suitable for riders of all levels, 28 km of easy/moderate riding. Cycle through native forest, over bridges and through tunnels while enjoying views of the landscape and the old railway system. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at the Summit and embark on a fun descent to Cross Creek in the Wairarapa, home to some of New Zealand’s most scenic farmland. You will be provided with everything for your adventure - transport to and from your cruise ship, eBikes with trunk bags for your personal effects, and all food - so all you need to do is wear appropriate clothing and be ready to ride!