10 Luxury Activities in Wellington© Jeff McEwen - Wellington NZ
10 Luxury Activities in Wellington

10 Luxury Activities in Wellington

© Jeff McEwen – Wellington NZ

Luxury Experiences in Wellington

If a special occasion has brought you to the capital of New Zealand, or perhaps you just like to make the very most out of every city you visit, then you’re in for a treat in Wellington. The city offers a range of luxury experiences to make your visit extra special, from exciting helicopter excursions to exclusive tours with the city’s famous movie studios. At the end of a day exploring, there’s always the opportunity to top it off at a fine dining restaurant and enjoy a nightcap at one of the prestigious cocktail or whisky bars. Check out some of our top recommendations for luxury travellers in this list of luxury activities in Wellington.

While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Luxury Guide to Wellington and The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand.

1. See Wellington on a Helicopter tour

Take to the skies and discover some of Wellington’s stunning scenery. Wellington Helicopters offers a range of deluxe experiences in the sky. For instance, fly to the Whaekauhau Country Estate set among lush countryside and rolling hills, where you’ll land and indulge in a five-course gourmet lunch and taste New Zealand wine. Alternatively, see the outskirts of Wellington, including its seal colonies, the Cook Strait and the Karori Rock Lighthouse on the Wellington South Coast Discovery helicopter tour. Learn more about Wellington Helicopters on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Wellington Helicopters© Wellington Helicopters

2. Tee Off at One of Wellington’s Prestigious Golf Courses

With 27 golf courses across the Wellington region, the capital is a golfer’s dream. Hit prestigious courses like the Royal Wellington Golf Club situated beside the stunning Hutt River. Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club on the Kapiti Coast offers golfers the opportunity to play over dune lands on a course that has hosted the New Zealand Open more than 12 times. See more golf courses worth discovering in our 21 Best Golf Courses in New Zealand.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

3. Shop at Wellington’s Designer Boutiques

Get some retail therapy by browsing Wellington’s contemporary boutiques. Wellington offers some of the best shopping in New Zealand, with a range of shops showcasing everything, from New Zealand designers to vintage finds. Our recommendations include Caughley on Ghuznee Street, offering 28 international brands for women. ENA, on the same street, is where you’ll find some of the latest pieces from New Zealand’s rising designers. Ziggurat is just one of many vintage shops on Cuba Street offering men and women’s high-quality vintage finery. Check out some of the New Zealand-designer stores too, like twenty-seven names, Karen Walker and Kowtow.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

4. Visit the Wairarapa Wine Region

Did you know that Wellington is a wine-making region? The Wairarapa is a boutique region specialising in Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah and more. The centre of the region is Martinborough, a European-style wine village packed with cellar doors and wineries to indulge in. Either make your own winery-hopping itinerary using our 10 Exquisite Vineyards & Wineries in Martinborough and hire a bike with Green Jersey Cycle Tours to get around – more information on Viator and Tripadvisor. Alternatively, join Zozo Travel for their half-day wine tour conveniently departing from the Wellington city centre i-SITE. Find out more about Zozo Travel on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Dominic Lockyer on Flickr© Dominic Lockyer on Flickr

5. Try Fine Whisky at Wellington’s Reputable Whisky Bars

For a gentlemen’s visit to Wellington, seek out some of the city’s whisky bars to wet your whistle. Hawthorne Lounge on Tory Street not only serves up a whole range of favourite whisky brands but does some exquisite cocktails. The Portlander on Whitmore and Featherston Streets is also a must for whisky-lovers. While it’s most famous for its sumptuous steaks, the restaurant just happens to have more than 100 brands of whisky.

Pexel© Pexel

6. Join an Exclusive Night Tour of the Zealandia Eco-sanctuary

Visit one of Wellington’s most popular attractions at the most exclusive time of the day: after dark. The Zealandia by Night Tour is a guided night experience through the eco-sanctuary for native birds. Look out for the elusive kiwi bird, see shimmering glowworms and enjoy a guided walkthrough of Zealandia’s interactive museum. This is a must for wildlife-lovers! Find out more on Viator and Tripadvisor. Additionally, see more experiences like this in 6 Spots to Experience Wellington Wildlife.

Zelandia© Zealandia

7. Treat Yourself to a Fine Dining experience at Logan Brown, Whitebait and More

Treat yourself to exquisite dining experiences in Wellington by booking a table at the fine dining restaurants. One of the most renowned eateries in town is Logan Brown, set in a historic banking chamber on the iconic Cuba Street. The restaurant has an ever-changing menu to keep in tune with the latest dining trends. Additionally, check out Whitebait where fresh seafood is cooked in a Josper charcoal-fired oven. See more restaurant recommendations in our 10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Wellington.

Logan Brown© Logan Brown

8. Browse the City’s Thought-provoking Art Galleries

Check out some of the city’s most fabulous art galleries. A must is the reputable City Gallery Wellington, known for its architecture and transformative spaces for pieces. There are also a few hidden gems worth discovering like White Cube on Cuba Street. Join art tours in Wellington with uTours (more info on Viator and Tripadvisor) like or simply seek some of the 12 Art Galleries & Museums in Wellington yourself.

Patricia Grace© Patricia Grace

9. Amp Up the Te Papa Museum Experience with a Museum Tour

Don’t just visit Wellington’s most popular attraction, experience it to the fullest! Te Papa Museum offers a range of guided tours, such as the Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour giving you a 60-minute overview of the whole museum, as well as few exhibitions that many visitors miss! One of the best times to visit is during the early evening when the daytime crowds have thinned. Combine your evening visit with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour lasting 45 minutes. Finally, delve into the myths and legends of the local Maori on the 60-minute Maori Highlights Tour. Check out the full offerings of guided tours of Te Papa on Viator and Tripadvisor.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

10. Enjoy an Evening of Movie-making at Dining at a Boutique Cinema Restaurant

Wellington is not only the administrative capital of New Zealand, but it’s also the movie-making capital. Discover how blockbusters like The Avengers, King Kong, Avatar and, of course, The Lord of the Rings were made at the Weta Workshop. One of their most exclusive tours is the Weta Workshop Behind-The-Scenes Evening Tour. This tour, with transport pick-up from the CBD, includes a tour of the movie studio’s workshop and a three-course dinner at the renowned Roxy boutique cinema. Discover more about the tour on Viator and Tripadvisor.

Weta Workshop© Weta Workshop

More About Wellington

That’s it for the best luxury activities in Wellington. Find even more tips to make your luxury getaway exceptional in The Luxury Travel Guide to New Zealand.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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