10 Best Things to Do in Wellington with Kids

1. See the Birds at Zealandia

Families or not, all travellers should add Zealandia to the itinerary! Easily accessible from Wellington’s city centre thanks to easy access along Bus Route 2 or shuttles from the i-SITE, Zealandia is an eco-haven for New Zealand birds.

It’s one of the best places in the country to learn about the fascinating natural ecosystem through its interactive museum.

The haven has a network of easy walking trails for the whole family and for strollers, where feeding stations make sightings of takahe, kaka, tui, North Island robin and more, a common and exciting occurrence.

Location: 53 Waiapu Road, Karori. Bus stop: Zealandia – Chaytor Street at Tunnel on Bus Route 2.

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2. Get Educated at the Te Papa Museum

If you know anything about Wellington, then you’ve probably heard about its most famous museum, the Te Papa Museum.

This fun and affordable museum is the national museum of New Zealand, showcasing everything from its social history to its volcanoes to its flora and fauna.

This city centre museum will have you and your tribe entertained for at least a couple of hours, so make sure you leave enough time!

Check out what sort of things you’ll see in 10 Reasons Why The Te Papa Museum is Simply Unmissable.

Location: 55 Cable Street, Te Aro.

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3. Get Active on the High-Wire Obstacle Course at Adrenalin Forest

For thrill-seekers and active families, Adrenalin Forest offers an exhilarating adventure just 20 minutes from Wellington’s CBD. This high-wire obstacle course features seven progressively challenging courses, starting at 1 m (3.3 ft) off the ground and soaring up to 31 m (102 ft) in the canopy.

Each course presents a variety of obstacles, including bridges, nets, barrels and swings. The highlight, of course, is the adrenaline-pumping flying foxes. Set among 50-year-old pine trees, you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the Porirua Harbour as you navigate through the treetops.

With courses suitable for different skill levels, Adrenalin Forest provides a fun-filled day out for families, friends, and adventure enthusiasts alike. Adult tickets are around NZ$50, while kids’ tickets are approximately NZ$35, offering great value for money.

Location: Okowai Road, Aotea, Porirua, North Island. 20 minutes from Wellington CBD.

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4. Spend the Day at One of Wellington’s Beaches

Yes, even in the city, you can enjoy a day at the beach with the little ones.

Oriental Bay is your closest beach to the city centre, and it offers safe swimming, which is a gentle stroll following the coast from the Te Papa Museum.

Alternatively, Shelly Beach in Miramar is an attractive sandy beach backed by cafes to pick up an ice cream.

Find more beaches and their locations in the 10 Beaches in Wellington You Can’t Miss.

Location: All over Wellington! See the link above for specific locations.

© WellingtonNZ

5. See How the Movies are Made at the Weta Workshop

Needless to say, you’ve probably shared a few family trips to the cinema or enjoy watching movies at home. Discover how they’re made at the Weta Workshop!

The Weta Workshop offers a number of interesting all-weather tours, from looking at props and special effects from movies such as The Lord of the Rings, Independence Day, some Marvel movies and new movies they are working on.

If you have creative kids aged 12 years and up, opt for a more hands-on experience at the “Intro to Sculpting” workshop, where they’ll learn how to bring a 3D character to life with modelling tinfoil and plasticine!

Location: 1 Weka Street, Miramar. This is also Stop 6240 on Darlington Road along Bus Route 2.

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6. Enjoy Some Family Bonding Time at the Bowling Alley or the Cinema

If you’re craving some family bonding time or something more relaxing, then there are plenty of activities that you would expect in many cities.

Challenge each other at the lanes of Bowlarama in Newtown. The bowling alley features 12 fully electronic lanes with bumpers for kids.

Alternatively, relax and watch a movie at The Embassy Theatre on Courtenay Place – Tuesday is the cheapest day to go.

Location: Bowlarama – 52 Hall Street, Newtown. The Embassy Theatre – 10 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria.

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7. Visit the Wellington Museum

A fantastic free museum is the Wellington Museum, located in the city centre. The museum shares stories of the region within its grand heritage building.

Kids can enjoy pretending they are playing on the shorefronts of Wellington in the 1800s, while The Attic is a place of intrigue with exhibitions about “Steampunk” inventions, Māori artwork and more.

See more museums worth visiting in the 10 Free Art Galleries & Museums in Wellington.

Location: 3 Jervois Quay, Wellington Central.

© Rachel.healy at English Wikipedia

8. Learn About Space at Space Place

An affordable attraction for the whole family, Space Place allows visitors to learn more about the stars at the Carter Observatory. It’s also one of the rare family attractions to take advantage of on an evening in Wellington.

The museum has interactive exhibits, while the full-dome planetarium is an awesome way to learn about the stars, planets, constellations and galaxies.

Better yet, combine the experience with riding the historic Wellington Cable Car and visiting the Botanical Gardens (more on that below!)

Location: 40 Salamanca Road, Kelburn.

© Mark Tantrum - WellingtonNZ

9. Meet the Animals at Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Animal lovers, take a special trip to the Akatarawa Valley in Upper Hutt to check out the Staglands Wildlife Reserve.

This animal park has farmyard animals for the kids to meet, as well as native birds, as part of conservation programs.

There’s also an on-site cafe for families to meet and enjoy lunches to fuel up for the day.

Make a day trip out of it and see more things to do nearby in the 10 Best Things to Do in the Hutt Valley.

Location: 2362 Akatarawa Road, Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt.

© Staglands Wildlife Reserve

10. Feed the Ducks at the Wellington Botanical Gardens

Last but certainly not least, get some more fresh air at the Wellington Botanical Gardens.

This free activity in Wellington city centre is a must, offering bush walks, gardens, playgrounds, museums, and – a popular attraction with the kids – a duck pond.

Some walks can be enjoyed with a stroller, as well as the Treehouse Visitor Centre, where you’ll take an elevator to the coolest visitor centre you’ve probably ever seen!

Speaking of elevators, there’s also the option to access the top of the gardens via a ride on the historical Cable Car for a small fee.

See more budget-friendly activities in the 25 Free & Cheap Things to Do in Wellington.

Location: 101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn. Alternatively, stop at Lambton Quay at Cable Car Lane on Bus Route 2!

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