Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand the features urban attractions that are worth a visit. Here's a 12-hour guide on exploring Wellington if you have the destination planned for your next travelling escapade. 

A 8:30am

Start as you mean to go on – with top-notch coffee. In a surf club building right on the beach, Maranui Café (maranuicafe.co.nz) is a classic of Kiwi café culture with its retro styling and hearty breakfasts. It’s worth the short taxi ride from the city centre for the views and vibe. 

B 10:00am

Back downtown, explore the alternative fashion boutiques and design stores of bohemian Cuba Street. Stop at the colourful Bucket Fountain (bucketfountain.co.nz) for a spot of people-watching.

C 11am

Ready for more coffee? Head to the Cuban-revolution-inspired Fidel’s Café (fidelscafe.com) for a beatnik-y buzz. Look out for their chocolaty Afghan biscuits – a New Zealand home baking treat.

D 11:30am

Shop at Moore Wilson’s Fresh (moorewilsons.co.nz), the ultimate foodies’ supermarket, for picnic lunch ingredients like artisanal bread and some of the best cheese New Zealand has to offer.

E 12pm

Go bush at Te Papa (tepapa.govt.nz), New Zealand’s national museum. When hunger strikes, head to Bush City, an outdoor exhibition complete with a limestone cave, to munch on your fresh picnic purchases. Admission is free.

F 1pm

Take a stroll along Wellington Waterfront (wellingtonwaterfront.co.nz), which doubles as a public art walk. Wax lyrical as you discover poetry sculpted in stone along the way.

G 1:30pm

Explore the Museum of Wellington City and Sea (museumswellington.org.nz), voted one of the world’s top 50 museums. Look out for quirky extras and hands-on fun, as well as plenty of Wellington harbourside history (free admission). 

H 2:30pm

Eyeball two very different architectural styles at the New Zealand Parliament (parliament.nz) buildings. The intended second wing of the early 20th-century Parliament House was never built; instead, the evocatively named Beehive was added in its place in the 1970s. The grand wooden former Parliament buildings just across the road are also worth a look.

I 3:30pm

Head down Lambton Quay to the Old Bank Arcade (oldbank.co.nz) for a spot of retail therapy inside a magnificent historical building. Check out Andrea Moore, Workshop, Ricochet and Ruby for a taste of New Zealand fashion design. Stop for coffee at Smith the Grocer – you might find some edible souvenirs to take home as well.

J 5:30pm

Treat yourself to a luxury cocktail or two at the book-lined Library Bar (thelibrary.com.nz). The Lower Hutt Lemon Meringue includes vodka, lemon curd and an actual meringue.  

K 6:30pm

Grab a table if you can at the no-reservation Sweet Mother’s Kitchen (sweetmotherskitchen.co.nz). The menu is New Orleans-influenced and the curly fries with Creole mayo are legendary.

L 8pm

Take a ride on the Wellington Cable Car (wellingtoncablecar.co.nz) and be rewarded with a new perspective on the city with panoramic city and harbour views from the top. 

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