The Perfect Long Weekend in Wellington
Image: Oriental Bay
When the Lonely Planet dubs a city the coolest in the world, you know you’re in for a memorable weekend. Compact, creative, and charismatic, New Zealand’s capital packs more into a weekend than most cities manage in a month.
Spend your days exploring the city’s indie cafés, vintage shops, and eccentric galleries. Te Papa and Wellywood’s underground film scene add cultural clout. Te Aro’s dining is also a genuine draw, you’ll find some of the country’s best restaurants, and arguably the flat white of your life.
Make time for a day trip to Martinborough, where you can dine on local produce before cycling between cellar doors.
Here’s your perfect long weekend in Wellington itinerary.
Day 1 | Breweries and Bites
Start as you mean to go on, with crisp locally brewed beer, and even better food. Aro Valley’s Garage Project Taproom is a Wellington institution, pouring 18 rotating brews. Order a flight, grab the kimchi toasted cheese melt with Smoke and Fire peanut butter (it works), and soak up the atmosphere. Over on Cuba Street, Heyday Beer Co. is another excellent stop. Seasonal taps, fun sour experiments (the peach schnapps is worth a try), and smash-patty burgers that pair dangerously well.
Dinner keeps you on Cuba Street, where Kisa does a modern take on Middle Eastern in their landmark Art Deco space. Off the charcoal grill and custom pita oven come dishes like melt-in-the-mouth short rib, market fish with spiced soğan soubise and pillowy pita.
A few doors down, Floriditas, affectionately known as “Flo’s” to locals, has been a fixture for years. Serving clever comfort plates like free-range chicken, leek and shiitake pie, and braised duck leg ragu.
If the night’s still young, join the locals at San Fran, a grungy late-night haunt with live music and comedy. Or slip into Crumpet, tucked inside the iconic Opera House, a dimly lit bar with an old-world, jazz soundtrack. There are actual crumpets on offer too, sweet, savoury, and surprisingly good at 1 a.m.
Images: Wellington Botanical Gardens, Swimsuit, and FlyingNun Records courtesy of WellingtonNZ
Day 2 | Coffee and Cable Cars
Wellington thrives on good coffee, and you’ll want to sample more than one spot. Swimsuit pours Supreme in a laid-back space, with a rotation of fun pop-up food collabs from Japanese sweets to Fix and Fogg-loaded toast.
Over on Luke’s Lane, People’s Coffee roasts fair-trade, organic beans. The washed Colombian hand-brew is as pure as it gets. For something more cult, Customs Brew Bar on Ghuznee Street (winner of the Welly Hospo Awards) serves an excellent flat white, and simple yet delicious eats like avo, labne, coriander, and Apostle chilli oil on thick-cut toast.
After your morning coffee hit, jump on the historic Cable Car up to Kelburn Lookout for incredible views across the city. Then wander through the city’s Botanic Garden’s. Explore the Begonia House, a mid-century glasshouse lush with tropicals, before stopping at Picnic Café for lamb and kumara pie with a crisp Martinborough Chardonnay.
Set aside some time for retail therapy on Cuba Street. Start at Flying Nun Records, a pocket-sized shrine to alternative vinyl, cassettes, and cult music culture. For your fashion fix, Hunters and Collectors is the local go-to. A designer boutique where Dior cardigans and Vivienne Westwood chokers turn up alongside one-of-a-kind vintage finds.
Dinner options are endless. For Asian-fusion crowd pleasers, head to Mr Go’s for pork belly bao and good dumplings. Liberty is a locavore’s heaven, plating seasonal New Zealand produce with a refined but unfussy hand. Pair the miso-glazed hāpuku with a French martini. 1154 keeps it lively and fresh with handmade pasta and organic wine, while Scopa is the go-to for authentic Italian pizza, tiramisu, and a shot or two of limoncello.
Post-dinner, check what’s on at the St James Theatre, Wellington’s . Dating back to 1912, it’s as grand as they come, with chandeliers, velvet, gilt detailing, and a few rumoured resident ghosts. For something more low-key pop into a movie at Empire Cinema, a boutique theatre with couches, craft beer, and a cosy, neighbourly vibe.
Images: August, Gramercy, Wētā Workshop, courtesy of WellingtonNZ
Day 3 | Wētā Workshop
Start your day with brunch at August, a character-filled, family-run Mediterranean spot, the Istanbul eggs are a must-try. For something lighter, grab a jalapeño-cheddar croissant or a glossy fruit Danish from local legend Gramercy Bakery.
Late morning, head to Miramar for a tour of Wētā Workshop, the unassuming peninsula studio that fuels Hollywood hits like Avatar, Black Panther, and The Lord of the Rings.
The guided tour is an in-depth interactive experience where you’ll see how the talented special effects team craft armour, prosthetics, and miniatures. each built with obsessive detail, offering a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of Hollywood blockbusters.
For dinner stop into Newtown’s Cicio Cacio Osteria. It’s as close to the Italian coast as it gets, tucked inside a villa strung with trinkets and mismatched chairs. Authentic antipasti, pasta rolled that morning, and wine poured with a heavy hand. It’s like family dinner at Nonna’s.
Image: The Martinborough Hotel
Optional Extra Day, Martinborough
If time allows, a detour to Martinborough is well worth the trip. Just over an hour north, the village is encircled by vines, making it easy to bike between cellar doors.
Begin with tastings at legendary Ata Rangi, the cult name behind Martinborough Pinot Noir. Palliser Estate, acclaimed for organic Chardonnay and Syrah (and home to the region’s only hatted restaurant); and The Runholder, a contemporary cellar door that also houses Lighthouse Gin. Quick tip, a gin tasting here is complimentary with any $60 wine or gin spend to take home.
Book ahead for lunch at Moy Hall, a family-run vineyard with a sunlit courtyard and a paddock-to-plate menu. The seasonal dishes like Wairarapa lamb shoulder, are designed to pair perfectly with their vintages.
Stay the night if you can. Parehua Resort offers lakeside villas, country cottages, and a lush pool tucked into the vines. Or book into the Martinborough Hotel, an 1880s landmark in the town square, with vintage rooms, and a solid in-house restaurant.
Where to stay in Wellington, for every budget
Image: Naumi Hotel Courtesy of Expedia
Save:
Naumi Hotel
Tucked behind archways on Cuba Street, this boutique bolthole is playful, and distinctly Wellingtonian. With loud patterned wallpaper, eclectic knick-knacks, and mismatched art. The central location is hard-to-beat. Their in house bar exudes a Cluedo-like mysterious vibe. A perfect moody nook for a well-made negroni. A stay offering excellent value for money.
Image: QT Wellington Courtesy of Expedia
Mid-range:
QT Wellington
Art-forward and full of on-brand QT quirky character, this harbour-adjacent hotel is a Condé Nast Traveler Reader Choice winner. The central location keeps you close to Cuba Street and the waterfront. Wellness essentials include a sauna, heated pool, spa, and fitness centre.
Image: Wharekauhau Country Estate
Splurge:
Wharekauhau Country Estate
Voted Best Resort in Australasia and the Pacific, this spectacular lodge lies between Palliser Bay’s coastline and the Remutaka foothills. An elevated country escape with sweeping coastal views and exceptional service. With vineyards close at hand, this is the perfect stay, if your Wellington vacation stretches into Martinborough’s wine country.
Other Articles You Might Like 
Where to eat, stay, and play in Martinborough
Your guide to the perfect long weekend in Martinborough.
Hawkes Bay over 3 perfect days
We round up all the best places to eat, drink and stay for your next long weekend in Hawkes Bay.
Auckland Itinerary | Where to Eat, Stay and Play
From Waiheke’s wineries, to the boutique and cafes of Auckland’s city streets. We’ve rounded up the ultimate guide to your next Auckland getaway.