Wellington
Capital city, culture, and the ferry to the South Island.
Discover Wellington
New Zealand's compact capital is known for its coffee and arts scene, the Te Papa national museum, and its windy location. This is where the Interislander ferry carries you and your campervan across to the South Island.
Highlights
- Te Papa museum (free entry)
- Mount Victoria Lookout & Cable Car
- Coffee, craft beer & food scene
- Interislander ferry to Picton
Good to know
- Island
- North Island
- Best time to visit
- November to April
You'll explore Wellington most flexibly with your own campervan.
Request a campervanTravel tips & routesBest time to visit Wellington
November to April is the best time for Wellington: drier weather, summer along the coast, and the city's cultural programme running at full tilt. Wellington does have one well-known feature though: wind. The city sits on Cook Strait and statistically has more windy days than anywhere else in New Zealand. It affects outdoor activities, but it also gives the city its energy. In winter (June to August) Wellington is cooler (10 to 14 degrees), but the city centre stays appealing: the cafe density is higher than anywhere else in New Zealand, and museums are heated and often the better choice in bad weather. Te Papa, the national museum, is free. For campervan travellers, Wellington is a turning point or a starting point: the Interislander ferry carries you and your campervan across Cook Strait to Picton on the South Island in about 3.5 hours. That's more than just logistics: the passage through the Marlborough Sounds, with their fjord-like inlets and green hills, is an experience in its own right. Still, Wellington deserves at least a full day before you catch the ferry.
Exploring Wellington on foot
Wellington is compact enough to reach almost everything on foot. The city centre around Lambton Quay, Cuba Street, and the waterfront district all sit close together. Leave the campervan at one of the campgrounds on the edge of town and take the bus or cable car into the centre.
Cable Car: from Lambton Quay, the historic cable car climbs up to Kelburn in 5 minutes, giving you the best panorama over the harbour and city centre. At the top you'll find the Botanic Gardens with cafes and rose gardens. Return trip around 10 NZD. One of the easiest and most rewarding views in Wellington.
Cuba Street is Wellington's cultural spine: independent cafes, record shops, secondhand stores, street art, bookshops, and restaurants from all over the world packed into one kilometre. Spend an hour there around lunchtime and you'll understand why nearly every traveller calls Wellington the liveliest city in New Zealand.
Te Papa and Wellington's museums
Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum. Free entry. The exhibitions on Māori history, the natural history of the islands, settlement, and the Treaty of Waitangi are presented better here than in any other museum in the country. It's worth prioritising for two to three hours over almost anything else.
Especially worth seeing: the colossal squid specimen downstairs (the largest preserved giant squid in the world), the replica Māori marae, and the earthquake simulation exhibit. There are interactive stations for families and rotating special exhibitions for anyone interested in culture.
Weta Workshop in Miramar (20 minutes from the city centre): the film workshop behind Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and other productions runs tours that take you into the set, model, and effects workshops. Entry around 35 NZD, booking ahead recommended. One of the best stops on the North Island for anyone into film.
Campgrounds in Wellington
Freedom camping isn't allowed within Wellington's city area. The nearest options: Hutt Park Holiday Park in Lower Hutt (about 20 minutes east, right on the river, from 30 NZD), Wellington TOP 10 Holiday Park in Kilbirnie (10 minutes from the centre, around 35 to 50 NZD), or Kaitoke Regional Park in Upper Hutt (about 35 minutes north, a DOC campsite, cheaper and more natural).
If you're visiting Wellington by campervan, it makes the most sense to stay in Lower Hutt or Kilbirnie and take the bus into the centre each day. Hutt Park Holiday Park is especially convenient, since the city bus stops right outside.
Tip for the night before the ferry: if you're taking the early ferry (departing Wellington around 6:30am), sleep in Wellington and get up early. If you're taking the evening ferry, spend your first South Island night in Picton or Blenheim.
The Interislander ferry
The ferry between Wellington and Picton is a fixture for anyone travelling both islands. Your vehicle is driven onto the ship, and you enjoy the crossing up on deck or in the lounge. Duration: about 3 to 3.5 hours. Departures run several times a day; book early during peak season.
Cook Strait has a reputation for rough water: in strong wind, the crossing can get choppy. If you're prone to seasickness, take tablets beforehand. The first 45 minutes out of Wellington through the harbour are calm, then the open strait begins. After the choppier stretch, you enter the Marlborough Sounds: sheltered fjord arms, green hills, barely any wind. It stays calm for the remaining hour into Picton.
The moment you stand on deck and Picton comes into view at the end of Queen Charlotte Sound is, for many travellers, one of the best of the whole trip. The South Island starts to announce itself: bigger mountains, wilder landscape, emptier campgrounds. With your campervan on board, a whole new chapter of the road trip begins right here.
What else to do in Wellington
- Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary: a 225-hectare fenced nature reserve 10 minutes from the centre. See kiwi, tuatara, and rare birds in daylight. Entry around 22 NZD, night tours for kiwi spotting can be booked.
- Mount Victoria Lookout: 5 minutes by car or 20 minutes on foot. A 360-degree panorama over Wellington, the harbour, and Cook Strait. Free, open year-round. A Lord of the Rings filming location.
- Craft beer: Wellington is New Zealand's craft beer hub. Fork & Brewer, Hashigo Zake, and Garage Project (Aro Valley) are all worth a visit.
- Oriental Bay: a sandy beach right by the harbour, close to the city, popular with locals. No surf, but a relaxed atmosphere with views over the old town.
- Weta Workshop: Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and other productions. Tours through the film workshop, around 35 NZD, book ahead.
Day trips from Wellington
Kapiti Island lies 50 km to the north: a predator-free bird sanctuary, reachable by ferry from Paraparaumu. Kiwi, kokako, and other rare birds live there in the wild. Daily visitor limits apply, so book well ahead. You'll otherwise only get this close to wild birds in New Zealand's most remote corners.
The Wairarapa lies 50 km east over the Rimutaka Pass: a well-signposted wine region centred on the small town of Martinborough. The wineries sit close enough together that you can cycle between them. No problem for a campervan: cross the Rimutaka Range, visit a winery, and head back in the afternoon. The pass road over the Rimutaka Range offers lovely views over the Hutt Valley and the southern North Island.
The Putangirua Pinnacles in the Wairarapa are bizarre earth formations shaped by erosion, and they served as a filming location for Lord of the Rings. A short walk along the streambed, no preparation needed. About 2 hours from Wellington, and it pairs well with a wine region visit on a long day.
Getting to Wellington
From Tongariro or Taupō to Wellington: SH1 south through Waiouru and Palmerston North, about 3.5 to 4.5 hours. Direct from Auckland to Wellington: about 7 to 8 hours, best split into stages. Wellington-Picton ferry: Interislander and Bluebridge both run crossings. Enter your vehicle length accurately when booking. Interislander: around 150 to 250 NZD per vehicle depending on the season.
Frequently asked questions about Wellington
- How do I book the ferry for my campervan?
- Book directly with Interislander (interislander.co.nz) or Bluebridge (bluebridge.co.nz). Enter your vehicle length accurately, since pricing is tiered by length. Book early during peak season, especially for weekend departures.
- How many days should I plan for Wellington?
- At least 1.5 to 2 days: Te Papa (half a day), the Cable Car and Cuba Street (around lunchtime), Zealandia or Weta Workshop (half a day). If you're enjoying Wellington's cafe scene, you'll likely want to stay 3 days.
- Is Cook Strait really that rough?
- In strong wind, yes. During peak season, calm weather is more common than stormy conditions. The ferry still sails in moderate swell. If you're prone to seasickness, take tablets beforehand.
- Can you park the campervan in Wellington?
- City centre parking costs money and is difficult for larger campervans. Better to stay at a campground in Lower Hutt or Kilbirnie and take the bus into the centre. That saves you parking fees and hassle.
- Are there good shopping options in Wellington for the onward trip to the South Island?
- Yes. Countdown and New World in the city centre are well stocked. Pak'nSave Wellington (a bit further out) is cheaper. The first larger town after Picton on the South Island is Blenheim (about 1 hour), which also has a Pak'nSave.
- Is the trip to Kapiti Island worth it?
- For anyone who wants to see New Zealand birdlife, Kapiti Island is one of the best experiences on the North Island. Spotting kiwi in daylight is rare, but possible on Kapiti Island because there are no predators. Booking well in advance is necessary, since daily numbers are limited.
- How does Wellington's coffee scene compare to other NZ cities?
- Wellington is considered New Zealand's coffee capital, ahead of even Auckland. The cafe density is so high you're never more than 100 metres from an espresso. Cuba Street, Willis Street, and the area around Te Aro are the best spots. For campervan travellers: grab a flat white on Cuba Street early in the morning before heading off.
- Is Wellington worth a stopover even without taking the ferry?
- Yes. If you're staying on the North Island, you'll leave Wellington the same way you came. But Wellington is rarely just a stopover: Te Papa alone fills half a day, Zealandia another. The city has enough to offer that 2 to 3 days there never feels too long.
- Is there anything for outdoor fans outside the city in Wellington?
- Yes. The Rimutaka Forest north of Upper Hutt has good walking tracks without the crowds. The Rimutaka Range separates the Hutt Valley from the Wairarapa and offers wide views on short walks. For mountain bikers, the Remutaka Cycle Trail is worth it. Tawa Bush and the Makara Peak MTB Park are quick to reach from the city centre and little known among travellers.
Discover Wellington by campervan
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