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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 10, 2023
How long is the drive from Masterton to Paraparaumu?
The direct drive from Masterton to Paraparaumu is 67.7 mi (109 km), and should have a drive time of 1 hr 34 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Masterton to Paraparaumu, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with Wellington and Westland Tai Poutini National Park, as well as top places to visit like Gladstone Vineyard and Mount Bruce Pioneer Museum, or the ever-popular The Alpaca Place.
The top cities between Masterton and Paraparaumu are Wellington and Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu). Wellington is the most popular city on the route. It's 1 hour from Masterton and less than an hour from Paraparaumu.
Westland Tai Poutini National Park is an incredible place with amazing views of the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea. It's a great place to walk up the Trig Path to see the glaciers, and there are plenty of other activities available such as mountain biking and hiking. The park is also home to rare and endangered animals, so it's definitely worth visiting if you're interested in nature!
The whole West Coast of this south island is amazing for hikes, glacier scenery, glacier hikes, heli scenery and star photography! Loved this national park and got some good star photography done around Frans Joseph :)
Malav Patel — Google review
I went to the top of the track to view the glacier. A steady climb but only a few steep Arctic. Week-formed vehicle track, great for mountain bikes. Take plenty of fluid. It's quite a longish hike. The view is worth it though
Robert Scelly — Google review
Great parking spaces. Bathrooms at the start. Quick, easy flattish walk. There's a very small incline. Bench at the end to enjoy the views. A couple of waterfalls along the way. Wide and well established path to the Glacier. No dogs allowed. It's definitely easy enough for kids.
D B — Google review
Stunning veiws. Plenty of out door activity
Frances Reardon — Google review
Easy walk up Trig path to a most spectacular sight, the southern Alps on one side and the Tasman sea and all the lagoons and beaches on the other. Endless dense rain forest between the two. If you lucky you will see white herons, spoonbills and other rare birds
Rainer Eichblatt — Google review
The hike up Alex Knob was delightful, yet strenuous. Accomplishable in 4.5 hours round trip when proceeding at a decent clip, yet well worth settling into some bushes for a couple hours at the top for cover from the wind to watch the clouds roll by with occasional glimpses at the incredible glacier.
My Toms were feeling their misuse by the end of this hike as the South Island terrain is testing them, yet I remain resolute and proud to continue to push their limits and enjoy the mocassin-like hiking which gives me a sense of connection and way to pay respects to native hikers of centuries past especially with the North American tribes that showed so much respect to the land and animals of their time.
James Harder — Google review
This place is incredibly scenic and leads to the snout of Franz Josef Glacier. Another track crosses the river to the north (the photos are from this one). It is hard to tell which is the most beautiful, the vegetation or the geology, most probably the way they combine. Most of it is easily walkable but may prove slightly treacherous in bad weather. An absolute Must (but everybody knows that or obviously sees it).
François Y — Google review
Wow, just wow...what a magnificent place. Such spectacular scenery, great cafes and restaurants and plenty of activities to do...there is also a track just south of the chapel in Franz Josef that where you can see glow worms just after sun down.
Scott Playle — Google review
Go now The West Coast needs everyone's support. We went the other week for 4 days. Drove from Blenheim which was a 6 hour drive. We received fantastic service and friendly people every where in Franz Josef . Thank you 😊
andrew neame — Google review
An easy 20-30 minutes return good trail walk to see the glacier mountain.
Candice Neo — Google review
14% as popular as Wellington
15 minutes off the main route, 70% of way to Paraparaumu
Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, is located near the southernmost point of North Island on Cook Strait. It is a small city comprising an attractive waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a functioning harbour and vibrant timber houses surrounding hillsides. The iconic red Wellington Cable Car from Lambton Quay heads towards Wellington Botanic Gardens. This windy place is known for its strong winds through Cook Strait.
Most popular city on this route
16 minutes off the main route, 71% of way to Paraparaumu
Best stops along Masterton to Paraparaumu drive
The top stops along the way from Masterton to Paraparaumu (with short detours) are Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Cable Car, and Wellington. Other popular stops include Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café, Wellington Botanic Garden, and The Alpaca Place.
1
The Alpaca Place
Permanently closed
Sights & Landmarks
Farm shop
Ranches
The lady giving the tour was incredibly knowledgeable and always answered any questions asked in a way everyone could understand.
The alpacas are fun and were very easy for my 11 year old daughter to walk round with.
Would recommend it to anyone, a must do.
Martyn Bryant — Google review
If you like animals "the alpaca place" is a must. The animal are nice funny and realy soft. The tour take 1h30 m. You can feed alpaca, wolk whit them and discover interesting stories about them. We are realy enjoy the alpaca !
A. C. — Google review
Be sure to book online in advance before visting this great tour of an Alpaca farm.
Liz and Cheryl are very kind and knowledgeable regard the history of the Alpacas.
We got to meet both the male/female Alpacas and their young which are super cute.
The best part was feeding time!
If you like Alpacas in anyway defiantly do this tour😃
Adam — Google review
My husband and I had a wonderful time on this tour! The alpacas are adorable and the tour was extremely informative - we both felt like this was time and money well spent.
Melissa Leckie — Google review
Liz gave a very informative and interactive tour for us. It was a great experience as we've never been to an alpaca farm before. We got to feed and pet the alpacas while understanding quite an extensive history on the cute animal, normally confused with its relative, llama. It's a recommended place to go.
Muhammad Azhari Azmi — Google review
The Alpaca Place is great. Deserves so much more than the 3 google stars. See Trip advisor for a good idea of the sort of experience you will have. Its a fantastic tour. We have gone on to do business with the wonderful women from The Alpaca Place and now own our own Alpaca. We've been very impressed with the service from being straight out tourists, through to potential buyers, and onto a full delivery service of our purchased alpaca which took a full day of their time at a very reasonable price.
Jane Toy — Google review
Thanks for the great tour Liz and Sheryl, thoroughly enjoyed it, Ella loved your 'awesome alpacas', so disappointed I didn't buy her one. Highly recommend, especially for kids, my ten year old adored it. So much knowledge about alpacas, their history and industry.
Lisa Polaschek — Google review
This was so much fun and informative. We got to walk alpacas and hug them and learn all about them, a really cool day out
Mike Turk — Google review
4.4
(34)
•
4.5
(261)
365 Bluff Rangitumau Road, Masterton 5871, New Zealand
2
Gladstone Vineyard
Vineyard
Food & Drink
Wine cellar
Winery
Wineries & Vineyards
Great place with an excellent selection of wines. We went on an afternoon where they had an American style BBQ band playing. The food was delicious and the service was great. Definitely signup on their website for future events. Great location and staff.
Ian Apperley — Google review
A great location to get away and relax for a bit. Wines are ok without being stunning. They had a good truck and music so had a great day in the sun. Very well sheltered from the wind.
Grant Ching — Google review
This place is perhaps a little difficult to find initially but well worth the effort. Main crop is Pinot Noir. Don't like Pinot personally but a taste test there recently was impressive, and became a disciple of their vintage. Have been going there many years and would prefer Gladstone to any other local vineyard.
Robin Clarke — Google review
I would like to take a minute to thank the Lovely Deidre for her excellent service especially for first day Of Gladstone being open again. We loved your warm and friendly personality and attentiveness. We look forward to our next visit.
Vivienne Carter — Google review
Sarah is a superb host and quickly figures out what you need to know about their superb wines. A great place for novice and experienced wine explorers alike.
Jeremy Smith — Google review
STUNNING Location and OUSTANDING Hosts and Service. Beautiful Vineyard. To the Rolling Hills of the beautiful Wairarapa.
Roido Val — Google review
3.9
(23)
•
4.5
(29)
340 Gladstone Road, RD2, Gladstone 5792, New Zealand
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When
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Rooms, guests
2
Rooms and guests
Rooms
1
Adults
2
Children
0
3
Mount Bruce Pioneer Museum
Heritage museum
Museums
Specialty Museums
The Mount Bruce Pioneer Museum is an impressive institution with a reasonable entrance fee. It boasts a remarkable collection of historical artifacts relating to farming, culture, technology, and domestic life. The majority of these items date back to the mid- and early 20th century, with some even originating from the 19th century. Additionally, the museum includes a section dedicated to Nordic settlement in the region and features a replica Viking boat.
Visited the museum a couple of times over the last decade, not been for years but good to see its still rocking.
Drive up the gravel driveway off SH2 by the windmill and utopia is found.
felix wankel — Google review
Good vintage stuff and certainly worth the visit. Stairs to second storey a bit steep for me. Well worth the visit again
Rob Orlowski — Google review
Great memories, lots of fascinating stuff. Well worth a visit. Five dollars adult.
Tablet Tablet — Google review
So much to see. Could do with an army of dusters
Bethel McDivitt — Google review
Awesome museum. Very reasonable entry fee, & there is a great collection of material artifacts related to farming, culture, technology & domestic life; predominantly mid- & early 20th century, and also some 19th century. There is also a section with a replica Viking boat, & historical documentation of Nordic settlement in the region. SPOILER the Vogel Government incentivised their migration to deforest the vast tract of bush in the Manawatu, site of the last documented huia sighting in 1907
Nick Pak — Google review
Amazing collection and lovely owner. Thank you!
Ellis Finch — Google review
4.5
(20)
•
4.0
(14)
Kiriwhakapapa 5881, New Zealand
4
Stonehenge Aotearoa
Museums
Observatory
Tour agency
Educational sites
Observatories & Planetariums
Awesome place. Great feel to it. Couple running it knowledgeable and friendly. Do not expect original Stonehenge but this is set up for NZ. Must do if in area. Will be looking out for events o line.
Barry Avery — Google review
An educational and immersing experience. Was able to learn about the origin and importance of Stonehenge together with the Zodiac signs. The building itself is quite mystical. Good thing we visited when it was not busy as I am not much of a sociable person and I dislike the crowd.
AME 43 — Google review
Travelling solo, paid $15 to enter. I expected a walk down away from buildings, maybe in the middle of a paddock BUT it's a garden display in their backyard!!!
Yes it has cool qualities and makes sounds echo and is built to specifics measurements etc but at the price paid to enter is simply disappointing.
Maybe if it was $10 they would attract better ratings and more visitors.
Was also some horrible thing on the ground surrounded by mesh fencing, inside the circle, showing the zodiacs totally taking away from the ambiance even more then the buildings etc.... lost a star for whatever that was
Jo Violet — Google review
What an amazing piece of astrological magic this is. It is breathtaking. We managed to get our large motorhome up the drive without hassle. The friendly lady at reception even allowed us to take our small dog with, thank you for being so thoughtful.
Mica Group Ltd — Google review
$15 per adult, $10 seniors, $5 school aged kids. Kids under 5 are free.
Video (12 mins) good info, unfortunately due to a flickering lightbulb I couldn't watch the whole thing (migraine trigger).
Stonehenge itself is a peaceful spot for a picnic; fun to clap, sing and play and listen to the echo of the stones. When we visited there were others around, your group could talk in different areas near the edge of the stones and not hear the others conversations. A unique and special space.
Could do with a bit of a mow, but understand it's only a couple people working at the moment and manning the shop/front desk means not able to mow too.
Lisa Ryan — Google review
Great experience for new knowledge. Lots of information. Friendly staff. Hard to find the entrance as the street to enter looked like a private property. Entrance and exit is 1 way street only.
Shyn Veracruz — Google review
We were staying in the area and were researching for attractions to visit. Really glad to have come across this place.
Upon arrival, you watch a short 15-minute looping video that explains the origins of the henge and those involved with building it with such precision. Make sure you stand on the floor circle and clap or make a suitable noise.
It was well worth the entry fee. I would recommend visiting anyone able to.
Keith Eades — Google review
Nice place to visit. A lot of interesting events. Would be great to plan a visit at the spring or fall equinox.
Mark Barclay — Google review
Good tourist attraction with interesting information in how Stonehenge Aotearoa was set up, the night sky, and the interesting acoustics. It would be good to visit it during a solstice or an equinox.
Thank you, Richard and Kay.
Kris — Google review
Will definitely be coming back during summer ☀️, really in formative and truly fascinating, highly recommended
Andrew Janmaat — Google review
It would be interesting if you were really into this type of thing. It probably would be better on a sunny day so you can see shadows from the sun.
At $15 a head, it is a little costly for someone like me who is not a buff but I do understand that a lot of expense would have gone into creating the Stonehenge itself.
Anita Phillips — Google review
The stone henge was really beautiful - loved the sounds and views. Video in the theatre was very informative - but the Māori pronunciation was a little piss poor. Do appreciate the effort though. Mixed feelings about this as the lady whom was at the counter was a little rude and disinterested. Took away from the enjoyment my kids and I were expecting. Maybe having an off day. Worth a 20min to. 30min visit - longer if astrology etc interests xxx
Jamie-lea Little — Google review
What a wonderful place! The spiel & vibe as you enter this scientific folly is so calming & fun. It's so clever & beautiful & the countryside setting is awe inspiring. Would love to do a night tour or sound experience given the chance.
Highly recommend ❤️
Beautiful winery, lunch option is a platter with lots of yummy bits and pieces to share for two people. More than enough food, especially if you add on the bread. Must book as it gets busy. Wine tasting is also great, $10 a person and redeemable if you buy a bottle of wine - which you will want to do! P
Kalliana Kong — Google review
This place was great and very helpful servers. They welcomed a bigger group for a tasting and we didn't feel like we had to have food which is fantastic. Cannot comment on menu as didn't eat. The room here everyone was gathered was super cute and has a nice rustic vibe. Top marks.
alice02 — Google review
I visited Poppies Winery on a quiet winter's Tuesday with a friend and her family. We initially planned to visit another place, wanting something more than a platter. However, Poppies was the only winery open. While they mainly serve platters, we found them to be more substantial than expected. The service was decent, and their rosé caught our attention. A good stop if you're in the area.
Pops — Google review
If you are in Martinborough, Poppies is a must visit. I have visited quite a few times and I love it every time. The platter is always delicious. Such a great variety of tastes and compliments the wines very well. The wine tasting is also a good option so you can taste their different wines and then get a bottle to have with your platter.
The seating area is perfect - you have indoor seating if the weather isn’t so good and then a nice outdoor area with umbrellas on a sunny day. Also they are dog friendly!
Definitely one of my favourite wineries in Martinborough!
Amanda Chan — Google review
The most beautiful vineyard I have ever been to. The building is rustic and gives a warm happy atmosphere when trying the 5 carefully selected wines. Our somalier (young and french) was awesome and even encouraged us to try and additional wine based on our tastes in the backroom and she was so right! We ended up purchasing that wine because of how great it was. The mushroom pate (vegan!) Was showstopping and genuinely thought of returning the next day to have it again! Over all this is the best wine tasting I attended in Martinborough and the wine is amazing!
Laura Bornemann — Google review
Really don't think this place needs another review since it is wildly popular. Gorgeous view dining by the vineyards. Delicious platter. The only thing I felt was not great was the Potato Gratin in the platter. This was like chewing on cardboard. All of us had a bite and didn't finish that. But everything else was delicious.
Eileen Lui — Google review
Excellent place for a wine and the platter. The platter is excellent with a range of tasty treats. The desert or sweet is equally wonderful.
Joe Ninety — Google review
A perrenial favourite, the wine of course, the food platter are devine, the service and atmosphere of sitting and eating over looking the vineyards is a lovely way to spend Sunday. Well done Poppy and Shayne, you’ve built an amazing business.
Michael Cooke — Google review
Poppies winery in Martinborough, New Zealand, is an absolute gem and a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts. If you only have time for one winery in the region, this is the one to choose without a doubt.
From the moment you arrive, the staff at Poppies exude warmth and hospitality, making you feel like a valued guest. Their passion for wine and dedication to providing exceptional experiences shines through in every interaction.
The setting at Poppies is simply stunning, with picturesque vineyards surrounding the winery, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. Whether you choose to sit indoors or out on the terrace, you'll be treated to breathtaking views and a sense of tranquility.
One of the highlights of visiting Poppies is indulging in their exquisite platters. Each platter is a work of art, featuring locally sourced ingredients expertly paired with their delicious wines. The attention to detail and quality of the offerings truly elevate the tasting experience to new heights.
And speaking of wines, the Gewürztraminer at Poppies is nothing short of spectacular. Bursting with aromatic flavors and perfectly balanced, it's a true standout and easily the best Gewürztraminer we've ever had the pleasure of tasting.
In summary, Poppies winery offers an unforgettable experience from start to finish. With amazing staff, a lovely atmosphere, stunning views, delectable platters, and exceptional wines like their Gewürztraminer, it's the epitome of excellence in Martinborough's wine scene.
Katie Goldberg — Google review
We visited this very beautiful winery during a wine tasting tour. Our host was extremely knowledgeable about the wines. All of the wines we tasted were amazing. The venue was gorgeous. Shame we didn't have time for lunch. Highly recommend!!
Major Tom — Google review
On Wellington Anniversary day. A beautiful Vineyard, the platter for 3 adults was yummy with a bottle of chardonnay. Took a walk in the vineyard and took some pictured. We highly recommend Poppies and we'll definitely be back again.
Patricia Stewart — Google review
If you haven't been to Poppies, you need to go!! It is beautiful, the wines (especially the pinot gris and late harvest) are so delicious and the tastings are always very professional. The platters ($60) are gourmet and compliment the wine well. Wine tasting - $10 and redeemable on wine purchases.
Tayla Hearn — Google review
4.8
(390)
•
4.5
(557)
91 Puruatanga Road, Martinborough 5711, New Zealand
Enjoyed lunch here a few days ago. Food was fantastic. Wine was great. Staff were friendly and very accommodating. Our dogs enjoyed plenty of space to be able to stretch right out whilst we were seated at our outdoor table - and again later when we graduated to the bean bags to relax with our wines. A beautiful environment amongst the trees.
Klayre C — Google review
Great experience. Beautiful setting, tasty food sourced locally. Great wine recommendations and great service. Had a really great time.
Arran Worsley — Google review
I'd give 4.9 starts out of five if I could.
Great team. The food was amazing would highly recommend the tortellini.
Wine was lovely and a lovely setting.
Only feed back was the menu wasn't any good for kids under 10 but they did okay with fries.....
Other than that tiny thing the while experience was very nice.
Benjamin Wylie Cheer — Google review
Wonderful experience with the food ….Nara Food Truck, and the wine was awesome. Would like to make a special mention of our Waiter who had a great knowledge of the wines in NZ and the local ones as well. And a great grasp of the food being served. Will definitely come again.
Martin Moncrieff — Google review
Environment & atmosphere here are great. Food is yummy. Great to hang out with family for a peaceful afternoon.
Rikki Mitchell Family — Google review
Had the most amazing lunch at Palliser today. The staff are so lovely and attentive. Out host Belen was a ray of sunshine and both food and wine were simply outstanding. What a fantastic experience. Seating under the big trees was nice and shady, super kid friendly. 10/10 experience!
Corinna Benz — Google review
Quality wine and food truck lunch under the eaves in the courtyard. A perfect easy Sunday.
Photo of roasted aubergine, bulga wheat moroccon salad with fried chicken addition.
David ?Von? Garratt — Google review
Good atmosphere staff are kind and knowledgeable. Options for some dishes to be made vegan
Ellen T — Google review
We went for wine tasting and lunch. It was fantastic on all accounts. Food was EXCELLENT, service was exceptional, and the wine was beautiful. For me, the limited edition Pinot Noir was stunning and for my wife she loved the Sauvignon Blanc. Our Cellar door host was knowledgable and passionate.
A must do if you are in the area. Thank you Palliser Estate and Staff.
Jason Walker — Google review
Enjoyed a beautiful lunch Easter Saturday at this gorgeous spot. Food amazing and the wines divine. Staff very friendly. Will definitely return one day.
Kerrie Morris — Google review
A beautiful venue and beautiful wines, but we were let down by the food and service. We waited over an hour for some mains to come out, while some of us got them immediately, which changed the whole vibe of the wine / eating experience together. Also portion sizes versus what we paid were pretty small - more like entree sizes. Had to seek service often and wait over half an hour to have our drinks order taken when we first arrived.
Melanie Guy — Google review
The setting is first class but the portions for the main are too small. This is not a $38 portion in my opinion… . (Photo). The Ravioli main is the size of an actual starter. This just feels like greed on the part of the managers. Otherwise a beautiful afternoon.
KiwiAB — Google review
Arrived planning for a quick wine tasting….. ended up staying for lunch as well, based on how the Estate responded with welcome to a simple query about a set of challenging food allergies.
The chef came out to understand the allergies and offer modification options across the menu items.
It is so rare to find a venue or chef willing to spend time to make sure she has an enjoyable experience and feels welcome to eat! Our party encourages everyone to visit and support this friendly welcoming estate.
P.S…. The wine is sublime.
Paul Maskell — Google review
This is the best wine tasting I ever had. Very friendly staffs and gave a very clear explanation about wine during a session. I ended up getting a bottle of wine back to Wellington. Who is looking for a good experience of winery, I recommend this place. Cheers🥂
Kritin — Google review
Sunset dinner experience was wonderful, food delicious, star of the show . Will be back for sure . Thank you
Michelle Hight — Google review
4.6
(218)
•
4.5
(134)
96 Kitchener Street, Martinborough 5711, New Zealand
$25 for the animals, $30 if you include the glow worm cave. A fantastic experience, the staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and it's a great chance to see native NZ owls up close. Absolutely worth the visit!
Scott Mamone — Google review
An 11 out 0f 10 experience! a must if you are ever in or passing Shannon. The glow worms are awesome and fascinating. Ross and his staff have really out done themselves A+
Korie — Google review
Exceeded expectations. I expected a small place but there was enough to do and see to occupy a few hours. Good variety of animals and perfect for families with young children
Kelvin George Thomas — Google review
It was way too expensive for what it has to offer. The guide tour is short and shows only plants and a few owls.
The picnic area was nice. There's a pony, peacocks and guinea pigs.
Felipe Forero — Google review
We are new to this area so going to owlcatraz was such a great experience was a little different to most animal attraction getting greating by staff but all in all was really good tour guides were fantastic great for the children as my nephew loved the fact he could fead the animals 👍
TeAtarangi Moore — Google review
Fantastic place with plenty to see. All the animals are friendly including the eels. Staff are amazing and do the group tours professionally and are amazing with the children.
Certainly recommend the guided tour, even with children. It is great value for money.
Psyckers DO — Google review
Amazing, friendly staff. Janette and her staff offer a fantastic opportunity of a life time which is to be able to walk through the Ruru (Morepork) enclosure with nothing between you and the magnificent birds. The Farm yard friends are so cute. Thanks again 🙂
lestine crowe — Google review
Fabulous service, wonderful people and very interesting facts and stories on the tour. Recommend!
Great museum wish I could have stayed longer very cool solution to steep hills
curtis preston — Google review
Well worth the small charge of $7 an adult, $2 child over 5. Volunteer was extremely knowledgeable. There is so much history. The Fell Locomotive is the only one left out of the six used. This is a must visit for anyone ousting through. There is also the heritage museum next door but separate identity with another door charge. It's based alot on the military camp.
AJ Wilson — Google review
Well, I had my arm twisted to visit this place today (I had no intention of going), and it ended up really interesting. The guy who showed us around's enthusiasm was infectious, and I learned a lot. Congratulations to all the people who put it together. That guy Fell was a genius.
Paddy Cooper — Google review
This place was superb. Even the staff Paul was so excellent and very accommodating, he was nice to talk too, and a story teller about this musuem.
Evy Lee — Google review
Way back more than 100 years ago. This place is superb, I really love it. Even though I don't really like history, this place and a lovely staff makes me love it. The museum is awesome. You get to see the real last fell Locomotive. Get to watch a documentary. It's very specific. They also get some fun stuff for kids😍 highly recommended. They have entrance fee but the experience is worth more than that, the staff is so friendly and amazing. They get clean toilet too. The road to the place is adventurous for me😁
Elna Baguya — Google review
Life size exhibits of both fell engine and a brake / guard's van on display allowing you to see how the extra braking as well as the extra wheels that grip the centre rail. Loco 199 served on the Rimatuka Incline from 1878 until the line closed in 1955 when the tunnel deviation was opened.
Many displays to illustrate the working life and equipment of this unique line in the world. Also many stories describing the social history both from the railwaymen as well as their women folk who lived alongside this railway. How to manage your washing on the line to avoid locomotive smoke! Or preparing to defend her children when Japanese prisoners of war were taken over the line to the POW Camp in Featherston.
Well worth its admission for entry.
David McClelland — Google review
Visited the Museum after walking the Rimutaka rail trail - cross creek towards the top. Entry was $6 and well worth it. I visited on Saturday and Malcolm was providing a very knowledgeable tour of the Fell engine and how it worked. This was very interesting.
The whole museum is packed with history and very interesting pictures and newspaper articles. I definitely learnt a lot while there.
Amazing to hear that they had to replace the break blocks every time they descended the Rimutaka incline as the break's completely wore out.
Having walked and cycled the Rimutaka track I found this very interesting.
Chris Barrow — Google review
Go visit this. You will not regret it.
It’s a great little place, top quality exhibits well presented and explained.
Only remaining Fell locomotive in the world, genuinely unique design, beautifully restored.
If you’re going to walk or bike the Rimutaka rail trail you should go here (first preferably) to see the engine sand all about the history and operation the rail link.
We had a great visit and very informative tour guide (thank you).
Child friendly/parking
Chris Neate — Google review
An excellent museum with a great tribute to some local railway history. Really want to go up and visit Cross Creek now.
Very knowledgeable staff and some toy trains to keep the kids occupied.
The only thing I'd say is that it could be laid out a bit more effectively to better tell the story.
Hamish Bell — Google review
Really enjoyable museum with attention to detail and so much information on the fascinating Fell locomotive, braking carriage, and the lives of those associated with the running of the line. The volunteer staff are amazing and we had a personal guide through the first part of the museum. Totally worth the visit if you're just passing through Featherston.
Anton Bearsley — Google review
This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for a train buff like me it was heaven. It's a small but beautifully presented museum, clearly a labour of love. It's very worth a look for anyone with an interest in trains.
Nunya Business — Google review
Exactly the kind of place that you should stumble across in small, slightly off the beaten track towns everywhere. Esoteric, one topic museum that's so niche it needs a less broad term to describe it, hugely interesting, really well laid out with loads of great things and enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. Brilliant. Pretend you haven't read this review and just wander in randomly.
Alex Hill — Google review
Very interesting museum, lots of information, easy to see the mechanism under the engine, great film to watch, wonderfully informative and helpful staff ... plus copies of Joy Cowley's "The Hero of the Hill" to buy!!! A lovely experience for the small grandchildren 🚂
Vonette Pearce — Google review
This place is a must do. It's a fascinating insight to our early settlers history and the hardship of getting produce over the Rimutaka range. The Fell locomotive and brake cars were an igeneuse method.
Well worth stopping at this fabulous cafe, cheese factory (has a viewing window), deli. Beautifully displayed store. Incredible selection of cheeses. Great coffee & menu. Cheese scones were the best we have ever eaten (& we know our scones from all over NZ). Indoor or outdoor seating. Friendly young staff were very efficient. We will certainly not be able to drive past here again!
jill jaques — Google review
If you are a cheese lover, you will definitely appreciate this shop. The gentleman who served us was very knowledgeable, understood exactly what we wanted, and delivered to us an exceptional blue cheese. Therefore i can highly recommend this shop for cheese (as well as other goodies 😋)
Phil Stanton — Google review
Delicious toasted sandwiches, a awesome range of cheese and meats. An impressive array of hot sauces and other scrumptious treats. Definitely worth a visit. Going to go back and do a beer and cheese tasting.
Melanie Reid — Google review
Brilliant selection of cheeses! Also a range of meats, pickles, jams etc. We were delighted to sample the fresh award winning Brie, made on the premises, ‘Summit Snow’. The cheese maker happily served us and was proud of the Gold medal at NZ Champion of Cheese awards. Needless to say we bought a huge wedge!
Tanisha Wardle — Google review
I didn’t think we’d ever find cheese options like you do in Europe on our trip, turns out I was going to the wrong places. We picked up some truly special finds made across the North Island. Decent coffee and lovely customer service too!
Conveniently the shop is just by the turn off to Martinborough, we grabbed enough for a platter and took it to our accommodation after picking up a bottle of red at a wine tasting that afternoon, bliss.
Annagh B — Google review
Excellent shop - wonderful selection of cheeses and and knowledgeable and helpful staff. Wish I wasn’t just visiting the area and could come more often!
EricaKhatwah — Google review
Took home their award-winning cheese and have been in cheese heaven the entire week! Also bought the Garlic Harvati too!
Eileen Lui — Google review
Great Delicatesen shop. It well worth stopping at this fabulous cafe, cheese factory and deli. It’s a creative combination of those three areas. Besides, all it’s products are beautifully displayed. Great selection of cheeses. Friendly staff. Recommended to stop here.
Ceci Arz — Google review
Worth stopping by. Kind staff, variety of cheese, and great idea of display. Love it❤️🧀🧀
Elna Baguya — Google review
Located at the southern end of Featherston in the Wairarapa. An excellent range of cheeses with many made in this region. Cheese made from goat and sheep milk are available. The shop also stocks a range of other items such as crackers, spices and salami. This is a hidden gem for cheese lovers.
Julia Hennessy — Google review
Great selection of cheese and a flawless flat white. Excellent expression of a warm and full chocolately roast, no trace of flaws from over or under extraction. Well worth a visit.
Matt Salmons — Google review
The perfect blend of coffee, deli and decor. The staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. It's worth stopping on any trip through the Wairarapa.
The photos are a continuation of my focus on lights at the moment. I love the details.
Greg Bodnar — Google review
A great little shop with so many amazing cheeses to choose from.
Very welcomed advice and recommendations from fantastic and friendly staff.
This is a must visit spot for any cheese lover for sure!
Thank you for our introduction to the north island.
Tommy Du Toit — Google review
4.7
(368)
•
5.0
(62)
19 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston 5710, New Zealand
Cast-iron lighthouse built in 1897, reached by climbing 258 steps to a cliff, with seals nearby.
Such a beautiful place. Good walk on about 200 or so stairs. Lighthouse and it’s environment kept clean - thank you to those who have gone before me and kept it clean. Beautiful views of the ocean and if you’re lucky like I was… saw some magnificent seals living their best life sun bathing….. Word of advice - take your time going up the stairs and even take some lunch or snacks to eat when you are up there.
Toakase Misa — Google review
awesome place. you can see so many seals there, it's a fanatic experience.
It's next to the street and there is also a parking lot. amazing view, i would really recommend going there. also the landscape in this area is just stunning. Next to it is another viewing place for the seal colony's
Philipp Binder — Google review
Very special place with stunning views. A steep and narrow stairway that is definitely a challenge - but the views are well worth it. Road is rough and narrow, so drive slowly and with care. Hopefully you will also sea seals on the rocks along the side of the road.
EricaKhatwah — Google review
We had a great day out to see the lighthouse. There are about 250 stairs to get up to it. They are nice and easy steps. There were great views once you're at the top. We packed lunch and had a picnic by the sea as well. Don't forget to stop in and see the seal colony about 3 minutes down the road.
Amba Quirk — Google review
Fantastic spot. Wild scenic drive with plenty to see along the way. Nice stair climb to stretch your legs. Plenty of parking and prone to severe weather.
M N Scott — Google review
Great place to visit with friends and family. Kids are bound to enjoy the experience as it offers great views and Fur seal in their natural habitat as well. The drive to the location is filled with great scenery too. Must visit.
Shiiva R Sharma — Google review
I recently visited the Cape Palliser Lighthouse, and I must say, it was a truly remarkable experience. The rugged beauty of the coastline combined with the historical significance of the lighthouse made it a memorable trip. The panoramic views from the top were breathtaking, and the sense of history around every corner was captivating. I'm giving it four stars because, while it's definitely worth a visit, there were some areas that could benefit from a bit more maintenance. Overall, a must-see destination for nature and history enthusiasts.
Andrag Apps — Google review
Very beautiful and serene place. A lot of good place to camp and we enjoyed watching the stars at night. The lighthouse has 250 steps and has good views from the top. We haven’t seen any seals the day we visited but maybe next time they’ll show up.
Yna DC — Google review
Worth the scenic drive out to experience this bit of rugged New Zealand coastline. Just check conditions before heading out, especially the winds. Very cool spot in the Wairarapa.
Robert Brienza — Google review
Amazing views from the top! Stairs are a bit of a workout (253 steps) but the views are most definitely worth the climb. There's a large car parking area and a clean public toilet. There is a seal colony nearby and although not recommended you can get quite close to them.
Jules Whiteman — Google review
Wild bit of coast, and end of the road for motor vehicles, though cyclists on offroad capable bikes and walkers can carry on around the coast. Good climb up to the lighthouse but worth it. Cellphone coverage from the top for Spark network, other providers might not work beyond emergency calls.
Sean Duggan — Google review
Worth the 7 km drive past Ngawi. The last 3 Km of the road is not sealed but in fairly good condition. Not suitable for motorhomes and caravans as a bit narrow and bendy in places. Great bike ride with the seal colony on the way. Then use the rest of your energy on the 250 stairs up to the lighthouse. Brilliant worth it for the views.
Janet Weston — Google review
Would recommend the drive, which can be done in any vehicle. It is very beautiful scenery with sees of different shades of blue, some seals/see lions and a beautiful lighthouse that can be visited
Juan Felipe Rodríguez López — Google review
Cape Palliser is a popular tourist destination located in the southern part of the North Island of New Zealand. It is known for its picturesque lighthouse, stunning coastline, and unique rock formations. The area is also famous for its resident fur seal colony which can often be seen lounging on the rocks near the cape. Cape Palliser is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, offering opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching. It is a remote and ruggedly beautiful spot that attracts visitors looking to experience the natural beauty of New Zealand.
devabrat bindhani — Google review
Woah so cool! Short walk up (but intense as a lot of stairs) and wow SO many seals. You can just stand close to the water and see hundreds of seals just chilling. Very cool!! And such interesting landscape and new plants. Looks surprisingly desert like.
Petra Riddell — Google review
Such a beautiful and powerful place! Be aware that rode who lead to the lighthouse a little broken and very narrow with strong wind so please take your time and enjoy the scenery and yes the stairs are totally worth it but no entry to the lighthouse of course
Meir Cohen — Google review
A very nice place without around 25x steps, you can get to the top.
It’s not as bad as it seams to bed
There’s also a side area mid-way to take a breath.
I’d rate it as relevant for kids as well.
Ahmed Elsawaf — Google review
Embarking on this adventure proved to be an memorable experience! The journey was marked by a scenic walk that unfolded with some seals along the shore at every turn. A fortuitous stroke of serendipity was the gentle sometimes heavy breeze that accompanied us, offering a much-needed respite as we ascended the formidable challenge of over 200 steps. Reaching the summit, we were rewarded with a panorama that was nothing short of stunning, a testament to the effort invested in the climb. This experience is a must for those seeking to combine a bit of physical exertion with the reward of spectacular views.
Harley Fullerton-smith (Crazy Kiwi Vlog) — Google review
Cape palliiser is the southest place in north island, you can see South Island mountains in clear weather. Climb the wood stairs on the top, view is absolutely gorgeous. On the beach, there is always many seals lay on the rocks sleep.
Jackie Shang — Google review
4.8
(1096)
•
4.5
(218)
Cape Palliser 5772, New Zealand
I'll never travel to Paraparaumu without this trip planner again
An excellent facility, with so much for kids of all ages.
A train ride on weekends. All sorts of play equipment, a great flying fox, an obstacle course, excellent toilets, and an indoor dining/kitchen area offering boiling water, a microwave and sink.
My 8 year old played happily for over an hour!
Susan Nicholson — Google review
Had a nice day out at this park. It is good for both children and adults. There are multiple playgrounds for the kids to play on and even an adult outside gym area. You can also go for a nice stroll.
aimee rudkin — Google review
Have my coffee truck at the park have been here for ten and half years just love it beautiful people and love seeing the kids so happy playing at the park has the best cleaning toilets in town thank u Faye u keep them spotless
Raewyn Woodley — Google review
Great facilities. Great play ground. Not the first time I had been there. Great location too with good parking. Last time there, I ran in to some young people scaring a couple of elderly people who were there to use the lavatory
I need to pick up after themselves in the dog area. In fact it was disappointing and disgusting and I couldn’t bear to let my dog stay in their for longer than I did.
JEMK o Whanganui — Google review
An awesome place to get some fresh air while kids enjoy the amenities! So much great things to do in here. 😊
Josephine Lucas De Guzman — Google review
This park is great and 1 of the best I have been to over NZ. Caters for all ages and great to see a swing for wheelchairs and catering for the not as mobile children. And is kept well maintained and clean. Clean toilets and has change areas for children. 👍 to the council for a great park for everyone. More councils need parks like this.
Suzz 79 — Google review
It's awesome, you can see that this Park is the reason so many of the newer parks, have what they do.
It's like the Parent playground.
Lots to do.
Reuben HUATA-BIRCH — Google review
A really great park! Has lots of facilities that caters for all. It's got a dog exercise area for the four-legged. The playground has different segments and each caters to a difference age group.
It even has an indoor picnic area (an indoor room for people to stop and have a meal) which contains a microwave to hest your food!
Bathrooms are great too, as it caters for families. There's a family bathroom that has a baby change table.
No wonder we always stop by this park whenever we drive past Levin!
Ian Lim — Google review
Great place to stop for a stretch and play time for the kids. Some good equipment and we'll spread out through a beautiful park.
Simon Lawler — Google review
Loved it the mokos were playing the whole time they even have adult exercise machines had a try na too hard there is free BBQ to use as well as a indoor place you can use excellent place to go to would recommend to any one to stop in
Mary Hati — Google review
The biggest public playground we have ever seen!!! 😍
The highlight for me was the colorful rainbow-themed equipment which added a fun and cheerful touch to the entire area.
The playground was well-maintained and had a variety of equipment suitable for children of different ages. even it has a workout area for adults and a dog's playground too.
Overall, I would highly recommend this playground to anyone looking for a fun and inclusive activity. It's a great spot for families and friends to spend some quality time together in a vibrant and playful environment.
Fateme Vojdani — Google review
Sadly I have never been into the park with or as a child but I do look at with envy. It looks like kids would have a fantastic time there.
What I can confirm is that the toilets are always clean & have a feeling of safety & that is why I stop at this park, when on my travels.
There is plenty of parking & lovely gardens. Everything is maintained to a high level. If you have a dog there is also a small area to let your dog off for a toilet break. I really appreciate this space offering facilities for everyone & how clean it is.
Bernadette Staal — Google review
Amazing playground that we stopped off at on the way to Auckland. There’s a dog park, picnic tables, shade and sunny areas. There are different areas for smaller as well as bigger kids. If you read ‘adventure park’ you might think there’s a fee ->> it’s a free, public playground! Yeah! Definitively recommend!
Sabine Plugers — Google review
Awesome park for both kids and adults. So many different options. Best park and playground in Levin. The adventure park has multiple playgrounds, basketball court, beach volleyball, slides, flying fox, spider web, multiple swinging sets, big kids playground and little kids playground, wooden train, skate park, sandpit, disability/wheelchair swing and even a little train that you can ride for free on sunny days. Theres public toilets and a room to eat and relax in. Oh and theres a dog rest area and play course! This park has everything. Would recommend.
I've just spent the weekend at The Hut. It's amazing, so well appointed, the view is spectacular and it's so tranquil. Just what I needed. Thank you for sharing your farm with us. I also have and adore your blankets. x
vanessa munro — Google review
I attended a beginner's wool spinning class recently. The venue was clean, with well-equipped kitchen area, and plenty of working space. Separate toilets were spotless with innovative use of solar power for lighting.
Janet Stephen — Google review
Thank you Kurt and Lisa for your amazing hospitality! We love your products they are stunning. The farm is picturesque and wow the Hut is 5* accommodation! Highly recommend a visit.
Emma Oliver — Google review
Great venue, great tutor, yummy afternoon tea, highly recommend natural yarn dyeing class. I'm shattered but buzzing.
Erin Beals — Google review
if you want to see a picture postcard working farm then Palliser is worth a visit Lots of innovation and smart thinking here against a backdrop of strong environmental stewardship.. A farm for the future
It gave me cancer too. I highly recommend it theirs so many poos and its pretty yummy
Darryl Paxton — Google review
Absolutely disgusting, was really disappointed when I took my hubby there to show him where we as kids use to go for family day outs and picnics. Bins overflowing, the lake polluted and over grown with weed.
Really disappointing
Annette Williams — Google review
I thought it was great, huge lake, looked after, lots of bins at the park, I counted 13 of them in one field lol but great either eay
Alastair Thornton — Google review
Beautiful lake but very polluted by stormwater and sewage discharges. Current cleanup efforts are expensive and ineffective because discharges continue.
Linda Thornton — Google review
Not at all an attractive place to visit. Not well maintained like it used to be.I found it saddened me.
Sue Tidman — Google review
Could be a great asset to the region and tourism. But the potential of this wonderful asset is yet to be utilised by the local council and its community. We enjoyed the sunny day and feeding the Geese.
Graeme Wooller — Google review
Its a shame its polluted :( We really need to clean up the world and lakeflys swarming it
Glenys Gimblett — Google review
Nice place to go and relax, have a pizza and chill out .Needs to have a coffee cart with cold drink options here to attract the punters.
Peter Sharp — Google review
It stinks!! You wouldn't want to have a picnic there. Birds need to be culled or rehomed.
Lynn Day — Google review
3.3
(22)
•
3.0
(30)
Manawatū-Whanganui 5571, New Zealand
15
Upper Hutt
Sights & Landmarks
Parks
Scenic Walking Areas
Bodies of Water
4.5
(57)
Wellington, New Zealand
I'll never travel to Paraparaumu without this trip planner again
Staglands Wildlife Reserve & Café is an open-air animal farm and petting zoo that offers visitors the opportunity to interact with wildlife in a natural environment. The reserve features tractor rides, feeding areas, and a rustic log cafe for refreshments. It's an ideal outing for adults and children alike. While exploring the park, guests can choose to stay on the walking path or venture down by the stream where they can cross over a wooden log or suspension bridge.
This place is an absolute sanctuary! We went as a group of young adults and had a magical experience. The animals are very friendly and you can pat A LOT of them! They all seemed happy and healthy. Would recommend buying the animal feed for the most animal interaction. We went early on a Saturday before it got busy which was nice as we didn’t have to wait for anything. A really lovely escape from the city.
Alice Nixon — Google review
Such a great outing for both adults and kids. I’d recommend buying a bag of animal food, we didn’t and regretted it.
The park is nicely sized, not too small but also not too big. You can stay on the walking path or you can walk down by the beautiful stream and cross it over a wooden log. Above it is a pretty cool suspension bridge.
The cafe was fine, not the best food or coffee but it did the trick. Service was kind and relatively quick even though it was a busy day, and employees were very kind.
Kevin Nass — Google review
Absolutely brilliant family experience. So beautifully set out, so much for the kids to see and do plus animals and birds to interact with. Added bonus, as a coeliac, was delighted to find such a great range of safe, gluten free food. I am used to making do with a coffee while watching everyone else eat at these kinds of places so am really impressed and would highly recommend.
Stephanie, Ross McKellar — Google review
Staglands is a place to visit if you have toddlers who are really into animals, as they can feed the animals there with the feeds you buy at the ticket office. It was an intimate experience with the animals as you can feed and pat most of them up close!
Unfortunately we didn't get to ride the tractor ride and eat the marshmallows as it wasn't available when we were there. But we had a good picnic outside their cafe and our toddlers enjoyed it thoroughly! They knocked out in the car on the way down the windy road.
Pete Ong — Google review
Staglands is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Greater Wellington Region. It is a quaint farm themed Wildlife Reserve located in Upper Hutt’s Akatarawa Valley. It is a very exciting environment sure to be loved by the young children. The animals are quite friendly, some can be too friendly and over excited about the food you can give to the animals. The animal food and trout food costs extra. I’ve been going there a very long time, and have never been disappointed. I do think however that there should be more staff around to keep an eye on some of the guests who get too excited around animals, or have little knowledge on how to behave around animals, especially families with little children. The cafe is excellent and the food is very yummy, it can take a while for the food to come out however. As long as you behave around the animals and don’t lose your head around them, your more than welcome, and are sure to have a great time!
DOTT The Movie — Google review
What an amazing place even in the pouring rain! The animal,fish and bird life are a delight. So well thought out and beautifully set out around numerous ponds, waterfalls and the river running through the property.
Sue Nielsen — Google review
Awesome place to visit with kids and family.
Import notes:
- drive to and from can be quite tight.
- can be a wait for the cafe for food
- wear comfortable shoes as there is loose gravel and inclines
- tractor runs 11am-2pm in 15 minutes intervals,
- Buy feeding food.
Free roaming miniature pigs running around the front, Awesome for kids to touch and feed
Malcolm C — Google review
We had such a lovely time there! Our 3 year old son absolutely loved feeding and interacting with the animals and learning about new animals that he hasn't seen before. The food at the cafe was delicious and staff were super friendly and helpful! Happy 50th anniversary Staglands! Keep up the amazing work!
Tania Du Toit — Google review
Very pleasant path through the park. Kids loved feeding and interacting with the animals. The cafe was honestly delicious and wasn’t crazy expensive. I’d come back just for lunch. We’ve been to a number of wildlife parks around the world and the deer area here with dozens of peacocks up and down the hill was completely unique.
Tim Krug — Google review
Beautiful animal park in a lovely bush setting. Lots of birds with free roaming peacocks, pheasants and chickens, often with babies. Lots of enclosures and aviaries you can go into to get up close and personal with the wildlife. The cockatoo is very friendly and will say hello, the kea are also friendly but more so on days where it's not so busy. The birds especially seem very well cared for. There are also kunekune and other pigs. They had tiny piglets when we were there, who weren't afraid to be stroked if you were slow and quiet with them. The Guinea pigs were naturally skittish, but cute. There is space to sit in their enclosure, if you're quiet and have food, they'll come to you after a while.
I was a little concerned for the cattle and horses - the young Galloway and two Highlands had rather small enclosures, along with the Clydesdale and small pony. Great for the public to access them but not healthy for such large animals who should have been in paddocks.
There is a Cafe there which we didn't visit. You can by small bags of food pellets for the animals, but we took a large bag of carrots for the big animals and some peanuts in shells for the birds, and the animals loved them. We probably spent about the same amount as we would have on their bagged pellets, but got far better value buying the fresh food. The animals aren't interested in you if you don't have food.
Its a great place for families, but there are quite a few hazards with the river and ponds (never mind the animals!) so children need to be well supervised.
Leah Cameron — Google review
Exceptional! This place is incredible! Great drive out through dense bush and running streams. The picturesque idealic setting was mesmerizing. The park is well kept and immaculately presented. Cafe was great and served up good coffee and beef stew. Our two young kids had a ball of a time, so much to see and explore. The tractor ride was a nice and fun addition. We picked the perfect day to visit, bluebird day with little to no wind. If anything they could do with some outdoor gas heaters around the outside Cafe which would top it off as the place got cold when the sun went over the hills in the afternoon. The cafe spacing does overflow to the outside arrangment when busy which did make it a cold wait for our meal outside. Otherwise an awesome place which I totally recommend.
Paul Glucina — Google review
Great place to get in touch with animals, we had a great time here, and we were lucky to be here in Spring with all the Baby goats and lamb!
The only downside was the wifi login page was difficult to use due to its colouring and the receptionist was a bit grumpy 🤣
Cabnolen Moon — Google review
What an awesome beautiful place to have in Wellington to take kids, it was really nice to walk around and see all different farm animals they have and all the birds as well. The trout was cool to see so up close swimming around, they also have a awesome horse here. The Tractor ride was great ride it added some fun for the kids. also think the price of getting in is very fair, I know some people think it’s bit high but think how much it must cost look after all the animals here, the cafe here has very friendly staff that gives very good service, food is good and they sell beer and wine.
Kyriakos George — Google review
Fabulous, took our grandsons and they loved it. Animals in excellent conditions all well looked after, loved every part of it. The old town was great. The food was very good and well priced. Really felt we got great value for money. Doesn't have a shop, which is a good thing.
Mark Hay — Google review
A fun time for the little ones. It's well maintained, and generally clean. A pretty place for a stroll, and the tracker rides are a bonus. However some of the animals look like they could use some extra love. It's also very expensive for entry, and on a busy day you're limited to one food bag (which can be a pickle with multiple young kids).
Mixed bag, but we tend to go once or twice a year.
Kent & Kristy Harris — Google review
Not only is Staglands a gorgeous wildlife park, they also do weddings! Staglands was our wedding venue last month and they did not disappoint. The photos and memories we captured here will last a lifetime. The staff, especially Gemma and Sarah, go above and beyond to make your day special. Thank you all so very much!
Nicole Paul — Google review
The best-kept secret in Wellington! Perfect for all ages. We were the last people to enter there on a beautiful sunny afternoon. There was no one but us and the mesmerizing peacocks 🦚 and other animals. A day well spent and something to be treasured! The road to Staglands is winding. Drive with caution and at a safe speed.
Roman Mortuza — Google review
A great place in the middle of nowhere. You wouldn’t find even a small shop anywhere near the place.
It’s a good place especially for the kids to come and watch the birds and animals in the wild life reserve.
The best thing is that we can go touch and feed the animals like deer, sheep, peacock and other birds.
A great place to pack food and snacks and have a small picnic with friends and family.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
My daughter had a lovely birthday party at Staglands over the weekend- super easy with the party food, loot bags, entry, and animal food all included in the package (plus the guests all got free admission passes to visit again). The kids loved the animals, especially Jock the horse, the friendly little calf, and the extra cuddly sheep in the deer enclosure. It was raining, but there was still plenty of fun to be had! The tractor ride was a highlight. The staff were great, and all the party guests had a wonderful time. Such a beautiful reserve. Highly recommend for kids parties.
Char Blake — Google review
4.7
(1906)
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4.5
(659)
2362 Akatarawa Road, Akatarawa Valley, Upper Hutt 5372, New Zealand
Absolutely incredible nature walk. Its almost like walking back in time! Place is thriving with wild life that you can get very up close with. Great staff. Highly recommend everyone in the Wellington region to come out and see this magnificent place!
j dyhrberg — Google review
Very enjoyable - we spent 3 hours walking around and listening to bird song. We missed bird feeding but saw eel feeding which was fascinating and informative.
Anna Serci-Taylor — Google review
Nice little bushy area just a few minutes drive north of Waikanae. If your looking for a big of nature it is nice and well maintained especially the old track loop through the forest. There are a lot of birds to be heard. There are a few averies near the start with quite a few Tutara. A lot of ducks and lawns for a good picnic area. Friendly welcoming staff.
James Thompson — Google review
Beautiful land, Forestry and wild life. A must do, and must do again. The ducks were great. Definitely my high light
Shaun Goggin — Google review
Amazing place and the guided tour was well worth it, good place to hear a whio!
Matthew Poucher — Google review
My 6 yr old and I went twice this week. We had a lovely relaxed time. It has lots of shady areas for beautiful sunny days. Staff are friendly and informative. My son loved being able to feed the eels.
Dawn Brown — Google review
What a gem! It's small and off the beaten track, so I'm so glad my accommodation had brochures. I reserved for the native bird close encounter online that night and was greeted by name when I arrived a bit after opening time the following day. It hadn't been clear what time the tour would start, but that worked out OK, as I had time to view the closer-in exhibits before it started at 11:00. Robyn took our small group (just six of us) through three aviaries and we got to see kākāriki, one kākā, blue ducks, and one kea up close and personal. As a parrot lover, I was in heaven and I felt it was well worth the extra price, especially as it goes to a good cause. Afterwards, I had a walk around the reserve, which took about half an hour. There are wide, well-maintained paths, with only the trail to the lookout handicapped-inaccessible. I saw heaps of birds: a silvereye, many tūī, kererū, and a fantail just as I was leaving.
Just to add a comment to explain my wait to get in: a large family group was ahead of me and it sounded like they were attempting to redeem a credit. Anyway, that was what slowed my entry, but otherwise the place was uncrowded and my own entry (I had prepaid) was uncomplicated.
Julia Schiller — Google review
Wonderful spot for seeing NZ birds and a Kiwi exhibit experience as well.
Terrific staff!! Truly friendly, knowledgeable and just plain wonderful.
Highly recommend visiting here and spending some time with the 'winged' locals!
S McLane — Google review
Lots to find and see. Safe environment and clear clean paths and walkways. Duck feeding for the kids, friendly knowledgeable staff.
Stayed the night and got to free roam. Lots of lovely birds to find and hear.
Matthew T — Google review
An amazing sympathetically done nature reserve. The animals are rescued and whilst there aren't too many in cages the surrounding wild life is astounding. Be sure to do the larger bush walk as the flora and fauna are fantastic. A wonderful place to spend some relax time or bring your family for an educational day out.
Judy Dunkley — Google review
We visited Nga Manu on Easter weekend, they put on a rock hunt for the kids which we all really enjoyed. They also had face painting, lawn games and a bbq going for the weekend too. We enjoyed it alot, did lots of exploring, i had no idea they had so many animals and birds there to see! Next time we may just take a picnic and enjoy the surroundings. Beautiful, will definitely be back.
Courtney Kendall — Google review
Always a lovely spot to visit. Lovely 😍 staff. Beautiful bush walk.
Rebecca Giles — Google review
This place is well worth a visit! An extremely affordable family day out - half the price of the zoo, Staglands, Zealandia... Bring a packed lunch and have a picnic! The kids absolutely loved it when a bird landed on my shoulder! The staff are friendly and helpful too!
Nic Page — Google review
This was a low key, relaxing place for a hour or two. The ducks are persistent 😂. Kiwis were not visible for us but we saw eel feeding, tuatara and other lizards.
Shirley Wilson — Google review
Lovely setting, very well presented. Great to see so many tuatara. The ducks were super friendly, loved to eat out of my hand and some enjoyed a cuddle to boot.
Karyn Brown — Google review
4.6
(669)
•
4.5
(142)
74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae, Wellington 5391, New Zealand
Small area for parking, however, a beach that is generally not overly crowded.
Noel J — Google review
Cool expansive long sandy Beach. Lots of cars come and drive on to their spots. Has good waves for bodyboarding. Really clean looking feeling sand/water. This may be one of the windier places, however, when we came here it was refreshing to have some breeze due to the heat. Not too busy and a good spot overall!
holly Coombes — Google review
The beach worked well, the sand was dry and the water was wet, so just perfect really.
Daniel Turley — Google review
One of the best beaches in New Zealand!!!
Karl Wootton — Google review
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023... PEKAPEKA (FRENCH BULLDOG NAME) VISITS PEKAPEKA BEACH... 1 JAN SUNRISE... AWESOME DAY...VERY POLITE DOG WALKERS AND FISHMAN
Permaculture Kiwi — Google review
Love this and Waikanae Beach. If you like your landscapes wide open and epic this is the place for you! Great spot to contemplate your place in the universe, or just go for a walk or a swim! 🤗🚶🏃🚣♀️🏊🏄♀️💝💖
A R H J — Google review
Good beach for dog walking and evening walk
Bikalpa Poudel — Google review
Another great long and public access beach close to Wellington CBD and Waikanei only 10 min drive South. The CBD is about 45 min drive off peak so reasonably close. Fishing from this beach is great but you will need to walk out to hip level to cast. My usual catch is mullet, snapper, gurnet, plenty of small sharks and Ray's. The beach is awesome and most days has few people less the weekends. If swimming at Pekpeka you should have good ocean swimming skills and understand rips and weather patterns
Graeme Wooller — Google review
One of the nicest beaches in our area. I love swimming here in summer
The Southward Car Museum is home to a vast collection of vintage cars and motorcycles, including Bugattis, Bentleys, and other notable vehicles. Due to the pandemic, there were fewer visitors when I went, which allowed me to explore at my leisure. The museum staff were friendly and helpful. While the selection of food at the cafe was limited due to low foot traffic, there are still plenty of treasures to be discovered in the basement and throughout the three-hour visit recommended for a comprehensive experience.
Pretty much had the place to myself thanks mostly to the pandemic. Massive selection of vintage cars and bikes displayed. Recommend allowing a go couple of hours as so much to take in. Was disappointed with selection of food on offer at the café but probably due to lack of foot traffic. Staff were very friendly and helpful ✅ also don’t forget to check out the vehicles down in the basement…
Tony Kelly — Google review
Loved our time here! It was such a treat to come up on as we weren't planning on coming here however it just happened to be on a sign and we'd thought we would check it out. Not disappointed at all! You've got the basement and main floor with the cars and up the stairs with all the bikes. An awesome variety of vehicles. Plus huge amount of parking and no need to book admission in advance! Would recommend to check it out 😊
Elizabeth E — Google review
A visit Not to be missed. Allow at least 3 hours to give it a fair go.
Some absolute gems to be seen. Amazing collection. There are cars in here that most people NEVER see in their entire lifetime. To be fair, I've only posted general photos of the collection. These classic cars need to be seen in person.
Les — Google review
Huge collection of cars from all around the world and across time. From Japanese legends of the 90s to the futuristic vision of the Swinging 20s. Also includes a collection of motorcycles and bikes. Each display has an accompanying plaque that gives info on the history and facts of the car model, and/or the history of the particular one on display. Could spend all day reading if I wanted to! Entry $21 for an adult.
Timothy L — Google review
Superb collection of cars. Great little stroll around some historic old classics. Some great NZ motoring history in here as well.
Skip Parker (Urbankiwi) — Google review
What a lovely place to spend an hr or 3 depending of your love of cars. So much kiwi history and stories tied up with some of these beautiful cars. Would love to come back for a concert. Lots of parking and a,wee coffee gift shop. Lovely staff too
Sharyn — Google review
Attended the Bruce Springsteen Tribute evening. Absolutely Amazing. The band had incredible energy and such fun! Glad I had the opportunity to be there.
Heather Rayner — Google review
Absolute gem of a place even if not a car enthusiast. Everyone loves it. From Marlene Dietrich Daimler to The Delorean from Back to The Future. Stunning collection and very informative... Take the family
Maria Shadbolt — Google review
Best museum of vintage cars, motorcycles, boats, and Aircrafts. We enjoyed the place very well. We went through the history of vehicles. Every item is described very well on their description boards. If there are minors, it will be a good experience for them. And there is a waiting lounge, toilet, and cafes with snacks and coffee. And wide parking space. And there is an entry fee. For the family, they charged 47$. Recommended place.
Phinni Kurian (PK) — Google review
An incredible collection of cars and motorcycles, showing a history of automobiles in new Zealand and around the world
ankur mishra — Google review
Went to the Coffee and Cars meet up. Some nice rides there. Been going to the museum since I was little, have always enjoyed waking around and admiring the collection.
Emma May — Google review
Kind of disappointed. I remember a lot more muscle cars, but seems to focus on much older vintage cars with many very similar models. It was interesting to go down stairs and see all the boring cars from my youth! Great parking though. Fairly expensive admission.
Mike H — Google review
A world class gem in Wellington, such an amazing and diverse collection of NZ and world automotive history... and they keep adding to it
Peter Torr Smith — Google review
Really cool to see all the old and interesting vehicles of the past... highly recommended to view
Sharon LAMMAS — Google review
Amazing place, so much history. Family loved it, we'll be back
Nick Perkins — Google review
We love going to Southwards car Museum. Especially coffee and cars. The museum itself is also very cool .
Angela Walker — Google review
Be prepared... This amazing space is going to take your breath away.
History on show, written storylines and explanations with every display.
Too few auto enthusiasts have ever assembled such a display to capture your attention and then to hold it with display after display.
Please don’t assume that you can appreciate it all in one day, but you will leave with a true appreciation for 1 man's dream coming to life.
Ian Darby — Google review
This is an amazing display of vintage cars, motorbikes, and other memorabilia. I have been to the Mercedes and Porsche car museums in Stuttgart, and this is equally as good as those. You will easily spend a couple of hours meandering through the perfectly presented displays admiring the cars of your youth. If you're old enough, you may even spot your first few cars. I can't wait to go again, three floors are too much to cover properly in one visit. It's just simply a fantastic venue, a must to go and see. You might be surprised by what else they do to.
Paul Costelloe — Google review
4.7
(1558)
•
4.5
(439)
Otaihanga Road, Otaihanga, Paraparaumu 5036, New Zealand
Paraparaumu Beach is a coastal settlement on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located west of the main Paraparaumu township, 50 km north of Wellington. The area faces Kapiti Island. Wikipedia.
4.5
(109)
Paraparaumu 5032, New Zealand
I'll never travel to Paraparaumu without this trip planner again
I Love this beach! It is about a 50-minute drive from Wellington City. Walking from one end to the other which takes about 1 hour. The sunsets are beautiful. And the scenery reflected on the surface of the water is also very beautiful. Most of the time you get views of the top of the South Island.
Chico Box — Google review
Great beach to spend time at. Lovely swimming spots and rockpools to observe marine life.
Linda Cutche — Google review
You can not beat wellington on a good day. That saying also brings true for Plimmmerton Beach.
The beach itself is massive and has plenty of spots for everyone, so it is hard to feel crowded. The sand is flat and warm, which makes it perfect for taking off your jandals or sandals.
The water is always warm, which makes it a delight to slowly wade into after catching some runs on shore.
Top all of that off with picturesque views over the harbour, and you have a perfect spot for a day of sun and sand.
Highly recommend to anyone in the wellington area to check out this prime spot
Daniel Fletcher — Google review
Cool spot all year around. Dog loves it (south end only) as well as the kids. Safe beach for swimming and windsurfing. Lots of cool shells at the southern end as well as a historic machine gun post. Toilets and car parking available too.
M N Scott — Google review
Originally a small seaside resort, Plimmerton was named after the so-called "Father of Wellington", John Plimmer, also immortalised as a statute with his dog at the foot of 'Plimmer Steps' in the city. Now it's a sought-after suburb & one of our happy places for summertime visits thanks to some beautiful swimming holes & rockpools, friendly community, quirky seaside houses & marina lifestyle.
The Wellington Zoo offers visitors a chance to see different types of animals up close and learn about their conservation efforts. It is also a great place for children to explore, as many of the enclosures are large and well-maintained.
A delightful Zoo with lots to see and do for small kids and big ones too. Lovely restaurant Rex with good choice of healthy food. Can see the zoo is well loved by staff too. Even if it’s blowing a northerly. Still well sheltered. Wheelchair and stroller accessible
A Bahrij — Google review
They don't have Elephants and Rhinoceros. But what they have there are all well kept, big spaces for animals, clean areas and tried to keep them as in their natural environment as possible. I think it's not so friendly with people with wheelchair though. They were building place for Snow leopard, will definitely go back to see snow leopard.
Suraj Giri — Google review
Had a great time exploring the zoo. Went on a weekday and it wasn’t crowded. So we could walk around at our leisure.
Nice cafe at the front too.
Highly recommend purchasing an experience online - but make sure you do in advance as many book out quickly.
Mum gifted me a Lemur experience which was wonderful - four people can meet the two lemurs in their enclosure. The Guide was lovely and spoke so fondly about the Lemur.
Kim Hollis — Google review
Amazing spent 4 hours could have spent. More time but because of parking. All the animals were out so was great to see the old lady who is a volunteer was amazing very informative and let us know of times they were feeding etc great day out
Nicole Satherley — Google review
The staff I have met during the few times I have gone have been friendly and knowledgeable. The animals seem to be under good care, and the path throughout the zoo is intuitive. Maps are provided. The animals are often active, and the times I have gone I have been able to see the kiwis. If you are planning to get food from the cafe be prepared to pay quite a bit. I recommend packing your own lunch.
Samantha Hart — Google review
Had a lovely visit, second time coming. Absolutely go in the morning… went late afternoon and a lot of animals were asleep or hiding. (Previously went in the morning and had a lot more fun!)
Staff helpful with questions and zoo has a nice layout, plenty of educational posters and cool stuff. Gift shop nice, haven’t tried the food but heard good things about it (aside from tourist prices)
If you want to do a close encounter, BOOK IN ADVANCE or you will miss out!
Mlem Art — Google review
My friend and I visited the Zoo while we were in Wellington, and we had a pretty good time. We saw the kiwis, plenty of lizards and primates, giraffes, and tigers. I thought the spiders were fascinating, too.
It was pretty busy when we went, but we could still get tickets quickly at the door for a fair price. All the staff members we interacted with were friendly and polite.
I want to come back on a quieter day and spend a bit more time in each of the exhibits here. It was school holidays when we visited, and some of the groups passing through were a bit obnoxious, pushy and noisy (which isn't the Zoo's fault at all; it's just what happens at that time of year, so definitely plan the day there accordingly).
We circled back to the kiwis at the end of our visit when it was quieter since a few noisy groups passed through and frightened the kiwis when we were there the first time around. We were lucky enough to spot one pottering about after waiting patiently and quietly for a little while. I'd recommend visiting the zoo this way if you have the time to.
Caitlin Savins — Google review
Took my children to Wellington zoo for the first time. Great service, they all got a map and the extent of the zoo is limitless. Bug city, giraffes, penguins, monkeys, birds, bears and many seating areas, picnic tables and interactive play options for children of all ages. A great place to spend an entire day with the family.
Rhiannon Blewett — Google review
We had a wonderful day at the zoo. It was a little bit rainy but i guess it kept the school holiday crowds away. We were greeted by the gibbons morning call which was awesome to see. All of the staff were wonderful especially keeper Jacob that we saw at multiple keeper talks through out the day. The enclosures were well maintained and designed. The signage was amazing and really showed how much they value all of the animals welfare.
Jessica Grant — Google review
It’s a lovely zoo with loads of animals to visit. It’s a shame that we didn’t know about the animal encounter earlier, we wish so badly to pet the meerkats. With patients and absolute quietness we were able to spot the kiwi birds. Lovely place with children and caring parents around. Appreciated the guide at the chimpanzee area. She’s so knowledgeable. Thank you for the information ❤️
Clairine Chan — Google review
Great little zoo in the heart of Wellington. Visited midweek and really enjoyed the meet the meerkat’s experience. The zoo keepers are so knowledgeable and passionate about the animals. Would highly recommend getting the yearly pass.
Laura Heyes — Google review
I got to see so many cool animals here. I posted photos of the cool ones, especially the hugging Lemurs! Although it did make me a little bit sad to think that they are not in their original habitat, I do believe that they are well looked after by the zookeepers, carers, and vets. It's still such a beautiful place. You also get a nice view of Wellington just outside the Lion's den.
Speaking of the Lion, it was a thrilling experience to hear it roar. Initially, from a distance, it didn't sound real, but why would it be fake in the first place, right?? Lol. It was amazing!!
Super friendly staff and the whole place is a nice place to visit with the whole family 😇
Sunshine Elazegui — Google review
Absolutely amazing! Well worth it. Easy bus ride out of the city and stop straight out the front. Such a lovely day out. Animals easy to see and the keepers are extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. I think this is my favourite zoo ever to visit and I've been to a few zoo's. Small compared to some of Australian zoo's but so much nicer and far less crowded.
Elizabeth — Google review
This zoo is amazing with so many different animals I think i prefer this one over Auckland zoo or Hamilton zoo here they have lions, otter and even a sunbear.
My son loved patting the sheep and I enjoyed patting the kangaroo. We went on a quite Monday and found some animals to be very friendly and social coming up close.
The entrance fee was very good for the experience and the souvenir shop has a decent amount of affordable items.
The staff were great too very friendly, informative and helpful.
Natasha S — Google review
The concept of creating a wild like environment for animals is what I liked the most. Animals can be watched very closely and for a few birds and animals one can walk through. We really enjoyed the walk through the kangaroo enclosure. Also we made sure not to miss on the talks( explanations given by the zoo keepers) that was scheduled. This is available at the entrance, on the map and the talk time is also published outside the enclosures. Few species in the zoo are endangered or rarely seen in the wild, like the red panda. We were lucky to spot 2 of them at the zoo, there is a red panda feeding session, that needs to be booked in advance and is a one in a lifetime experience, not to be missed.
Approach to the zoo is easy as there are busses plying from the city. Zoo has ample of parking space as well.
A good experience and one of the places will recommend to visit in Wellington, especially for the ones with kids.
One of the coolest things to visit is the animal hospital( care center). The way it has been built provides a unique experience, as the visitors can see the operation theatre, rehabilitation center and also can ask any query from the staff there.
Piyush sharma — Google review
Absolutely amazing! Way better than Auckland Zoo. Realistic pricing for entry and encounters. We chose the zoo on a whim and am so glad we did. All areas were close enough to get a decent view of the animals but also at a safe distance for them. All the staff were super friendly and happy to answer all our questions even while they were getting on with their jobs and day. So many interactive activities along the way. We were so pleased with the Lemur encounter, Cam shared so much of his knowledge and experience with us and answered all our questions, even took so many photos for us that we ran out of storage lol.
Tracey Cook — Google review
I don’t think the free shuttle from the hospital is promoted enough. Very convenient if taking public transport. I basically went to the “keeper’s talks” which was more likely to have the animals come to where you could see them on a cold, wet day. Also I did the black and white lemur experience. So. Soft.
Sian S — Google review
The animals are great but the kids would love it just for the play areas.
It's a long day on the feet. A pushchair is a good option for carrying bags and jackets.
They have a cafe but queues can be massive. Anyone can eat a packed lunch anywhere on the grounds
How To — Google review
Love love love this zoo. Wow what a great experience. An otter bought me some rocks and showed me what he does with them. ❤️ The limas has tiny babies on their backs. There’s a red panda experience. Visited from Australia so the hill it’s on was a bit of a hike but 100% worth it. Great staff who work very hard at caring for the awesome creatures housed here. When you get to the top, there’s a surprise animal you’ll want to see..
Em Rowland — Google review
A great experience! The new snow leopards are very cool. It takes 2-3 hours to see everything, longer if you stay for the zookeeper talks. You can hire prams which is handy for young kids. Some of the walkways are very steep, so take care if you're in a wheelchair or have kids in a pram.
Samuel Diprose — Google review
A must do if you have the time in wellington, it's a lovely setting with lots of space. We went in the morning and got a lot of the animals before the heat of the day. We managed to see most of the animals and got to see the new baby giraffe 🦒
Phil Pasco — Google review
What an outstanding experience today at the zoo. We saw the snow leopard!!!! I feel so privileged to have had this experience. Staff were super engaging and helpful. I'll be back :)
Dr Mawera Karetai — Google review
Went with my family and my boyfriend and had a great time (as you can tell). Amazing staff and cute animals, although we were excited to see snow leopards and they weren't out even though we went past them twice.
Anika — Google review
Great for families on weekends and holidays.
Couples are highly recommended to go on the Valentine's Day night at the zoo.
Strictly R18 talks on the romantic behaviour of the animals, with options for baskets of nibbles and champagne 🥂
Andrew McPherson — Google review
I went in and straight of there was some otters that were very social and then I saw a bunch of other fasanating animals like the monkeys,lions, giraffes, kangaroos and so many more cool animals. The red pandas were very cute also but in the kiwis habitat was a bit bright but I still think they lived good. Very nice zoo. I recommend to go here.
Tim Lord — Google review
Gorgeous enclosures, you can truly tell the care they give these animals is excellent. Many nice eating spots throughout, and opportunities to actually interact with the animals. Great place to bring your family, and see animals from all across the globe.
Dharmesh Dan Patel — Google review
Highly recommend to check it out! Lovely zoo with great views of the animals. It can be quite hilly as you get to the top of the zoo but the view is great!
Andrew Cheng — Google review
4.5
(5492)
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4.5
(1525)
200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
Mount Victoria, a prominent hill rising 196 metres above sea level, can be found just east of central Wellington in New Zealand. The hill is connected to Mount Albert by a ridge and features residential areas on its north-western slopes. On the other hand, in southern Chin State lies Myanmar's third highest peak at 10,016ft - Mt Victoria.
4.5
(3033)
Wellington, New Zealand
24
Wellington
Ferry terminal
Transportation
Ferries
When travelling from Wellington to Picton on the water you’ll love the old school style and convenience of the MV Kaitaki. This is a roll-on/roll-off ferry built in 1995.
It has a great covered in viewing area and good bar with plenty of PowerPoints for working on your lap top.
A simple but well prepared menu and super well trained staff make this a really enjoyable trip. Relax and enjoy.
Nicola Hawes — Google review
Easy boarding with a vehicle to head to the South Island . Staff are exceptionally trained , very efficient & friendly.
The ferry departed on time and arrived at the Picton terminal precisely on schedule .
Amenities and restaurants were clean throughout the vessel . Seating ample & very comfortable.
I spent a fair bit of the trip on the upper viewing deck & thoroughly enjoyed the pristine sights along this remarkable trip.
Highly recommended for great service & reasonably priced value .
JT — Google review
The sailing and booking system is good. Ive marked down 2 stars as I paid extra for the Queen Elizabeth lounge which was so not worth it - an absolute ripoff actually.
There is no TV, and only 2-3 power points for charging a phone which were all being used.
The lack of TV, I reasoned, was because the lounge is touted as a quiet place however it was anything but. The door squeaked really badly every time someone came or left (constant) and it's positioned right beside the cafe so there was no relief from banging coffee grinds and listening to food and coffee orders being called out.
The only positive to this room is that you can recline the chairs a little bit.
Save your money and sit in the public area or spend less and chill out in the movie theater.
Had I not wasted money on the lounge I probably would have rated the experience 5 star as the food options are good, staff are lovely, and the process of taking a vehicle on board was seemless due to good staff and signage.
Lisa Johnston — Google review
Everything was great until the moment a cruise staff decided to close the blinds before 9pm!! Would have enjoyed the rest of the trip looking through the windows as we were doing. Most of the people had the same surprised look on their faces "what the heck?!"
Leave the blinds open please!!
Filomena Clara Rodrigues — Google review
Awesome if you travel with kids! Large playground and they give you free kids bags (color book, pencils, etc). Our kids enjoyed it a lot! Quite a delay with arrival, but it’s all understandable.
Adventure with Kids NZ — Google review
My journey this evening on the 6:30pm Interislander Ferry (Kaiarahi) from Picton to Wellington was nothing short of exceptional, and it's worth highlighting the outstanding service provided by the three young male staff members managing the premium lounge on Level 8.
From the moment I stepped into the premium lounge, their attentiveness and dedication to customer service were immediately apparent. Their warm greetings and genuine enthusiasm set a positive tone for the entire journey. Throughout the trip, they went above and beyond to ensure that every passenger in the premium lounge felt not only comfortable but also valued.
What stood out the most was their proactive approach to anticipating passenger needs. Whether it was offering refreshments, providing information about the journey, or simply checking in to ensure everyone was content, they demonstrated a level of professionalism and courtesy that exceeded my expectations. Their attention to detail truly elevated the overall travel experience.
It's noteworthy that, despite having had consistently incredible experiences with Interislander in the past, this particular interaction with the staff on Level 8 was unparalleled. Their commitment to excellence reflects positively on Interislander as a whole.
I wholeheartedly commend these three individuals for their exceptional service. They are a testament to the high standards that Interislander upholds. For anyone considering a journey between Picton and Wellington, I can confidently say that the premium lounge experience, thanks to these remarkable staff members, is well worth it. This recent trip reaffirmed my trust in Interislander and left me with fond memories of a comfortable and enjoyable ferry journey.
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa!
Kat Falepau — Google review
Could be world class but NZR have invested very little into this port and terminal infrastructure for 30 to 40 years. Rumour is after many years of study they may relocate this terminal next to the private competitor BlueBridge Ferry ⛴️ services. The coffee shop at the old terminal is good 👍 and its staff are very helpful plus friendly.
Graeme Wooller — Google review
Brilliant service and an excellent way to enjoy the trip across the straight while taking in some of NZ's best scenery.
Devashish Gadhavi — Google review
Incredible staff and facilities in the premiere lounge. What wonderful hospitality and a service that we as New Zealanders can be very proud of 😊👋
Amanda Rutten — Google review
Brilliant service and an excellent way to enjoy the trip across the straight while taking in some of NZ's best scenery. Booking the plus lounge is worth every dollar.
Alexander W — Google review
Different atmosphere.. nice place, didn't stay long enough to get used to it
Wade Wharewaka — Google review
It is pricy but on a good day you get spectacular views on the sands. People and staff was friendly and professional. You wait a little between check-in and being loaded on the ship. Don’t come too early, if you are there by check-in time or a little before it is absolutely fine.
Relax and enjoy. I was surprised that prices for e.g. coffee on board were rather reasonable.
Ferry was on time and everything went smooth - we can recommend it.
Nico B — Google review
Fairly big terminal until a mass of people fills it! Definitely a good idea to come a bit earlier to get a place to sit or to get your spot in line to get on the ferry if you are interested in snagging a good seat for the ride if you aren't in a lounge. Lots of food options on board. We did end up in a lounge and they served us breakfast and lunch. The only unfortunate thing was that nothing was labelled and as vegans it was tough for us to figure out what we could eat. Staff were super nice though. Some nice views along the way.
Marta Borowska — Google review
Just had the best service from interislander... Molly from the check in to the marketing team... Its been wonderful service with a happy smile and going the extra mile.. Thank you so much.
One of the most significant and popular museums in New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa has a vast and varied collection covering everything from natural history to Maori culture. With permanent exhibitions that can be enjoyed by all, as well as changing exhibitions that are always worth checking out, there is sure to something for everyone at this fantastic museum.
Beautiful experience glad we came and had a look this museum is very thought out the people who works there was also very informative and nice very clean and well maintained for a public area all covid protocols are also very well followed even the toilets are clean. love all the exhibition it was an eye opener and just well thought out.
Finedine Romance — Google review
Wow just wow. The states could learn a thing or two about how a museum should present itself to the people. The exhibition was amazing. The interactiveness for children were plentiful. Kids and adults will learn so much from this place. Parking was a breeze and the staff was super friendly. They do offer early admission which we bought. It’s worth it to get there before the mob. Just a fun place to spend a morning.
D C (QBNTO1) — Google review
What a fantastic museum. We took over 2.5 hours just to cover 2 floors and will have to return to see the rest. The interactive sections were really interesting and, coming from a country that doesn't suffer from much ground movement, we particularly liked the 'earthquake house.' A great experience all round. Thank you Wellington.
Brendan McGrath — Google review
We visited the Gallipoli war museum part. The self directed tour was very well organised, easy to follow and displayed pieces were amazingly realistic
The war commentary part of every displayed piece was very well done and made the whole experience very touching and informative. We were glad to have visited and thoroughly enjoyed the displays
Sandra Elezovic — Google review
Super interactive and fun museum both for adults and kids. Lots of interesting facts and info to learn about made in an easy to learn way.
A lot of nature, history, heritage and values about what makes NZ of today and it’s a MUST-Go I think if you are in Wellington to get to know a bit about the country you are visiting.
Entrance is free for the permanent exhibitions, and that took us a couple hours already which was more than enough to see.
Only a certain special exhibitions are paid.
Milo L — Google review
Took the kids(4-12yrs) there for a trip during the holidays. They were very engaged with all of the exhibits and we ended up staying longer then expected.
Lots of changes since we last visited so always new and interesting things to explore. Some sections were closed off with new exhibits being installed, but still plenty there to keep you intrigued.
As always the ANZAC exhibit is phenomenal and well worth it!!!
Bronwyn Doar — Google review
One of the best museums I have ever visited.
The National Museum of New Zealand, it houses amazing collections, stories, displays, and experience that will cater the interests of young and old.
I really enjoy Galipoli exhibition with incredible details, well curated displays and heart-touching stories.
The sections about nature and the stories of Māori and New Zealand are also very rich in information and entertaining at the same time. The can touch and feel and learn many things related to nature and lives surrounding us.
My kids also enjoy our visit here and happy to go back.
It is very disability friendly with ramps in many areas. It has cafes and the souvenir shops are also great. Parking is available at the surrounding area.
indah nuria Savitri — Google review
No one should miss this place. It's brilliant, informative, innovative, interactive, cool, and so on. I barely finished checking level 2 in 2 hrs. I will still come back to see other things and learn more. I love this place and I highly recommend. It is free and spacious.
Elna Baguya — Google review
Wow! Spectacular and awe inspiring. I cannot imagine the effort the artists, sculptors and the whole team who have dedicated their 'everything' to make this a wonderful visitor attraction. Various stages along the way , immerse the viewer into the grim reality of bygone wars.
Uniquely preserved artifacts of insects and plants too is available. Good work everyone.
Remember parking is paid-Price attached to photos.
Nilanke Perera — Google review
Free admission.
Great exhibitions.
Highly recommend.
I was only able to see the nature exhibition, unfortunately.
Great for kids. Activities throughout the exhibition.
It is one of the best nature exhibitions I have seen. Colossal squid on show, which was a highlight.
Great way to spend a few hours.
Good gift store with local arts and crafts.
Desiree — Google review
I've been several times before, but on this trip there was an exhibition on Gallipoli. Done in collaboration with Weta Studios, this is one of the most captivating exhibitions I've experienced. I spent an hour and left only because the museum was closing. The (seriously) larger than life displays were creative perfection, and the story of the campaign, in which the Aussies and Kiwis bravely sacrificed so much, was educational and compelling. I can't recommend this highly enough. Note: Entrance is free, but they gratefully accept donations, which you can give with cash or card.
tjminer99 — Google review
MUST-SEE in NZ 💯❤️
This FREE national museum on the Wellington waterfront offers a little bit of everything. From the history of the islands flora fauna, wildlife and volcanic tectonic plates to Maori history, culture to modern art, this fantastic museum has something for everyone.
Loads to see, gear and do for the individual traveler, couples and families.
Great shop too!
TOP 5 things to do in NZ--Highly recommend!! 👍👍
V.C. AF — Google review
If you like museums, this is a must. Learning the history of the country walking through it's incredible exhibits is a great experience. We saw the giant jellyfish and that was whoah! How is that not an alien!? Incredible!
Ellie Ace — Google review
What an absolutely phenomenal experience. The museum is completely free to visit, you just have to pay for parking. It only cost me $10 for 3 hours. But there is probably free parking in town, you would just have to walk over. The museum is very accommodating. It has accessibility and normal toilets, parents rooms, kids play rooms, lockers, money machines, cafes, a souvenir store, stairs and lifts. The museum itself is just incredible. With 6 entire floors to explore you could literally spend days here. It also has such a huge variety of exhibits that accommodates to all ages. My favourite floor was the animals and nature. From games for kids to dinosaurs, giants squids and an earthquake room... it was just such an amazing experience. I would highly recommend a visit.
Braydon Murphy — Google review
One of the best museums I have ever visited.
It houses amazing collections, stories, displays, and experience that will cater the interests of young and old.
We enjoyed Galipoli exhibition with incredible details, well curated displays and heart-touching stories.
The sections about nature and the stories of Māori and New Zealand are also very rich in information and entertaining at the same time. We can touch and feel and learn many things related to nature and lives surrounding us.
A great place to spent rainy or too sunny days 😉
Deea L — Google review
I recently visited this museum with my family and was thoroughly impressed by my experience. The museum had a wonderful collection of artifacts and exhibits that were both informative and engaging. The displays were well-curated and offered a fascinating glimpse into various aspects of history and culture.
One thing that stood out to me was the attention to detail in the exhibits. Each item was carefully labeled and explained, which made it easy to understand the significance and context of each artifact. The staff was also incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, providing additional information and answering any questions I had.
The museum was also very well-maintained and clean, which added to the overall experience. There are 4 floors, and the layout was easy to navigate. There were plenty of interactive exhibits that kept me engaged throughout my visit.
Overall, I would highly recommend Te papa to anyone interested in history, art, or culture. It's a great place to learn something new and gain a deeper appreciation for the world around us
Kuljeet Singh — Google review
The Museum of New Zealand is truly one of the standout attractions in Wellington. Spending approximately 3 hours here is a delightful journey through its various levels, each offering a unique and enriching experience. The museum's diverse collections, engaging exhibitions, and immersive displays make it an absolute must-visit for anyone exploring Wellington. It's a place where you can truly immerse yourself in the culture, history, and wonders of New Zealand.
Adison Odeesho — Google review
Great a lively museum with a delicious cafe/restaurant and gift shop with a wide variety of merchandise and souvenirs (bronze and gold kiwis are the best souvenirs and gifts for a great price). The museum has 2 special exhibitions going on right now. The first is the Dinosaurs on Patagonia, which displays European-found skeletons in perfect condition. Its main attraction is the giant sauropod, which looms over the entire room tickets are purchasable via the website (quickest and easiest way), or in the museum (lines are about 10-20 minutes). The second exhibition is the highly popular and Wellington exclusive Gallipoli: The Scale of our war, which displays giant, realistic statues of important people from World War 1. Other exhibitions include the Wildlife area of the museum, which displays the first and only fully-preserved giant squid. The cafe is a long wait, which lines that take up to 20-45 minutes. Would definitely recommend going as this is a key tourist destination when visiting Wellington.
david sun — Google review
Fantastic museum with many fascinating exhibits. Great for all ages. You could easily visit every day for 3-4 days, to get the full experience. The Gallipoli display was deeply moving.
Jonathan Puddle — Google review
Simply one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. You get alot for free admission so it was definitely amazing. The WW1 exhibition was truly eye opening with the realistic pieces that were displayed. There was heaps on information to keep you busy which made this section all the more interesting.
Another section involved nature and contained lots of different animals/insects and their variants. It was super cool seeing the whole aray of moths big and small (although I highly dislike them)
I'd highly recommend visiting this museum as it's fun, interesting and educational.
mary azziz — Google review
Really awesome to see the amazing quality of work and craftsmanship that goes into their exhibitions. The ANZAC models were absolutely stunning, and can see the dedication that went into the making of each one.
Both the paid, and free exhibitions were well worth a visit.
Andrew Pieterse — Google review
We explored Te Papa around 13 years ago and have been wanting to bring our children here because it was amazing then. It is still an absolutely awesome place to visit. The displays are informative and interesting. They are appropriate to our country and our unique history, so it's easy to immerse yourself in it all.
We did this over 2 days just so we could make sure we explored every part of it. We finished with the ngahere/bush walk that's connected to the museum too. Definitely recommend a visit.
Haley — Google review
Brilliant museum. All of the exhibits are expertly laid out and very informative with just the right amount of text to read. I spent 1.5hrs at the Gallipoli exhibit alone so make sure you allow yourself enough time as there are 5 levels. Interactive and engaging for both adults and children.
Mel — Google review
NZ national museum. Free entry. A must to do list when travel to Wellington. Worth to spend a few hours visit , from nature, geography, war, maori culture, arts. You name it. Good for bring kids so they can learn a lot of knowledge.
Jackie Shang — Google review
New Zealand’s national museum reflects the country’s identity, history, and culture. It takes pride of place on Wellington’s waterfront and entry is free.
Any visitor to Wellington should have the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa at the top of their to-do list. The largest museum in the country takes pride of place on Wellington’s waterfront. At 36,000 square metres and six stories high, it contains a vast repository of collections. It’s home to more than 800,000 artworks, objects, and specimens. It curates cutting-edge interactive exhibitions with a contemporary, and bicultural approach. Te Papa is a museum experience that’s accessible for all.
Sabri Fdool — Google review
Our tour group was able to visit the Gallipoli exhibition for an hour before being open to the public.
The sculptures that are 2.4 times lifesize are incredible. They are so lifelike.
The information given in the information rooms between the sculptures fills in the story of Gallipoli.
Amazing exhibit and exhibition
Eric Scheeren — Google review
Friendly staff and excellent interactive exhibits. We went to the Gallipoli exhibition on ANZAC day, and it was incredibly moving. It demonstrates the atrocities of war in a manner suitable and accessible for all ages. Educational and powerful. And it's free entry!
Dale Garsed — Google review
Beautiful New Zealand collection on 5 4 and 5. You must visit while in Wellington. Many artists are featured in the gallery.
For the parents, visit the kids' zones so vibrant and has children's activities.
My personal favorite was Goldies artwork.
Crystal Beach — Google review
This place was HUGE! There was so much to see and do! Tons of interactive things for people of all ages. Highly recommend the viewpoint from the 6th floor! Beautiful view! Even better it was free!
Paula Kellogg — Google review
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55 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
The New Zealand Parliament Buildings are a neo-classical building that is located in Wellington, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The Parliament Building is home to the New Zealand parliament, which is an important legislative structure that plays a significant role in the democratic process in NZ. The buildings also house the New Zealand Library, which is one of the largest libraries in Australasia.
Thank you so very much for an incredible tour. The team was delighted and folks will definitely revisit the sitting question session. What a thrill! Wildly impressed by the content covered so pleasantly and digestible. Great use of time and team event for anyone working in or with Public Sector NZ
Tristana Leist — Google review
Bee hive is a globally recognized parliament building and is a must place to visit. PLEASE register yourself for guided tours (bookings in advance recommended). You will love the 1 hour tour, and it will give you a glimpse of the various blocks inside the building, taking you through both time and history. I had a great time with my guide, Catherine. She was so friendly, lovely, and enthusiastic about giving us all a pleasant tour. Big shout out to her for a great job. Two small giveaways, the Mace is slightly over 8kgs, and there is a timecapsule with a Playstation inside hidden somewhere in the parliament building. 😀
Tech Surge — Google review
We visited with 2 children for the 1 hour tour and they enjoyed walking around the buildings. Shame we couldn’t enter some of the main areas, like the debating chamber.
Would suggest having a daily or even every 2nd day children’s tour outside of school holidays.
Brendon McHugh — Google review
We were near by, so we decided to stop! Everyone should, rich history here.
Holly Siebert — Google review
This place is definitely worth checking out! It's packed with a rich culture and a variety of affordable activities to keep you entertained. All in all, it's a great spot that won't break the bank.
Fayme Vernadeau — Google review
Privileged to get a free tour of this wonderful place. Make sure you book well in advance. Fascinating insight to parliament and its history, even allowing you to enter the chamber if it isn’t sitting
Nick Hill — Google review
We had an amazing free tour throug the parliament building. Janet was an amazing guide with lots of knowledge about all topics.
sep senf — Google review
Impressive building, unfortunately tours were closed at the time of our visit, but the building was also closed to self guided visit as well without notice
T Ba — Google review
Up here in Wellington from Invercargill with my two boys for a few days. Namely here to show them the Gallipoli exhibit and Weta workshop but thought it appropriate to take them to see the Wasps Nest where all the decisions to screw our country over are made.
Easy walk and is part of our heritage I guess - just not the best part of it.
Gerard McCall — Google review
Excellent parliament tour. Best of all it's free. Sign up online and learn heaps about the history and what goes on inside this amazing building!
Benjamin T — Google review
These career oliticians “have zero empathy for people” and only care about what will help them in the next election. “They want victims to be perceived as weak, crying, and just to move on, and believe anything they tell you. All their support is giving you a tissue to dry your tears.”
Sky Clear — Google review
New Zealand Parliament Buildings at Wellington
Visited on 31/1/2019
New Zealand Parliament Buildings consist of the Edwardian neoclassical-style Parliament House; the Parliamentary Library; the executive wing, and Bowen House.
Instead of extending the existing parliament house, the government architect persuaded the Prime Minister to approve a modern building.
In 1964, a Scottish architect provided the original conceptual design of a 10-storey round building rising in steps. It also has 4 storeys below ground level.
This forms the Executive Wing, the most contemporary of them all, is referred to colloquially as "The Beehive" due to its distinctive shape.
Although it is eye catching and very appealing, it does not appear majestic and grand from the street level.
Sin Fong Chan — Google review
the tour was super cool and super informative. it was interesting seeing the places i always see on tv like the debating chamber and the place where press conferences happen. i would have liked to see the earthquake proof structure things but unfortunately due to covid restrictions we couldnt do that. it was quite a tiring walk so i would suggest eating and drinking before going
Ri — Google review
Beautiful historic buildings 🙌🏻 Well worth visiting. Most of these photos were taken with two tour bus loads of people wandering around, so even when busy you can get a clear shot.
Jasmin Robson — Google review
Nicely set up grounds, currently with full public access and a nice spot to have a picnic on a sunny Wellington day.
Graeme Wooller — Google review
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1 Molesworth Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Cuba Street is a vibrant and eclectic area in Wellington, New Zealand. It's known for its bohemian atmosphere, lined with colorful buildings, quirky shops, and trendy cafes. The street is a hub of creativity and culture, with street performers adding to the lively ambiance. Visitors can explore an array of unique boutiques selling everything from vintage clothing to handmade crafts. The dining scene on Cuba Street is diverse, offering a wide range of international cuisines as well as local favorites.
Wellington Cable Car provides panoramic city views and a history museum from the Kelburn Lookout. The cable car operates every 10 minutes every day of the week.
Great experience. We just went one way up & enjoyed the great view over Wellington & then walked back down through the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Well worth it, it's a must see attraction!! Well priced & affordable. Go on, do it, I would be surprised if you did not like it.
Mark Eekelschot — Google review
Just another ride...
We were thrilled about the ride in the Cable car. It's cool to know that this Cable car has been around for 120 years, an icon of Wellington City. It is really a ride on an antique but I'm sure there were many refurbishment and maintenance.
We weren't sure the timing so we were pretty late when we started our ride and we just miss the museum by 4 minutes. They closed at 5pm. But we were able to catch some activities at the Space Place at Carter Observatory (Science museum) and saw some cool stuffs. A 150 years old telescope is really the main highlight for our trip up the hill. Unfortunately, to be able to see the beautiful night sky, we have to prepare to walk down the hill as the Cable car cease its operation at 7pm. And the journey down hill can be very challenging for some. It gets very cold in the night in Wellington.
I must state that the view on the top of the hill is picturesque. This is really a worthwhile one trip of a lifetime kind of thing and I don't think I will ride the Cable car again.
troo foo — Google review
The cable car ride is an absolute must if you're in Wellington, even if only for the afternoon. Two trams go up and down all day which means there's only ever 5 minute wait at either end. The views, the art murals but mostly the LED lit tunnels make this a unique experience. Trams are immaculately presented with retro charm in wood floors and vinyl seats. Our drivers were approachable, chatty and friendly. Botanical gardens, a planetarium and a cafè all provide bonus extras at the summit.
Sharon Wendt — Google review
WOW , we took the cable car to the top and could not believe that this is in the heart of the city. The views are spectacular, it takes about 5 mins to get to the top but there are other options for getting off at two stops along the way and exploring. There is a gorgeous cafe at the top where we had a delightful breakfast. Also up there is the Cable Car history museum which tells you all about it and well worth a visit. Go on get in there and try it yourself
willie byrne — Google review
The cable car was a blast! We paid only for the ride up — a 6-minute ride offering stunning views of the city, and at the top we enjoyed exploring the well-done small museum. There is a cafe at the top with great views as well. Some people buy return tickets, but we were very happy we chose to walk back to the CBD through the botanical garden and cemetery. It was definitely worth the price of the ticket and it was fun!
Marsha Russell — Google review
It's definitely a must to do in Wellington, it's a great ride to the top with fantastic views of Wellington. Very inexpensive for the ride to the summit, where there is a cafe and also plenty more activities for sightseeing, including the Cable Car museum, Space Observatory, Botanical gardens and also a free shuttle to Zealandia bird sanctuary. Recommended.
Glynn Yeardley — Google review
Absolutely recommend this experience especially if you like to learn about the history of such things. The botanical gardens up the top were great for the kids to get rid of some energy, and the view is amazing up there.
Hidden in amongst the inner city of Wellington, this was a lovely activity to find amongst the hustle and bustle.
Glad we did it.
Haley — Google review
Nice little ride up a hill to a view point. The tunnels have colored lights. There is a cafe at the top as well. It costs $9 round trip. There is a ticket window and you can pay cash or credit card. Locals can use their bus card.
Julia DeBari — Google review
📍 Cable Car & Cable Car Museum
Featuring historic trams, this is a must-ride attraction! Taking the cable car to the top, you can visit the historical museum and enjoy the panoramic view of Wellington. You can also explore the nearby gardens, allowing you to experience the freshness of the forest in the city center!
彭笙瑞 — Google review
Great place to walk around and have some good fresh breeze of air. There is a lot of place to explore within the botanical gardens.
The cable car is a one time experience, even though a small trip. Its a big wonder that they were able to have a cable car from many decades.
The view of the city of wellington is great from the cable car with tunnels lighten up.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
Such a quirky way to get to a spectacular view. Price reasonable and staff friendly. At the top is lovely Cafe, a museum and you can get shuttle bus to Zealandia. If you buy a one way ticket you can walk back to the city via botanical Gardens which is well worth it. I rode cable car twice and enjoyed every time
Julie French — Google review
Quick and comfortable, less than 5 minute wait for the tram each time. Cheap if you have a Snapper card, even without the price is reasonable. Gorgeous views both from the tram and from the station at the top. Lovely sightseeing place, with easy access to the Botanical Gardens from the top.
Briar Rose — Google review
Great experience, I booked cable car ticket online as it saves time. You can get a ticket at counter or take one way ticket and on return from top can buy ticket in cable car, visited on 31/12, it was open on New Year’s Eve and public holidays. It’s a short ride up to the museum on top. It’s better to sit at front of car for nice photos. Cable car museum takes 5 min to cover all and there’s a gift shop inside with cable car magnets and key chains etc. The view from top is amazing but it’s very windy.
Reet Kaur — Google review
We enjoyed our ride on the Wellington Cable Car to the top and back down again. Some fun light tunnels along the ride. At the top we had a look in the Cable Car museum and enjoyed a show at Space Place. The cable car wasn't too busy on the way down and our driver let the kids ring the bell when we made it to the bottom which absolutely made their day!!
Amy Handley — Google review
Brilliant day out and not expensive. Make sure you get a return ticket if you want to ride back, or a single if you want to walk. The top of the cable car has a free pick up for Zealandia another great day out. The museum at the top is great, and the botanic gardens is lovely.
Dave Cutts — Google review
The cable cars are a cool way to see the city. It will take you up to the top of the hill and back down. You will have to buy a ticket not expensive at all. I would say it’s a must do when in Wellington.
Emily Paige — Google review
Must visit for views of the welly city and the ride is super amazing and affordable. 11 $ per person return for adult.
Not only Fun in ride but also you can see beautiful views from the top . You have to wait less than five minutes for next tram .
Navtesh — Google review
Well worth the visit and roundtrip ride. At the top is not just a great view, but also a delicious restaurant, interesting German cannon and the Space Place which has great overview of space and a rare live sun telescope!
Keith Carter — Google review
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280 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
The Wellington Botanic Garden is an impressive and popular park that's home to a variety of exotic plant life. The gardens can be visited via the Wellington Cable Car, and offer stunning views of the city skyline.
Stunning gardens and nature trails to explore. The garden varies with sights for everyone to enjoy. There are ground level paths through roses and other flora along with more elevated paths. Some are well-manicured and others are a little more rugged but all make for a pleasant walk. There are plenty of benches for taking a break. Keep your eyes peeled for some birds too!
Elizabeth Hadden — Google review
Lovely gardens here, never fails to impress no matter how often I go. The variety here and the amount of work that goes into maintaining a garden of this size is astounding.
Suggest making the observatory part of your exploration when you go here.
Dar Kin — Google review
Beautiful flowers and plants. It's such a fabulous idea to take the cable car from the top and then take a walk down the Botanical Gardens. If you have kids, there is a lovely playground on the way down. A short walk about 10 minutes or so to the Parliament house. Then back to rest of the city for our rest at the hotel.
Jansen Chua — Google review
Great place to walk around and have some good fresh breeze of air. There is a lot of place to explore within the gardens.
Lots of big trees and flowers all around its a good view to walk. The cable car and planetarium with gallery are also fun to be.
Sreeram Nattath — Google review
I recommend riding the cable car up to the top so you’re at the top of the entrance of the botanical garden and you can walk downhill throughout the garden. It is absolutely free. There’s so many flowers and trees to look at it could take a good couple of hours to explore.
Emily Paige — Google review
Wellington Botanic Garden in Wellington
Visited on 31/1/2019
Wellington Botanic Garden in Wellington
Visited on 31/1/2019
After reaching the peak at the Kelbourn Station by Wellington Cable Car, the only way to go is ls down. Our party of 4 is glad that instead of riding the cable car for a return trip, the alternative option is much better, that is, to enjoy a slow walk through the winding paths of the Wellington Botanic Garden.
From an elevation of 125 m, or lower down the slope, we can see the breathtaking panaromic views of the city and harbour in the distance.
There are shady paths, and open fields. There are big native exotic trees, ferns and colourful displays of flowers.
It is just a sensational.
Sin Fong Chan — Google review
Stunning, stunning gardens in the heart of Wellington. I spent a few hours wandering from front to back & taking photos before heading to the Cafe for a wonderful cold Kombutcha and scrumptious meal.
A highlight was a visit to the Space Place on top of the hill not far from the Cable Car which was a fun way to start my day seeing the amazing views of Wellington. It was a beautiful warm & NOT windy day.
Suzanne Bishop — Google review
A lot of things to do and see in this place, wanna take a walk, enjoy nature, have a picnic and so on. This place has benches to sit some cafe and different place to explore specific things😁. Just look at the pictures. Enjoy.
Elna Baguya — Google review
Very pretty but wish there had been more and better signage. It felt like the map did not have the same trail names. In the greenhouses, some information on the plant names or types would have been appreciated.
Sara Pianavilla — Google review
Great park for the locals. It's leafy and full of native plants. The Garden has a few spots for great photos. Although it's winding and hilly, it's a must for Wellington visitors. Just a short walk from the cable car station.
A K — Google review
Lovely botanic gardens very big, the maps where useless so leave plenty of. Time to wander around, lovely scenery and some very impressive sculptures. There is also a nice cafe in the rose garden that can be enjoyed with a nice peaceful view
jasmin ronan — Google review
My wife and I went here while visiting Wellington. It was recommended by our receptionist in our hotel. The gardens are beautiful and are well maintained. You can easily spend a few hours here enjoying the different gardens. The duck pond is nice to relax at and the rose garden was beautiful and well kept.
Daith? Kilcourse — Google review
Love the Wellington Botanical Gardens. We went for the light show and live music.
These gardens really are unique. There is lots of trees and random paths to explore.
If you are looking for a good photo backdrop, this place is perfect. Lots of spaces for a different look, without having to move too far.
Toilets were clean and well lit.
Parking can be a challenge.
You can push a wheelchair through a bit of the gardens but it is limited before you have hills to deal with
Arniya Heartford — Google review
Wellington Botanical Garden is exceptional. Its beautifully curated plant life, impeccable maintenance, and enjoyable cable car ride make it the best botanical garden I've ever visited. Absolutely a must-see in Wellington!
Zaza Azizan — Google review
So lucky to have this beautiful garden near us. Nice track courses from beginner to moderate level.
Great place and views for sightseeing.
To take a break, there is a cute cafe near rose garden.
Thomy Shimokawa — Google review
A vast botanical garden, where tulips are currently in full, vibrant bloom, providing an ideal backdrop for relaxation and capturing lasting memories through photography. It's a wonderful place to stroll in the midst of nature, with the gentle breeze caressing your skin. However, the rose garden has not yet reached its peak bloom at this moment. Additionally, we also found the cherry blossom too.
Evy Lee — Google review
I didn't have a plan other than there was a specific piece of art I wanted to see here. And as it turned out, it was a real challenge to get from the cable car station to see it. So I did a lot of wandering through the Botanic Garden. Up hills, down hills, through narrow passages, and this all gave me a fabulous self-directed tour.
Lots of beautiful trees and flowers. Several artworks. And an enjoyable hour of making sure I could get back to the cable car before it closed.
Bruce K. — Google review
Very beautiful FREE entry botanical garden.
Soooooooooo many variety of colourful flowers & plants around.
Multiple different track loop around to try with.
Connected to the Wellington top cable car station.
Worth a visit to enjoy some fresh air.
There are even children playground inside.
Clament Weng — Google review
Beautiful (and free) botanic garden!
Loved the rose garden and greenhouse… as well as everything else.
I recommend you either take the cable car or walk up to the lookout and enjoy the garden on your way back down.
Kat Klein — Google review
Great for a stroll around. Marvellous tree specimens with some clear explanation boards giving details on the trees. Flowers coming into bloom when we visited, so the overall colour was improving . As others have commented, there are some steep paths, and the directions/signposts to move around the garden aren't too clear.
The cafe was busy but coped with the guests and there was no waiting for a table.
Andy Smith — Google review
What s beautiful garden. I've never been somewhere with suck a well kept botanical garden. There is a large square with probably close to 100 roses and a greenhouse with many different plants I've never seen before. The park itself is well shaded for a stroll with your family and has multiple loops with different types of trees and flowers. My favorite part was the peace flame which is a memorial fountain near the roses.
Ethan Sparks — Google review
Cable car is a must to do list for botanic garden. Get on from Lambton quay to the top of the botanic garden. A lot of different walk ways inside. There is a cafe in rose garden. Good to have a coffee and enjoy the beautiful gardens.
Jackie Shang — Google review
Amazing, walk around and enjoy the lovely views. Take the cable car up and down, or walk down. $11 ASD so around £6 for a return trip.
Dave Cutts — Google review
Lovely day out with family exploring the gardens. Highly recommend coming up here via the cable car. Lots of plants to see and a great little food store near the roses. It was very busy at 11am. Prepare for lots of walking.
Nathan Haywood — Google review
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101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is a conservation-focused wildlife sanctuary located in the heart of Auckland. It's home to numerous native bird species and New Zealand's only living tuatara. The reserve also boasts 32 kilometers of walking trails, a museum, and many educational opportunities for visitors.
Awesome tramping paths. Fantastic wildlife and they are not shy to show off for a few pictures. We'll worth the trip out there.
The request for a donation at counter whilst purchasing access tickets is off putting, as we are all affected by the Pandemic. In fact sites like these should actually consider lowering ticket prices for locals to make it accessible thereby helping them stay afloat.
Les — Google review
Was a great day walking around . We took our time looking around . Took about four hours.
Will go back.
Cable car on gold card then free bus to Zealandia and back to cable car.
Staff were amazing .
Bryan Hill — Google review
This is a must if travelling to Wellington. They provide free shuttle bus from top of cable car. It is a great spot to relax, listen to birds, search for a kiwi. They provide a map and you can explore the many tracks. The dam wall is worth a visit. So many birds.
Georgina Tunstall — Google review
Loved Zealandia. The Takahe for me was the definite highlight. The walking was easy although there's a few challenging sections but the trails are well explained. I wish I had enough time to do the night tour! Maybe next time. The only sour part of our experience was the beginning at the welcome desk. As soon as we paid she turned around without much of explanation. We thought perhaps she was getting us a map but a quick run down of what the attractions are, what we could do, and the bag check area process would have been helpful. Other than that, we were very pleased with our experience. We look forward to going back again sometime in the future.
Royce — Google review
Beautiful place. Honestly didn't expect to enjoy it as much as we did! Surrounded by birdsong, great little mini-talks scheduled throughout the day (thanks Kathy!), good hiking trails and lots to see - $24 for admission is very reasonable 👌
Top tip: The Twilight and night tours were booked out when we tried to book, so book in advance if you want to see kiwi about at night!
Laura Watson — Google review
What an amazing spot! We loved the hike, even in the winter weather—and saw so many bird friends. And a reptile!
Our family went on the electric boat ride. That guide was knowledgeable and helpful in understanding the complexities of running this place!!
I would highly recommend a visit. Had we been there in time we’d have taken a guided tour. As it was, we felt lucky to see what we did and what a respite from conventional sight seeing! If I were a local I’d be there every week, for sure.
Thanks for what you’re doing in providing sanctuary for these lovely friends. Keep up the good work.
Amy Meilen — Google review
We did the day tour at Zealandia and had the best time! We saw some amazing birds and our guide was fantastic. I would highly recommend booking the day tour and the night tour. We only booked the day tour and wished we did the night tour as well. The night tour books out in advance. So plan ahead so you don’t miss out!! I was told there is about 150 kiwi at Zealandia. It would have been amazing to see/hear them at the night tour.
Casey White — Google review
Our young family went on a Zealandia by day guided tour and LOVED it. Kids are 11,9,8 and 7 and the walk was not too difficult or long for them. Our guide was incredible, kind and full of knowledge, she answered all questions and made it engaging for everyone in the group from our kids, to the seniors. We liked the group size (10-12 people). We walked for just over 2 hours (started early due to everyone arriving early). Highly recommend - will return if in Wellington again, but might look at walking without a guide to see a different track.
Cat — Google review
There's quite a lot to see here, even if it is just taking the time to listen and be quiet while waiting for the birds to come to you. Really calm and peaceful and on a nice day there is a lot of green and blue to be seen. I really enjoyed my visit and would say this is a must-do for any nature lover in Wellington.
Michael Davidson — Google review
A little pricey but worth visiting. Lots of easy walks and some harder trails for the fitter folk. The view from the dam (with the winds) is quite breathtaking. The cafe isn’t very impressive food-wise but a pretty good gift shop and rather accessibility-friendly activity for the day.
We spent 2-2.5hours here, possibly would’ve been longer if we weren’t on a schedule.
Jessica Soppitt — Google review
With it’s ingenious fencing, this very much feels like a scaled down version of Jurassic Park. And I loved it. It’s a beautiful spot, teeming with native birds. It’s a haven away from the busy metropolis of Wellington CBD.
Excellent thought out walk ways and informatics around the park. I was able to spot a few of the famous residents 😊
Christopher Beaves — Google review
Zelandia was an awesome time. We got there early for our tour and enjoyed the café upstairs. After that, our tour guide, Julia let us on an amazing voyage, that we could not believe was in the middle of the city. Very jealous I don’t have anything like this where I live. Everyone must definitely check it out if they come through Wellington.
Boris Pallares — Google review
What a magical place! We saw so many different birds, and just listening to them sing was wonderful. The walking path immerses you into the forest so you're surrounded by the bird calls. We went in winter and it was still incredibly lush and active. We skipped the guided tour and were still able to identify almost every bird on our map. Highly recommend! The cafe and gift store are lovely too.
Jessica J — Google review
Really good, where you can see all of the bird life, bar the kiwi (nocturnal), during day light hours. Quite late on we decided to do the tour. Totally worth it, Grant was knowledgeable and charming. Amazing he is a volunteer only!
Ben Rowan — Google review
Such a lovely place to visit, especially on a nice sunny day. Take your time walking around and stop to spot the birdlife. The Tuatara reptiles are definitely worth searching for.
But choose your day; if the weather's windy, grey and cold then maybe some other time! Note: this in no way is a zoo, so there's no guarantee you'll see everything or possibly anything (but that's unlikely). Enjoy!
Mike Bodnar — Google review
Visiting Zealandia was a highlight of my month-long visit to Aotearoa NZ. Beautiful bushland ringing with bird calls. Lots of walks of different levels of difficulty/accessibility. Birds everywhere. Appreciated the free shuttle bus from the top of the cable car.
Michelle P — Google review
Beautiful walk. It’s nice to see birds living peacefully and freely without any cage. The walk could take up to 2hrs or more depends on your route. Bring a camera that can capture close-up.
It gets cold around bushier areas, bring a jacket just in case. There is flat walks for everyone, just stick to the main road. I do prefer the higher uphill route because there are more birds. Keep silent so you can observe more birds.
Otheriwse nice place for a walk, lil recreation. Buy the pass if you live in wellington. Its worth going all the time .
Melody Montaño — Google review
Even if you aren’t a twitcher it’s a stunning place for a walk with the sound of so many birds calling all around you. If you are into birds it’s fantastic - you get a sheet showing the native species to look out for if you don’t go on a guided walk and I saw a lot in a couple of hours. The free shuttle from town is also great.
Rachel Merrett — Google review
Visited here as a shore excursion on 19.11.2023 when i was doing a 10 night cruise to New Zealand. All I can say is that i wish i had travelled by plane and that i was staying at a hotel nearby so that i could spend from open of business til close of business of Zealandia Te Mara a Tane! The place was amazing, lush, clean and beautiful with so much bird life (wild bird life that could come and go as they pleased!) I really loved this place and i ended up spending a fair bit in the souvenir shop at the end. It was very educational and we had a private tour guide, who was very knowledgeable and very welcoming. I would highly recommend this place to visit and i can't wait to go back here again!
Hürrem Aktaş — Google review
Zealandia quickly became one of my favourite places in NZ. If I would live in Wellington, would visit every other weekend for sure. Went there for the night walk, saw the tiny kiwi and a bunch of glowworms, then the guide just said we could come back the next day for free, which was the best decision of our long weekend Welly trip.
Sára Dóra Vizi — Google review
This is an incredible place to visit. A guide has the knowledge and shares it with you. Knows where to look for birds or small critters. It houses within its walls 40,000 species that are found no where else on earth. This includes various trees and plants. The goal is to make the contents from New Zealand only. They brought the Takeha bird back from the brink of extinction. The gift shop had a T-shirt I decided to buy, and was shocked to see a $55 U. S. on my receipt. They were not clearly marked. So I went from 5 stars to 4.
Marlene Herman — Google review
A real highlight of our trip to New Zealand and so cool to see wildlife in a predator free environment on the mainland that doesn’t involve them being in cages. We went on the guided tour and the guide was excellent. If you’re doing a night tour to see the Kiwi I would definitely recommend doing a day tour too.
Andrew — Google review
If you love nature and birds, then you're in for a treat. Zealandia is the place to go for a day trip.
The main path is an easy(flat) walking path(wheelchair accessible) that leads to a larger open area for sitting by the benches and hearing birds call out to each other, if an easy day is on the list.
If you are more into hiking, then there are steeper paths that take you to more scenic spots throughout the sanctuary up and over the hills, across the suspension bridge and the dam.
I haven't heard as many varying bird calls as I have whilst visiting Zealandia. It almost felt like how nature feels in fantasy films. Even if you aren't a big outdoorsy person, this hidden gem is worth the visit.
The cafe is just above admissions. Private function times vary.
Rakshan Rao — Google review
This is bird heaven. I was so happy here. It’s a literal oasis in the middle of the city that surrounds you with so much nature you forget where you are.
I could have spent the entire day here and wish I was local to become a member. It’s truly magical. I mean what’s better than being surrounded by bird song and beautiful foliage?
I will say I don’t know how little kid friendly this place is, and by little kid I mean under 3 or 4. Apart from walking around and looking at everything, there isn’t much for the little ones. School aged kids, especially if they’re into birds and nature, will love it, but might be a bit boring for the wee ones after the initial bird spotting.
The walking trails are all very well maintained, played out by difficulty which was very helpful, and we had no problems spotting all kinds of wildlife.
MB — Google review
4.7
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4.5
(2904)
53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington 6012, New Zealand