Discover Wellington: Coast, Nature and Culture

Wellington is a destination with a broad regional reach. The Greater Wellington region stretches along the west coast from north of Ōtaki to north of Castlepoint on the east coast, and has almost 500 kilometres of coastline. Natural areas also play an important role: eight regional parks cover more than 330 square kilometres in total and are visited by thousands of people every year. When choosing a holiday apartment, you could first consider whether coastal landscapes, nature trails or cultural attractions will shape your stay. Wellington offers reason to include more than one of these perspectives in your plans.

Coast, reserves and trails

At Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve, visitors can walk to 19th-century reservoirs. From the summit, you can see Mt Taranaki and the Inland Kaikoura Range. The adjoining Porirua Scenic Reserve and Rangituhi protect the largest remaining area of native forest in the Tawa-Porirua Basin. Here, a walk to historic water facilities, summit views and the protection of native forest come together.

Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush offers a different focus: The area includes more than 100 hectares of protected native forest and is the only botanical garden in Aotearoa dedicated entirely to native plants. Those interested in plant life will find a clear contrast here to the viewpoints and reservoirs at Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve.

Te Ara o Kaiwharawhara Awa is an easy, buggy-friendly walking trail that follows a stream through native forest. Birdsong and waters inhabited by eels are part of its natural setting. For families weighing up different experiences, this trail is easy to compare with the walk at Rangituhi/Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve: one is described as an easy walk, while the other leads to 19th-century reservoirs and offers views of named mountain ranges from the summit.

Beyond individual walking trails, Wellington Regional Trails extends from Wellington’s city centre to the Wairarapa region and the Kāpiti Coast. The programme includes almost 300 kilometres of mountain biking, walking and horse-riding trails across 40,000 hectares of publicly accessible land. Walking is just one of several options here; mountain biking and horse-riding trails are also available.

City history, collections and the night sky

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is located on the Wellington Waterfront. Across six floors and 36,000 square metres, it houses more than 800,000 artworks, cultural objects, historical archives and scientific specimens. The Wellington Museum focuses on maritime history, Māori and European settlement, and the development of the region. It also explains how Wellington became the capital in 1865.

Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi Space Place is on a ridge in the Wellington Botanic Garden. Its attractions include a full-dome digital planetarium, the historic Thomas-Cooke telescope, and interactive galleries and exhibitions. If you’re planning a visit with children, the interactive exhibitions can offer a different focus from a walk through the forest or along a stream. Wellington therefore brings together city history, collections, astronomy and nature experiences as distinct interests.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it’s worth prioritising your planned visits: should your trip focus more on museums and the planetarium, or on reserves and trails? The region’s broad reach makes this consideration particularly worthwhile. Choose where to stay based on the destinations that matter most for your trip, then decide which other themes you’d like to add.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Paraparaumu Beach, Plimmerton, Porirua, Wellington City, Masterton District, South Wairarapa District, Lower Hutt City, Kapiti Coast District, Upper Hutt City, Gladstone, Otaki, Clareville, Bidwells Cutting, Dyerville, Paraparaumu, Ponatahi, Featherston, Whareama.

Go to the main travel overview: New Zealand.