10 Romantic Activities in Wellington for Couples© Wellington Helicopters
10 Romantic Activities in Wellington for Couples

10 Romantic Activities in Wellington for Couples

© Wellington Helicopters

Things to Do in Wellington for Couples

Whether you’re on a romantic weekend away in Wellington, living in the city at part of a working holiday, or honeymooning your way around the country, Wellington can certainly provide when it comes to romantic experiences. From free museum visits and gardens to explore to luxurious helicopter excursions and fine dining, there’s an experience to suit a range of budgets, tastes and styles. Here, we’ll go through some of our top recommendations when it comes to romantic activities in Wellington for couples!

While you’re here, you might also be interested in The Honeymoon Guide to Wellington.

1. Walk Hand-in-hand Through the Botanic Garden

A fun free thing to do with your loved one is to explore the Botanic Garden. Despite sitting in the city centre, you’ll be surprised how easily you will find yourselves alone in this 25ha (62-acre) garden. The Botanic Garden has a huge network of walking trails connecting you to rose gardens, public artworks, the Picnic Cafe, a duck pond, glasshouses with tropical displays and much more! For more things to do on a budget, see more 22 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Wellington here.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

2. Join the Love Birds in the Zealandia Eco-sanctuary

Watch some of New Zealand’s beautiful native birds at Zealandia. This bird sanctuary is one of the best places to learn about the New Zealand eco-system. What’s more, it provides tons of opportunity to watch birds up-close. Learn about New Zealand’s extinct species in The Exhibition and enjoy a day walking around the sanctuary along the many walking trails. There’s also the option to see kiwi birds on the guided Zealandia by Night Tour. Learn more about Zealandia on Viator and Tripadvisor.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

3. Learn Something New Together in the City’s Museums

Learning something new together is always a fun experience, and there’s certainly plenty of opportunity for that across Wellington’s museums. The Te Papa Museum is the most popular option holding a vast array of exhibitions which will make you both experts in all things New Zealand once you are done. The Wellington Museum is also an excellent choice, especially with “The Attic” exhibition being a place of intrigue that you’ll be talking about well after your visit. Find more museums to check off the list in our 12 Free Art Galleries & Museums in Wellington.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

4. Be Whisked Away in the Romantic Helicopter Tour with Champagne

If your budget knows no bounds, or you really want to wow your loved one, take her on the Romantic Helicopter Tour with Wellington Helicopters. This 30-minute tour is a heli-excursion over Wellington city. Your guide will tell you about the region’s history and geology as you fly before landing at a remote location on the edge of a cliff with breathtaking views of the Marlborough Sounds and a glass of champagne in hand. It would be the ideal place to pop the question! Discover more about the experience on Viator and Tripadvisor. Additionally, see more helicopter tours like this listed in 10 Luxury Activities in Wellington.

Wellington Helicopters© Wellington Helicopters

5. Join a Foodie Tour

If you’re into culinary experiences, but want to try something different from the “date night dinner”, why not try one of the 10 Things to Do in Wellington for Foodies? For example, book a tour at the Wellington Chocolate Factory to see how freshly-roasted cacao beans are transformed into sweet treats! Of course, there’s a tasting at the end of the tour. Public tours run on Saturdays at 11am and private tours are also available. There’s also a wide range of craft breweries, as well as cocktail bars to indulge in.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

6. Challenge Each Other at a Board Game Cafe or Bowling Alley

One that’s especially good for a rainy day: challenge your partner to a game in one of Wellington’s board game cafes. Counter Culture on Victoria Street has more than 600 board games to enjoy with burgers, sandwiches, sweets and sharing plates. You never know, this interactive activity could be the start of a hobby to enjoy together? Alternatively, hit the bowling alley at Bowlarama in Newton!

Pexels© Pexels

7. Treat Him or Her to Dinner at One of Wellington’s Fine Dining Restaurants

Like most capital cities in the world, Wellington is where you can find some of the country’s finest dining experiences. For a romantic and homely bistro experience, book a table at Jano Bistro on Willis Street. Set in a historic two-storey cottage, Jano Bistro certainly sets the mood right along with its set menus of Kiwi cuisine with a French twist. Adventurous couples should try Ortega Fish Shack on Majoribanks Street for their ultra-creative dishes seafood dishes. See more recommendations in our 10 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Wellington.

Pexels© Pexels

8. Go On a Hike Together

Wellington has a huge choice of walks to enjoy, both in the city and out of town. A short walk accessible from the city centre is Mt Victoria (2h30min loop) boasting awesome views of the city from the 196m summit. The Southern Walkway incorporates Mt Victoria and more on a 4-5 hour walk giving you excellent views of the city, coastline and forest of the Town Belt. Finally, it’s definitely worth getting out of town to the Catchpool Valley for stunning forest hikes in the Remutaka Forest Park. Find out more about these hikes and more in 10 Best Walks in Wellington.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

9. Go On a Road Trip to One of the Surrounding Regions

Wellington is more than just the city centre. It encompasses a whole region, from the beach-lined Kapiti Coast to the wine-making Wairarapa district to the historic Hutt Valley. See the nature reserve on Kapiti Island, walk along the beaches and more on the Kapiti Coast – get more ideas from our 10 Must-Dos on the Kapiti Coast. The Wairarapa is home to scenic lighthouses, seal colonies and wineries, which you can learn more about in 10 Damn Good Things to Do in Wairarapa. Finally, hit the bike trails or fine The Lord of the Rings locations in the Hutt Valley. Get more ideas on what to do there in 10 Thrilling Things to Do in Lower Hutt and 11 Excellent Things to Do in the Hutt Valley.

NZPocketGuide.com© NZPocketGuide.com

10. Relax at the Beach

Finally, this might sound like something of a cliche, but what romantic getaway is not complete with a long walk on the beach? Wellington has a few picturesque beaches to visit, both in the city and in the surrounding region. We list some of our top recommendations in 10 Beaches in Wellington You Can’t Miss.

Phillip Capper on Flickr© Phillip Capper on Flickr

Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in New Zealand over 10 years ago and with a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to travel New Zealand. She knows Aotearoa inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience New Zealand’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides and is the co-host of NZ Pocket Guide’s live New Zealand travel Q&As on YouTube.

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