New Zealand · WELLINGTON TOURS

The 15 Best Wellington Tours & Experiences

34 tours  ·  from $7

Wellington does compact very well: a cable car, a national museum and a film workshop inside a few blocks. These 15 cover those, plus the harbour and the Lord of the Rings hills, with prices and walking distances.

Wellington: Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket - Starting at the Wētā Cave store
Guided, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours, Workshops

Wellington: Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket

1.Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 997 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35Our pick

At Wētā Workshop on Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula, an English-speaking guide leads you through prop displays, costumes, creatures, and working craft areas. You may meet an artist on the tour stage and handle selected pieces. The $35 ticket covers the tour only, so arrange your own transport and expect much of the visit to be spent standing.

“Super activity and super place to visit Sad we cant take photo during the tour To do!”

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Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington - Starting at Wētā Cave in Miramar
Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours, Workshops

Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour – Wellington

2.Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour – Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 875 reviews · from $36Top rated

Meet your guide at Wētā Cave in Miramar for a 90-minute tour through Wētā Workshop’s creative departments. See props, costumes, creatures, prosthetics, miniatures, and practical effects from films including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and District 9. You may handle selected pieces and see artists at work.

“Most interesting. So much talent on display. A must for Wellington visitors. Excellent tour guide, Bailey. Thank-you.”

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Wellington: Return Cable Car Ticket - Three tunnels, three bridges, and a quick climb
Gondolas and Cable Cars, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

Wellington: Return Cable Car Ticket

3.Return Cable Car Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 714 reviews · 183 days · from $7Best value

Ride Wellington’s historic funicular from Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay to Kelburn in about three to five minutes. You’ll pass three tunnels and three bridges, then find city views, the Botanic Garden, Cable Car Museum, café, and walks at the top. Choose a return ride or walk downhill through the gardens.

“The cable car ride was short and easy. Lovely views from the car and at the top. The botanical gardens were beautiful and peaceful. Great deal.”

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Half Day Tour of Wellington - Mount Victoria puts Wellington at your feet
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Half Day Tour of Wellington

4.Half Day Tour of Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 638 reviews · from $79

This 3-hour-20-minute Wellington tour uses an air-conditioned minivan to link Mount Victoria, Wētā Cave, the Cable Car, Parliament, and Old St Paul’s. Hotel and cruise-port pickup is available, with local guides such as Merv, Brian, Wayne, and Marty often leading the outing. It is a practical choice when your time is short.

“Our half day trip around Wellington was fabulous. Brian was very knowledgeable and very friendly. Highly recommend this tour.”

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Wellington: Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket - From the waterfront to the Wellington sign
City Tours, City Tours in Wellington, Gondolas and Cable Cars, Guided, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Wellington: Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket

5.Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 553 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Spend three hours seeing Wellington by comfortable vehicle and cable car. Stop at the Wellington sign, South Coast, Mt Victoria, and the cable car lookout, while local guides such as Jack, Gina, Sarah, and Chris explain the city’s culture, film industry, harbour, politics, and bird conservation. Cruise pickup and city meeting points are available.

“Andy was an excellent guide and spoke about many parts of Wellington off the beaten track”

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Wellington's Original LOTR Experience - includes Weta and Lunch - Weta Workshop: the practical effects center
Lord of the Rings Tours, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

Wellington’s Original LOTR Experience – includes Weta and Lunch

6.Wellington’s Original LOTR Experience – includes Weta and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 529 reviews · from $201

Spend about eight hours tracing Wellington’s Lord of the Rings locations with a film-savvy guide. Visit Weta Workshop, Mount Victoria, the Outer Shire, Anduin, Isengard, and Rivendell, with lunch at Aston Norwood Gardens. Guides such as Marc, Grant, Andy, and Hamish add personal film stories, trivia, and local insight.

“My experience was great! I was not staying within the pick-up area. They emailed me ahead of time, helped me find a good spot to be picked up, and even helped me find a cheap parking lot nearby. So, from before the tour even began, the customer service was exceptional. On the tour, our guide was fantastic. He had been an extra in the films and even brought some of his personal keepsakes to show us. We had lots of time to take photos, look at the photos, and compare where we were to stills of the movie. Plus, he had a wealth of knowledge. The lunch was a sit…”

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Kapiti Island: Classic Guided Day Tour - Following a Local Guide Through the Reserve
Guided, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour

7.Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 522 reviews · from $191

Take the 8:45 am ferry from Paraparaumu Beach to Kapiti Island for a private guided day out. Your local guide leads a one-hour nature and history walk, with chances to spot kākā, kōkako, kererū, takahē, North Island robin, and whitehead. Lunch at The Lodge, permits, tea, coffee, and return ferry travel are included.

“Seeing the Takahe was amazing, that was just taking a stroll with the guide after lunch. We enjoyed the walk to the lookout as well and spotted Kaka, Kereru, North Island Robin and Whitehead. We saw several birds we are not familiar wiRead more”

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Wellington: Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch - Starting at the Embassy Cinema and Mt Victoria
Full-Day, Lord of the Rings Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Wellington: Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch

8.Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 481 reviews · 8 hours · from $194

Spend eight hours touring Wellington’s Lord of the Rings locations with guides such as Marc, Dixie, Grant, and Gina. Visit Mt Victoria, the Outer Shire, Kaitoke’s Rivendell, Isengard, and Wētā Workshop, with transport, forest walks, and lunch included. Expect film stories, camera recreations, and some uneven paths.

“We had a wonderful time with Mark, our guide. Chewy was very quick to respond to questions and inquiries about the tour. The tour hits wonderful filming locations and leans heavily toward the production side of the films.”

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Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island - Day one: packed lunch, a local introduction, and forest walking
Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island

9.Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 443 reviews · from $415

You’ll leave Paraparaumu Beach for two full days on Kapiti Island, a predator-free sanctuary with forest walks, native birds, a guided night search for ruru, korora, and kiwi pukpuku, and chef-prepared meals. Choose an ensuite, cabin, or luxury tent. A local guide leads the walks, while permits, ferries, breakfast, dinner, and two lunches are included.

“The island is so beautiful with its natural soundscape and landscape, pest and predator-free since 1997. Native birds were literally all around us and the whole experience was quite magical. Hikes were great to go on for the active, and theRead more”

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InterIslander Ferry - Wellington to Picton - Finding the best place to sit on board
Ferry Tickets, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

InterIslander Ferry – Wellington to Picton

10.InterIslander Ferry – Wellington to Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 417 reviews · from $58

Take a passenger-only InterIslander ferry from Wellington to Picton in about 3.5 hours. You’ll cross Cook Strait, watch for dolphins and seabirds, and enter the forested Marlborough Sounds. The ticket includes two 23-kilogram bags, viewing-deck access, and a Wellington Railway Station shuttle when needed. Food, drinks, bikes, pets, and extra gear cost more.

“Very good crossing and great facilities , clean and caring staff. Good safe travel and good restaurants .”

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Wellington: Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta - From Embassy Cinema to Wellington’s film story
Half-Day, Lord of the Rings Tours, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

Wellington: Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta

11.Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 368 reviews · 4 hours · from $104

Follow Frodo's route through Mount Victoria's forest, visit the Embassy Cinema and Wellywood, then tour Wētā Workshop. English-speaking guides such as Dixie, Andy, Sarah, and Natalie add film stories and Wellington insight. Transport, a native forest walk, and the workshop exhibition are included.

“Amazing guide, great information, perfect for any kind of nerd like me and even upgraded to the full day with no issues thanks to Chewy and the guides! 😀”

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Wellington's Original HD LOTR Experience - includes Weta Tour - Starting with the Embassy Theatre
Lord of the Rings Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Wellington’s Original HD LOTR Experience – includes Weta Tour

12.Wellington’s Original HD LOTR Experience – includes Weta Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 312 reviews · from $108

Follow Wellington’s Middle-earth trail with a film-industry guide such as Marc, Robbie, Gina, or Chewy. Visit Mount Victoria filming sites, enjoy harbor views, and tour Weta Workshop’s exhibition, Weta Cave, props, makeup, and short film. Pickup is available from central Wellington and the cruise terminal.

“Great tour. Natalie was fantastic and very friendly. The tour was very interesting and informative. Great to learn about Weta beginings. Views of Wellington were beautiful.”

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Zealandia by Day Tour - Starting at the visitor center and exhibition
Tour Reviews, Tours, Wellington Tours

Zealandia by Day Tour

13.Zealandia by Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 295 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Spend two hours walking Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne with an English- or Chinese-speaking guide. You’ll pass feeding stations, search for kākā, tūī, takahē, and tuatara, and learn how Wellington’s predator-free sanctuary protects native species. Small groups are limited to 12 people, with entry included.

“Juli is a great tour guide! We got to see a lot if different birds and plants, and we even saw a couple of Tuataras.”

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Seal Coast Safari - Exclusive access to Wellington's secret coast - Otari-Wilton’s Bush begins with native plants
Luxury Tours, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

Seal Coast Safari – Exclusive access to Wellington’s secret coast

14.Seal Coast Safari – Exclusive access to Wellington’s secret coast

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 294 reviews · from $121

Ride a comfortable Mercedes 4WD from Wellington to Otari-Wilton’s Bush, across private Terawhiti Station, and down to the wild south coast. Guides such as Sara, Grant, Hamish, and Chewy share local nature and history while you watch fur seals near the leaning lighthouse. Morning and afternoon departures, snacks, tea, coffee, and pickup are available.

“Despite only having about 30 minutes on the beach with the seals, it was a wonderful day. The ride was comfortable, the views were amazing during the drive and the overall day was great.”

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InterIslander Ferry - Picton to Wellington - Arriving with Wellington Harbour in view
Ferry Tickets, Tour Reviews, Wellington Tours

InterIslander Ferry – Picton to Wellington

15.InterIslander Ferry – Picton to Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 247 reviews · from $58

Travel by foot or with a vehicle from Picton to Wellington aboard the InterIslander ferry. Cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound, cross Cook Strait, and arrive at Wellington Harbour after about 3.5 hours. You get viewing-deck access and two 23kg baggage items, with cafes, lounges, and family spaces on board.

“Good on board was excellent. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Boarding in Picton was somewhat chaotic in that there were quite a few stairs that needed to be negotiated to get on board and we were not prepared for that challenge. Read more”

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New in Wellington Tours

★ 4.7Te Awa Kairangi Grade 2 Scenic Duckie TourFrom $899 reviews
★ 4.8Te Awa Kairangi Grade 2 Scenic Rafting TourFrom $8910 reviews
★ 4.8Kapiti Island: Classic Guided Day TourFrom $1785 reviews
★ 5.0Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day TourFrom $2984 reviews
★ 4.7Commentated Harbour Explorer tourFrom $4126 reviews
★ 4.7Guided Sightseeing Tour by Electric BikeFrom $116114 reviews
★ 4.83 Hour Walking Food TourFrom $12823 reviews
★ 4.5Wellington Shore Excursion City Sightseeing TourFrom $96117 reviews
★ 5.0Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore ExcursionFrom $121103 reviews
★ 5.0Walking Food Odyssey WellingtonFrom $15546 reviews
★ 5.0Wellington Electric Bike RentalFrom $52159 reviews
★ 5.0Capital Bites, A food tour of WellingtonFrom $13920 reviews
★ 5.0A Taste of Wellington: Wellington Foodie Delights TourFrom $37513 reviews

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