Wonderful Wellington
The thaw is in progress. As the winter cloud’s part across the harbour, the city comes out of hibernation. Spring warmth encourages you to get outside – luckily Wellington has a rich selection of activities to choose from this season. From major sports fixtures to spectacular stage productions, award-winning food to exhilarating walks. Whether you are visiting for a day, planning a short stay, or here for a season – the city will keep you amused.
Events
WOW by name and wow by nature – that’s the World of WearableArt (WOW) Show. Running for over 30 years, WOW is Aotearoa’s largest theatrical production. It headlines the spring calendar in Wellington and is a not-to-be-missed annual event. For three weeks from 26 September the TSB Arena comes to life with live music, aerial artistry, dance, and digital technology. Each of these performance arts elevates the phenomenal works of wearable art on display. This year’s WOW Show ‘DREAM AWAKE’ will take you through six awe-inspiring ‘realms’. Imagination becomes reality as you navigate worlds spun by the mysterious and magical Dream Maker. Around 60,000 people attended the 2023 event – be part of the 2024 audience.
Further along the waterfront from TSB Arena sits Sky Stadium. The 34,000 seat stadium is bound to be heaving with rugby fans come 28 September. The All Blacks take on old foes Australia and they’re eager to maintain dominance over their trans-Tasman rivals. This much anticipated test doubles as a Bledisloe Cup and Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship game. The Bledisloe Cup, dubbed the pinnacle of trans- Tasman sport, is one of the most revered trophies in world rugby. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action and experience the All Blacks live in Wellington. Continuing with the sporty theme the New Zealand Silver Ferns will be playing two international teams in the region this spring. Make sure you book to see the fast footwork as our national team celebrates their centenary. They’ll meet the England Roses on 2 October at Porirua’s Te Rauparaha Arena, and the Australian Diamonds on 20 October at TSB Arena. The Constellation Cup and Taini Jamison Trophy are up for grabs at this Cadbury Netball 2024 Series. There’s no better way to celebrate 100 years of netball in Aotearoa than watching the Silver Ferns play two of the best teams in the sport.
Wellington’s spring season is further advanced with an exhibition that’ll get the sci-fi fans buzzing. Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder has left UK shores for the first time ever. It will bring fans of the hit television series face to face with the iconic characters and on-screen worlds from across the Whoniverse. Explore scientific concepts like time travel, artificial intelligence, DNA manipulation and why the TARDIS is bigger on the inside. Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, Where Science Meets Fiction | Doctor Who Ngā Ao Mīharo, Te tūtakitanga o te Pūtaiao ki te Pakimaero runs until 28 October at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The entrance to Tākina on Cable Street is directly opposite the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Once you’ve had your fill of sci- fi, head across the road to the largest museum in the country. At 36,000 square metres and six storeys high, it contains a vast repository of collections. It’s home to more than 800,000 objects, specimens, and artworks. You could easily spend a whole day experiencing the cutting- edge interactive exhibitions. Te Papa has a contemporary, and bicultural approach to sharing knowledge of the country’s history, culture, art, and biodiversity. This accessible approach has ensured its success. Since opening in 1998, it has welcomed nearly 34 million visitors.
Back in Wellington there are more events to enjoy. The Wellington Jazz Festival runs 16 to 20 October. The festival is bookended by Grammy Award winning artists from America. Virtuoso bass player Marcus Millar opens proceedings. He’s performed jazz, R&B, fusion, and soul in over 500 recordings across a thirty-year career. Esperanza Spalding is a bassist, singer, and composer. Her closing night concert promises to thrill audiences. She has previously collaborated with Prince, Bruno Mars, and Wayne Shorter. In between these two concerts the festival will present more than one hundred gigs around the city.
Since it’s spring you need to do something to celebrate new life. Aston Norwood Gardens in Upper Hutt is home to Aotearoa’s highest number of mature cherry blossom trees. Each year the garden hosts Blossom Valley, a celebration of spring coinciding with the blooming of 350 sakura trees. In Japan, Hanami, or ‘flower viewing’, festivals bring joy and optimism after a long winter. Start your spring season the right way by visiting – see you soon. To begin planning your ideal spring in the Wellington region visit www.wellingtonNZ.com
Museums and blockbuster exhibitions have kept you inside long enough. Time to head out into the fresh spring air. The Wellington region is chocka-block with spectacular trails. Walkers, runners, bikers, and horse riders are all catered for. While there are plenty of good trails within city limits, a day trip will reveal fabulous walks in the surrounding regions. Heading north-west up the Kāpiti Coast try stopping off at the Waikanae River Trail. It’s bordered by the Tararua Range and Kapiti Island and is home to many native and endemic bird species. The trail consists of a flat gravel pathway running along both sides of the Waikanae River. There are several spots to stop off for a swim too.
If you want a longer road trip with a spectacular reward at the end, then Castlepoint Lighthouse is a must. Castlepoint is on the east coast of the Wairarapa region over the Remutaka Ranges. Stop off in one of the townships on the way. Featherston is famous for its secondhand bookshops, Greytown has lots of boutiques and cafés, and Martinborough has wineries. Castlepoint offers a short trail following the rugged east coast. It ends up at Castle Rock, one of New Zealand’s most recognisable landmarks. If you’re not afraid of heights the rock is 148 metres high. The view from the top is breathtaking. You’ll be able to see the lighthouse and The Gap, a surf break where the swell passes through a rocky opening into a sandy-beached inlet.
Best things to do for free in the city
There are plenty of things to do while you’re in Wellington that won’t cost a cent. Have fun for free while making the most of what the capital has to offer.
Drink in the view from Mount Vic
The best way to get your bearings in Wellington is by heading to the top of Mount Victoria. Mt Vic, as the locals call it, rises 196m above the city, The lookout has panoramic views of Wellington city, its harbour, and hills beyond. It’s part of the Southern Walkway track so it’s possible to get there walking. It’s also part of the network of trails in the Town Belt so there are multiple walks to explore once you get there. Take a picnic with you, settle in on the hillside, and relax while watching ferries and cruise ships sail into the harbour and planes fly in and out of the airport.
Get a glimpse of the movie world
Wētā Workshop is renowned for making amazing props, sets and effects for some of the biggest movies in cinema. Right next door there’s a ‘Cave’. It’s a mini museum and store that’s free to visit. There’s plenty to look at including two huge trolls that sit guarding the entrance — perfect for a ‘The Lord of the Rings’-inspired selfie.
Be the ‘I’ in Wellington
A giant sculptural sign on Wellington’s waterfront lets you physically become part of Wellington. Wander down to the harbour’s edge, and you’ll find there’s no “I” in a huge ‘WELL_NGTON’ sign. Stand on the platform where the ‘I’ should be and complete the word. It’s the perfect photo opportunity.
The sculpture has proved hugely popular. Its current covering is reflective and shimmers and changes colour as you move around it. The sculpture can be found on the waterfront side of Te Papa near Chaffers Marina.
Take a stroll on the magnificent waterfront
The waterfront is the city’s backyard, where everyone goes to hang out and relax. A wide path stretches from the Railway Station in the north to Oriental Bay in the southeast. It’s made up of paved areas, bridges, wharves, and parks. You’ll find public sculptures, galleries, museums, picnic areas, diving platforms, beaches, and coffee or gelato pitstops. It’s a great place to people-watch, walk, jog or cycle.
Immerse yourself at Te Papa
It’s been ranked by Lonely Planet as one of the top 500 places in the world to visit for free. The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has 36,000 sqm of space spread across six floors. You could spend hours there exploring the art, cultural artefacts, history, and flora and fauna specimens.
Take a step into 19th-century colonial Wellington and the life of Katherine Mansfield. One of the world’s most acclaimed writers and proud Wellingtonian.
