Wellington Travelers Recommend

From North Island attractions such as the Hobbiton movie set to the sweeping countryside around Queenstown on the South Island, there are Lord of the Rings filming locations across New Zealand, and Wellington is no exception. Here are options for exploring Lord of the Rings sites in and around Wellington.

Wellington Movie Tours

Lord of the Rings fans can step into Middle Earth on a full-day tour of Wellington’s most memorable filming locations, without worrying about arranging transportation. Admire views of the Hutt Valley and the Greenbelt, seen on-screen as Rivendell; see iconic sites such as Helms Deep, Minas Tirith, and Isengard; and visit the Embassy Movie Theatre, where the stars walked the red carpet for the world premieres of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. For a more personalized experience, opt for a small-group or private tour, and enjoy extra attention from your tour guide.

Weta Workshop Tours

Discover the secrets behind the making of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as The Hobbit movies, Avatar, The Chronicles of Narnia, and more, on a guided tour of Wellington’s Weta Studios. Learn how the Oscar award-winning props and special effects were created during a thrilling Weta Cave Workshop, or opt for a private tour, which gives you rare access to the Park Road Post Production facility and the Weta Workshop’s boardroom. Some tours include round-trip transportation from Wellington.

With three days in New Zealand’s capital, you can take advantage of almost everything on offer. Fly over the city in a helicopter, shop till you drop, sample plenty of local beer or wine, and of course, get out into nature. Here’s how to make the most of your time in Wellington.

Day 1: City sightseeing

Spend your first day getting a feel for the city. Options abound: take to the air on a helicopter flight and marvel at Wellington’s legendary landscape; catch the cable car up to Wellington Botanic Garden; or head to the Mt. Victoria Lookout for panoramic views of the city and harbor. Then, make your way down to the waterfront, and learn about the country’s indigenous Maori culture and history at the innovative Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings, join a tour of local filming locations, or sign up for a Weta workshop. A hop-on hop-off bus pass makes it easy to get around town and explore at your own pace.

Day 2: Shopping and eating

Wellington is a fashion hub—all that wool from New Zealand sheep combined with a creative streak results in labels valued worldwide. Begin by strolling the area around Lambton Quay, College Street, and Cuba Street. Then, wander Wellington Underground Market, a maze of food stalls that also showcases local artisans. Stop for lunch there or at one of several Wellington restaurants that have won the national Best Restaurant Award—or go all out with a foodie tour, sampling some craft beer afterward. If you prefer wine, take a guided trip to the top boutique wineries in nearby Wairarapa, renowned for its pinot noir—or explore the vineyards by bike.

Day 3: Coastal treasures

To atone for all that spending and swilling, head for the great outdoors and experience the dramatic coastline by mountain bike, on horseback, or on foot. See the colony of fur seals near the lighthouse at Cape Palliser, or look for seals as you hike the trails of Red Rocks Reserve. Bird lovers won’t want to miss Kapiti Island, a predator-free bird sanctuary reached by boat from the Kapiti Coast. And if you’re moving on to the South Island later, hop aboard the Interislander for one of the world’s most scenic ferry journeys.

Spending two days in New Zealand’s capital gives you time to soak up the city’s sights and culinary delights, explore the rugged coastline, and enjoy nearby wineries. You can also learn about local wildlife and about the making of the Lord of the Rings movies. Here are a few ways to spend your time during a 2-day stay in Wellington.

Day 1: Explore the City

Morning: Start your visit with panoramic views of the city and Wellington Harbour from Mt. Victoria Lookout, just one of 11 stops on a hop-on hop-off bus tour that will take you to visit the city’s main sights. You can also opt to get around by foot or electric bike or to enjoy the city from above on a helicopter flight.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon imbibing and indulging. Wellington’s central business district and waterfront have become foodie destinations with a burgeoning craft beer scene. Oenophiles can opt for a winery tour and head a bit further afield, to Martinborough, in the Waipara wine region, which is home to a number of top-notch vineyards and boutique wineries.

Night: End your first day with a visit to Miramar, the Wellington suburb that is the epicentre of the city’s creative film industry. You can enjoy a three-course dinner at CoCo at the Roxy—an art deco restaurant in a theater—and take an evening tour of Weta Workshop, where you can learn about movie props and special effects.

Day 2: Head Into the Wild

Morning: Wellington’s rugged and rocky “seal coast” provides visitors with an opportunity to see New Zealand fur seals. Head to the area with a private guide or take a small group tour in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to observe the animals in the wild.

Afternoon: Follow in Frodo’s footsteps with a trip to the locations used for filming The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. Join a trilogy tour to see the North Island countryside around Wellington, used to depict Middle-earth; Kaitoke Regional Park, which serves as the Elven terrain of Rivendell; and other notable sites.

Night: There’s no need to venture far from the city to search for native wildlife: Spend the evening exploring the Zealandia ecosanctuary, where you can learn about the area’s ecosystem and history and look for the nocturnal little spotted kiwi in the hours just before or after dusk.

Wellington lies right at the heart of New Zealand. The southernmost city on the North Island is the country’s capital and also home to a thriving film industry. This compact city is wrapped around beautiful Wellington Harbour, and is often so breezy that it’s known as Windy Welly. Here’s how to make the most of one day in Wellington. 

Morning: Coastal City Fun

Get to know the city with a tour on a hop-on hop-off bus or an electric bike—or just on foot—and see the area’s main attractions, such as the Wellington Zoo, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Botanic Garden, and the Mt. Victoria Lookout. For a birds-eye view, you could also opt for a scenic helicopter flight. 

Alternatively, combine a sightseeing tour with a wildlife “safari” at the coast, which is known for its rugged landscapes and colonies of New Zealand fur seals.Lord of the Rings fans can also visit Middle-earth at nearby filming locations.

Afternoon: Culinary Adventures

Spend your afternoon in Wellington enjoying some of the area’s local food and wines. Browse your way through the eateries along Cuba Street and food stalls at the Underground Market, or book a private or small-group tour and let a local take you behind the scenes and introduce you to food purveyors and their artisan products. If you want to go a little further afield and learn more about New Zealand’s famous wines, opt for a quick tour of the Martinborough wine region and learn about local viticulture while you sip pinot noir and chardonnay. 

Night: Special Attractions

Some of Wellington’s most popular attractions are open late and offer special evening tours. Learn about the magic of movie special effects and props at Weta Workshop, and get a hands-on look at “Wellywood” with a tour and that illuminates the artful techniques behind many blockbuster films. If you’d rather spend more time in nature, visit Zealandia, a conservation and wildlife habitat, to try to see the nocturnal little spotted kiwi in its natural habitat. Kids will also enjoy exhibits featuring life-size models of two of New Zealand’s most famous extinct animals, the enormous Haast’s eagle and its prey, the flightless moa.

New Zealand is a country of two halves. A scenic way to travel between the North Island and South Island is the InterIslander Ferry. Here’s what you need to know about crossing the Cook Strait by ferry, which provides picturesque views of New Zealand and on-board amenities.

Where to Go

The InterIslander Ferry runs between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island. From Wellington port, ferries connect with the Overlander, Northerner, and Bay Express train services to Auckland and Napier, while arrivals in Picton link with the TranzCoastal train service to Kaikoura and Christchurch.

What You’ll See

Grab a window seat or head out on deck to take in the views as you cruise out across the Cook Strait. The 58-mile (92-kilometer) journey takes around three hours and offers dramatic views of Wellington’s skyline and Pencarrow Head Lighthouse as you set sail from the North Island. As you cross into the protected waters of the South Island, you’ll glide through the glittering waters and lush landscapes of the Marlborough Sounds, Queen Charlotte Sound, and the Tory Channel; keep a lookout for whales and dolphins along the way.

Things to Know

• Depending on the season, there are up to 11 ferries running between Wellington and Picton daily.

• A car ferry service is available.

• On-board services include restrooms, Wi-Fi, a bar and cafe, and a movie theater on select boats.