Sadly we’ve come to the end of our New Zealand adventure. For the past 2 weeks, I showed Kevin around the country that I called home more than 16 years ago. And yes, I’m feeling very old just thinking about it! The best way to see New Zealand is by car. If there is one thing we love, it’s a road trip! Check out our exciting 15-day driving itinerary through New Zealand here.
Watch out for the penguins! Driving around New Zealand on our 2 week adventure.
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city with a thriving arts and culture scene. In my opinion, there is no a better place to finish up your New Zealand vacay. There are plenty of activities and sites to see. In fact, I had a hard time narrowing it down. That’s when I realized — you know what? I need to come up with a list of the top 5 things you can’t miss — spots that you’ll only find in Wellington. Enjoy!
5. Wander the Halls of New Zealand’s Parliament on a Free Walking Tour
Capitol Building tour, a free guided experience well worth exploring.
New Zealand’s Parliament dates back to 1854, just 14 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the beginning of the European settlement of the country. For most of its history as a nation state, New Zealand has had some form of elected government. Few countries in the world can boast such a long and uninterrupted history of democracy. Guided tours of Parliament are available seven days a week (from 10 AM – 4 PM). And they’re free!
You can’t miss this building based off its distinctive shape, commonly called “The Beehive.” The 1-hour walking tour takes you through the unique (and somewhat complicated) parliamentary process. You’ll hear all about their deep love of the prime minister along with tidbits you’ll be able to take to your next trivia night. For example, did you know that New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote? It was signed into law in 1893 (well before the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that granted American women the right to vote in 1920). New Zealand was also the first country with an openly transgender member of Parliament. And the Parliament building is one of the most stable buildings in the country, due to an extensive earthquake retrofit. So no fear of the big one at least for 1 hour of your day! To make a reservation, simply just email them directly with the time, date and number of guests at tour.desk@parliament.govt.nz.
4. Marvel at Embassy Theater, A Historic Movie Gem
The historic Embassy Theater in Wellington.
The film industry is alive and well in New Zealand. Before leaving on your trip, you should definitely check out such great kiwi films as Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Whale Rider, Once Were Warriors and of course the Academy Award-winning The Piano. New Zealanders love their movies, and the best spot to see them in the country is at Wellington’s Embassy Theater. The classic theater, built in the 1920’s, has been fully updated with comfy seats. You can also order food and drinks to take inside. No need to rush inside the theater because you can reserve seats in advance.
Kevin gives his seal of approval upon learning he could order an ice cream brownie sundae at the Embassy Theater.
The theater was thrust into the spotlight when it hosted the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. And hey, if it’s good enough for director Peter Jackson, it’s certainly good enough for us.
3. Visit Te Papa, The Grand Daddy of All Museums
The renowned Te Papa Museum in Wellington, a must visit.
You could easily spend hours wandering the free exhibits inside Te Papa — New Zealand’s national museum. And it would be a major oversight on my part to not include it on my roundup of unique places in Wellington. Te Papa’s permanent collections explores New Zealand’s geology and natural environment, and the stories of New Zealand’s indigenous people, the Maori. It also has a rotating exhibit space dedicated to diverse art and visual culture as well as international exhibitions on tour.
I’ve visited Te Papa dozens of times and it never gets boring. But don’t just take my word as proof. Kevin stayed awake the entire visit! Okay, maybe there was a fire drill halfway through our visit, but still… pretty impressive! Also, Lonely Planet recently named the museum as one of its top 500 places to see on the planet.
2. Learn about Cafe Culture with Zest Food Walking Tour
Enjoying some fresh brewed coffee on our Zest Food Walking Tour.
Did you know that Wellington is said to have more cafes and restaurants per capita than New York? Good thing, because I certainly needed caffeine to keep up on all our adventures. If you are looking for a quick intro to New Zealand’s “culinary, café and coffee capital,” then Zest Food Tours is a great choice for you. I mean, it doesn’t sound better to me — walking and eating? Sign us up!
Hokey Pokey ice cream, a favorite New Zealand flavor (vanilla ice cream with honey combs inside)
We joined their Wellington Capital Tastes tour ($135 USD per person), which met in the heart of the central business district. We walked along the waterfront and through downtown to our guide’s favorite spots including a coffee roaster, a boutique chocolate shop and a fancy grocery store that sort of makes Whole Foods lowbrow!
Tasting tray of local New Zealand foods.
The Capital Tastes walking tour runs from about 9:30 AM – 1 PM, which we loved since we had most of the afternoon to explore more. Tour groups are kept small to allow a personalized experience. All tours are in English, but they also have guides who speak Danish, Dutch, French, German and Mandarin.
1. Get Lost Inside Peter Jackson’s WETA Cave
Outside director Peter Jackson’s WETA Studios, which produced Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes and others.
Weta Workshop was easily our #1 pick and most memorable experience. The tour shows you how Weta Workshop designs and manufactures effects for films like The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and others. We made advanced reservations for the Combo Tour — highly recommended — since it allows you to experience the 2 most popular tours in one package.
In the first part of the tour, we got to go inside a converted area of Weta Workshop, which houses realistic (and often creepy!) props, costumes, creatures and vehicles created for the big screen. But probably the highlight of the tour was getting to wander through Manufacture Alley, an interactive section where you can learn all about the artistry and craft of the different roles involved in the film industry such as costume design or robotics. Just as the first part was about to wrap, we got to meet a Weta crew member who took us through the process of making props for different movies he worked on.
Halfway through the tour, we got a mini lecture from one of the prop masters. How awesome is that?
In the 2nd part, you’ll explore the miniature sets created for the TV series Thunderbirds Are Go. Okay, so Kevin and I were pretty much the only people on our tour who never heard of this series. But apparently, it’s based on a 1960’s British sci-fi show that featured puppets characters on miniature sets. However, Weta has modernized the concept by featuring a blend of digital characters along with physical sets.
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