Top Wellington Art & Culture

Get a behind-the-scenes look at nine ‘The Lord of the Rings’ locations around Wellington and learn about the filming of movies based on the popular books. On a tour of the New Zealand countryside, see re-created scenes of Middle-earth including the Hutt Valley and the Greenbelt, take a forest walk through Tolkien’s Rivendell, and step into Weta Studios for a movie production tour of digital special effects. Your guide shares insider gossip on how the movies were made and takes you to a themed lunch.

Spend the morning or afternoon visiting Middle-earth on this half-day 'The Lord of the Rings' tour from Wellington. A guide with insider knowledge entertains Frodo fans on a journey into the scenic New Zealand countryside. Get a behind-the-scenes look at LOTR movie production on a tour of Weta Studios and discover why director Peter Jackson selected this region to film the renowned trilogy along with ‘The Hobbit’ movies.

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

Kosher Tours and Travel has custom made City heights tour featuring the 3 best viewing points in Wellington. Your Local guide will introduce you to the most progressive city in New Zealand encouraging you to stay a while longer. On your tour you will see Wellywood with the Deco Roxy cinema ( closed Mondays) and walk through the Weta workshop owned by Peter Jackson, James Cameron and Richard Taylor. Later you can ride the Famous Wellington cable car and view the gorgeous Lady Norwood rose & Botanical gardens.

Whether it’s your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic Weta Cave and the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, ride the Wellington cable car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views from the top of Mount Victoria.

Wellington, long-celebrated for its bohemian liberal arts and cafe culture, is fast-becoming renowned as New Zealand’s capitol of craft beer. Visit four Wellington and Hutt Valley breweries, tasting a range of tasty local beers at each establishment on this small group day tour designed for lovers of ales, stouts, lagers and everything hoppy in-between.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Wellington Airport to your hotel doorstep, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by climate-controlled shuttle.

Board the InterIslander ferry for a 3-hour cruise across Cook Strait, which links New Zealand’s capital city in the North Island to a charming enclave in the South Island. The Wellington-to-Picton ferry offers daily service one way, with jaw-dropping views along one of the world’s most scenic waterways.

Enjoy a hassle-free end to your time in Wellington with this shared departure transfer to Wellington Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation doorstep and transferred by comfortable shuttle to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides.

Combine award-winning wine and gorgeous scenery on a full-day small-group tour from Wellington to Martinborough that also explores the Hutt Valley, Rimutaka Ranges, Wairarapa coast, and Lake Onoke. You'll visit Martinborough wineries for cellar tours and tastings, pause for lunch in a vineyard restaurant, then eat dinner at the edge of Lake Onoke after a short shoreline hike. The tour includes a platter lunch, restaurant dinner, and a wine tasting.

Wellington’s south coast is both a popular choice and a missed opportunity for visitors; although a visit to Weta Workshop is a popular choice, many visitors pass up the chance to see the rocky beaches and rough surf that Wellington locals have learned to love. From the Weta Cave to the Taputarenga Marine Reserve, this small group tour offers the full south coast experience.

Enter the world of Wētā Workshop with the Wētā Workshop Experience + Guided Transfers, a guided round trip by Wētā Workshop! You’ll enjoy return transfers from Wellington i-SITE to Wētā Workshop, where you’ll explore our two unique tour spaces. Your driver will highlight iconic film sites during your journey to the Wētā Cave (a cavern of creativity in it's own right!) On arrival, a Wētā Workshop crew member will show you incredible props and costumes from films like The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Get a personal introduction to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s premier museum based in Wellington. This 1-hour guided tour provides an overview of the museum’s interactive exhibits, artifacts, fine art and natural history displays so that you can better explore the collection on your own. You’ll get a deeper look at Maori cultural heritage and colonial history with an expert guide who share insights and offers suggestions for galleries that might suit your interests.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” movies will love being immersed in the mythical universe for a day in the Wellington region. You’ll visit a number of places that appeared in the films, including rivers, forests, and a quarry. Spend time at Wētā Workshop, where the special effects for these films, and many others, were created and brought to life. This is a must-do tour for Tolkien enthusiasts.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand’s best-kept nature sanctuaries and a predator-free haven for native birds. On this private day trip to the island, take a ferry from Paraparaumu Beach and spend your day walking the island, identifying kākā, kōkako, kererū and more with the help of your nature guide. Enjoy a chef-prepared lunch on the island before you head back to the mainland.

Explore the outskirts of Wellington and the landscape beyond on this helicopter flight tour. While listening to commentary from your pilot/guide, fly over the rugged shores and seal colonies of the South Coast, the Cook Strait, the Karori Rock Lighthouse, and the Makara Wind Farm.

Travelers with a short time in Wellington can enjoy a Lord of the Rings-themed tour in just half a day. Visit Hobbiton Woods, where many scenes were filmed, and take a tour of Weta Workshop, where many of the films’ special effects were thought up and brought to life. You’ll even see the theater that hosted the films’ world premiers. This is a must-do tour for Tolkien fans.

The hills around Wellington offer a spectacular backdrop for a cycling tour, but pedaling uphill is tiring. Take the effort out by joining an e-bike tour and focus on enjoying the sights and views. This half-day tour will take you past many of the capital’s highlights, including Te Papa, the Wellington Waterfront, and the Maupuia Walkway. Morning or afternoon departures are available.

Get to know the ‘coolest little capital’ Wellington on this private guided tour. Take in spectacular views of the city from three incredible vantage points; Mount Victoria the Wind Turbine and the top of the Cable Car. See the golden sands and colorful townhouses of Oriental Bay, discover nature at the Rose Gardens and see Peter Jackson’s impressively restored art-deco style Roxy Cinema.

This is an introduction to Wellington, fun and informative, you will discover the real Wellington. Leaving from the grand Neo-classical train station, a quick walk to the Parliament grounds will provide insight into New Zealand and Wellington politics. From here we'll take a walk atop the major fault line to the botanic gardens, these gardens marry the exotic with the native beautifully, and we shall garner an understanding of New Zealand's unique flora and fauna as we walk through some dense New Zealand bush. Reaching the top of the gardens, at the top of the cable car, we'll take in the beautiful view, point out some landmarks and generally orientate ourselves. From here we will walk through suburbs and places 90 percent of tourists never see, winding up on Cuba st, the heart of the city, for a quick refreshment. We will finish at the national Museum on the waterfront. Guests are guaranteed to come away from this tour with a better understanding of Wellington and New Zealand.

Get a 60-minute introduction to the highlights of Te Papa’s ‘taonga,’ meaning a ‘cultural treasures’ in the Māori language. While admission to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is free, a small-group tour with a museum guide offers more insight on the enrich your understanding of this unique culture.

Explore the nature around Wellington on this exciting mountain bike tour on the Remutaka Cycle Trail, suitable for riders of all levels. On this tour, enjoy a longer ride through bird-filled native forests, over bridges, and through rail tunnels. Equipment, transport, and food are taken care of - all you need to do is to be ready and dressed at your accommodation.

Discover Wellington’s top attractions on this full-day guided tour. While some tours only focus on the central city, this lets you see some of the outer attractions. The itinerary includes a drive up to the top of Mount Victoria for the views, a visit to Weta Studios to learn more about "The Lord of the Rings" (if option selected), a ride on the Wellington Cable Car, and more.