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.

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.

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

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!! 👍👍

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!

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.

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 😉

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

📍 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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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 .

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!

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 .

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.

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!!

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.

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!

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.

Brilliant service and an excellent way to enjoy the trip across the straight while taking in some of NZ's best scenery.

Incredible staff and facilities in the premiere lounge. What wonderful hospitality and a service that we as New Zealanders can be very proud of 😊👋

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.

Different atmosphere.. nice place, didn't stay long enough to get used to it

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 😊

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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 .

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 😀

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.

We were near by, so we decided to stop! Everyone should, rich history here.

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.

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

We had an amazing free tour throug the parliament building. Janet was an amazing guide with lots of knowledge about all topics.

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

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.

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!

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.”

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.

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

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.

Nicely set up grounds, currently with full public access and a nice spot to have a picnic on a sunny Wellington day.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 ❤️

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.

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 😇

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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..

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.

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 🦒

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 :)

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.

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 🥂

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.

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.

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!

Absolutely recommended. I did the 45 minutes tour with Emma (NZ$12). Fabulous! Thanks Emma ( tour guide) for sharing your knowledge, your passion and your positive attitude along the tour. At the museum I learned so many interesting things about Wellington and it was a fun, useful experience where you can learn so many interesting stories from this part of the world.

Fantastic museum, highly recommend a stop and it's Freeeeee. 4 levels, more on the history of the warf and boats. Top floor is fun facts of history, with a time machine to show you though the ages. Also a story time play. Very well done

This museum is well worth a visit. Packed with treasures and fantastic displays, a great balance of information to read and items to see. Lots of interactive stuff to hook the kids in too. They especially loved the collection of items where they got to vote on which history they believed was true. The Wahine story was presented with great respect too.

An interesting place to visit, which is full of history with things to see and to read. Great to have a wonder around. Good location, not too far from the main city. Free entry. Well worth the visit and recommended.

This is one of the best museums I've ever seen. It's really worth a visit. Wonderful exhibitions and lovely staff.

Awesome family friendly museum, lots of tactile and creative exhibits for the kids and best of all it’s free. Big ol’ recommendation!

Fabulous experience well worth having a look when in Wellington while it’s free there is an option to give a koha (donate). Every little bit helps keep this awesome place running.

A really eclectic little museum that tells the story of Wellington's maritime history, as well as being a quirky window into Wellington culture. The displays are over several floors with audio visual components as well. The staff are lovely and there is a great little gift shop as well.

So glad to have visited. It had a modern exhibition running at the same time and loads of interesting local historical information. Loved this museum more than I did Te Papa.

It's nice learn about New Zealand's history. Staffs are very welcoming. Place are organized and clean.

Wellington Museum on the Wharf is a captivating journey through history! From maritime heritage to quirky exhibitions, it's an engaging experience with stunning harbor views. Don't miss this enriching adventure in the heart of Wellington!

Went for the Barbie exhibition and it was good. Helpful and friendly staff at enternace. Parking was not easy. And could have better signs for the museum people from out of town.

No one should miss this place. It's brilliant, informative, innovative, interactive, cool, and so on. Plus it is absolutely free of charge. I highly recommend going there while in Wellington. The museum is well designed, providing lots of hands on activities for children and adults. Great for School holidays. Would love to have more places for kids to do more crafts, even if we have to pay.

One of the amazing Museum I've been through. If you'll go to Wellington, you must not scape this lovely place, there's a lot of things to interact with. And had such a lovely staff who would welcome you warmly. If you're one of fond Barbie you should come and visit this place too. Of note, FREE entrance fee.

Really well made museum. Lots of local history and information. Really enjoyed it.

Interesting multi level museum highlighting Wellingtons history, especially nautical displays. Well set out with lots of visual features. A documentary on the Wahine ship disaster.

Nice place to visit to know more about history. Seriously need a sign out side on the road as there is none (you think it is a left turn for Secure parking only.

Awesome collection of artefacts, but really really mouldy and not good for people with asthma

After being closed to the public for several years and surviving the construction of the new cathedral a few blocks away, this wonderful church has reopened its doors. I recently attended a musical performance, and was truly amazed at the beauty of the wooden construction and the artistic details inside. It is a real gem in the heart of the city. If you're in Wellington, it's one of the city's historical and architectural highlights, which I highly recommend visiting.

It’s a pure wood architecture. I was recommended by someone I met in the new Saint Paul cathedral to visit here, and it totally worth the trip. It’s smaller than the new church but the atmosphere and environment is really nice. Some people are rehearsing the piano and violin in the church and the performance was fantastic!

Quite normal looking church building, but once you enter the cathedral, you would surprised by the breathtaking interior. The place you see colourful stained glass windows.

Wonderful little old church in the middle of busy Wellington CBD. Kudos to the staff for maintaining it properly and keeping the surrounding clean and tidy. Souvenir shop has some cool stuff if you want to take some thing back home for memories. Lovely staff on-site.

This church was formerly the Saint Paul's Cathedral but is now "Old Saint Pauls" as the functions have been moved a few blocks over to the more modern Cathedral. This structure was built between 1865 and 1866 in a Gothic Revival architecture, functioning as the city's cathedral until the new structure was available in 1964. It is still used as a wedding and funeral venue. Don't miss the interior as the exposed beams and decoration are simply magnificent. I can't believe that there was a time that people wanted to demolish this!

A beautiful old Gothic church well worth a visit for the fantastic architecture

Def worth a visit. A lovely church and chatted with a man about the history.

A lovely old cathedral to visit when in Wellington. It had lovely stained glass art and a beautiful Church setting from the past.

Nice place to spend a little time to visit. Free entry. Plenty of history inside.

Wonderful old church. Not Westminster Abbey, but a delightful experience. Full of local history, and magical atmosphere.

I must admit I was skeptical about this. But it surprised me in a very nice way! Well worth it to take a quick visit. Definitely open the drawers in the back right!

A beautiful piece of wellington heritage, with stunning Gothic architecture and a spectacular interior. A must see for anyone visiting Wellington.

A fabulous little church where you can quietly just be yourself and talk to your heart. Love the great artistic pictures on windows glasses, and the beautiful timber works with great details.

Great old church with lovely interior. Was closed for private function (with no notice provided on their website or Facebook page despite them recommending to check there) when we first arrived, but well worth a return visit a couple of hours later. Entry is by donation, after which you're provided with a small leaflet with map and information. More information posters are displayed around the building.

St Paul's is tucked away in a back street but definitely worth the visit. It is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen, the wood gives it a warmth that makes it so inviting . There is a digital display history of the history and features of the church. When in Wellington check this out

What a beautiful church. A must see when in Wellington

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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 🤣

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

WARNING:NOT SAFE FOR COVID Not all staff at wharf wearing masks, unmasked staff coming right up to car windows. No enforcement of mask mandate on ferry. PA announcements re mandate, hard to understand. But no staff patrolling and reminding people to wear masks. Many people unmasked in outdoor and indoor spaces. These ferries are highly dangerous, especially with Omicron coming. They need a dedicated staff member patrolling the boat.

Four crossings in the last few weeks and apart from delayed sailings it has been great. The cabins are well worth the investment and while you dont get long to sleep you can at least rest a bit on the way across the strait which makes a lot of diffference at the other end!

I prefer not to post negative reviews, however this is a big company. I’ve always travelled Inter-Islander, but due to a last minute situation I booked with Bluebridge, that’s all that was left. Customer service was lacking, ferry 1/2 an hour to 3/4 hour late departing. No explanation. I recall a delay with Inter-Islander on 1 sailing, apologies given by the Captain- just a nice PC touch I feel. Would prefer Inter-Islander going forward. 3 stars from me , just a bit average 😫

Horrible experience. We arrived (4 of us) at the ferry terminal at 07.00am. We had our bags checked in at 07.10. We had booked a car rental who informed us once we arrived to collect the car and not during our booking, that we needed to return the car in Wellington and collect another on the other side. We explained we had booked the ferry + car and they told us to ask for a refund at the ferry terminal and go as foot passengers. We rang ace the day before departure and they had no out of hours key drop and told us to leave the keys at 07.30 once the office opened. The ferry started boarding at approx 07.20. The extremely rude and passive aggressive staff member behind the counter in the wellington ferry department gate (with red hair) was looking at my mum and I so I explained our situation and told her that the 2 others who went to return the car, would be here in 5 minutes. This was at 7.27. She was raising her voice across the room to us (we were sitting) telling us boarding had ended, we were delaying the cars entering the ferry etc etc. I explained to her that ace told us to leave the car at their office (7minute drive) and that we'd no option bearing in mind the ferry doesn't LEAVE UNTIL 8.15!! She began, at the top of her voice, unprofessionally, talking to colleagues about us and how we were delaying everything and said our other 2 parties would 'be here in 5 minutes, 10 minutes ago'. She continued to argue that we should have checked with the ferry about car drop off etc. I explained to her ace had given us these instructions, knowing we were getting the ferry and she needed to take her issue up with them. At this stage it was at the latest 07.35. FERRY DEPARTING 08.15. She was so rude to other passengers who arrived at 07.30 telling them boarding was over etc. Stressing people out unnecessarily when the ferry wasn't even leaving until 08.15. She was so rude and unprofessional and needs to be given a lesson in customer service. You can still speak to people kindly and still get the ferry going on time too. Especially people that arrive at 07.00. EARLY!! I have never experienced anything like this and my elderly parents were visibly upset after the stress she created. Low and behold we boarded at 07.40 and the ferry didn't take off until 08.10. We were also not the last to get on. I only wish I got her name. The rest of the staff on board were lovely, relaxed and friendly.

This was my first time travelling on the BlueBridge and I have to say it was a great experience. Boarded myself and my vehicle on my sailing on time and without fuss. Staff were friendly and oh my goodness that burger I had was insane. A double beef and bacon burger with perfect fries. Fell asleep in the comfy lounge chairs too. Then who can go past the views on a beautiful day like today. Would be happy to recommend BlueBridge.

I an Irish I have traveled a lot. This is the first ferry I was ever on that did not tie down my motorcycle. All the other ferry companies did this expertly for me. I have to look for bits of rope to tie down my $12,000 hired motor cycle. Also very slow coffee shop. My food was cold by the time I got my coffee. Management needs to be improved.

We travel a lot and we've used ferries in different countries. it was one of our worst experiences! Few hours before the departure, they said ferry will have 3 hours delay! New last check-in was 2:30 but the boarding started at 4!! They are understaffed. The check-in kiosk was closed and we needed to go inside the building for check in. Room number is not provided and they asked us to ask it inside the ship! Boarding was really slow and it took almost an hour to drive inside the ferry! The cabin was not clean. Even the bed sheet was not clean!

Ferry crossing was delayed but at least two hours, but through no fault of bluebridge. When the weather is rough is can be tough. . . . Kept informed initially by phone call of the delay and then the staff are incredible as well!! . . . But the icing on the cake is the free cookies they give out!! Oh my lord these cookies are the best I have ever had! Good effort!

I feel one star is even too much for them, They are a bunch of retarded, work without brains, be careful they will screw up your itinerary. An awful experience

if we would have known we were going to have to wait in line in the sun until 1230pm, we wouldn’t have come here at 1130am. This should be shared beforehand. It’s hot and we could have used this time to explore Wellington more with no bathrooms and no water

I would like to thank the friendly team from bluebridge. Especially Paul at the Picton check-in. I had somehow made a mistake with my booking. After a 4 hour drive Paul helped me get to my destination with zero stress. I was also able to put have a cabin onboard which made my onward travel far easier.

First time taking the ferry from Wellington to Picton and it was all smooth sailing! We were scheduled to depart at 8:15am and left at 8am. I booked a cabin for the journey and I highly recommend it if you are someone who gets seasick. The coffee onboard was great as well. Will definitely go with Bluebridge again next time.

Despite the sea sickness, we had a smooth trip. The weather was great, so we were outside the whole time, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Great but they should maintain the rooms. No shower curtain in our cabin and heating didn't work.

With one hour delay of departure, no apologies from staff or whatsoever, they turned the TV's on with FULL VOLUME AT 3AM, 3 IN THE MORNING!!!! we asked politely to manager and she replied, the volume is set, we cannot change it, I said but is 3 am in the morning, why are you playing movies at this time when we all want to sleep!? She said, we always play movies at this time of the night. Terrible customer service Disgusting bathrooms, dirty, unprofessional and unfriendly staff. We are never coming back to Bluebridge ever again, and we will make sure to spread the feedback around as much as we possibly can. DISGUSTING!!

Most welcome and staffs I’ve ever seen, I just walk inside, and they stood up and try to help! And the information is really helpful. If you need any travel information, please come here and they will try best to help!

I was on my way to somewhere near Victoria border. However, suddenly my phone got no signal and I was totally lost. It was so scary for me, but I followed my instincts and arrived Wellington. I don’t know her name, but the lady from the reception was very friendly and kind. She found the map for me, highlighted the route for me, and showed me the directions. If it wasn’t her, I might spend more time on driving and couldn’t arrive my destination before it’s getting dark. I really appreciated. We definitely need more people like her in our world. : )

They were busy when I popped in, but someone checked what I needed, and I just needed to see Snapper Expert. Plenty to look at,and the lady expert as soon as she finished came straight to me and advised what to do. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Staff is really friendly and always happy to help. I just walked inside and they were welcome with a great smile and provided me lots of information that I need. Thank you so much.

Beautiful people and so very helpful. They know and love their city and it shows. We got a good recommendation too re places for a hot lunch which we really needed. Lots of good brochures to cover their city and other areas.

Ashleigh at the information centre gave us fantastic local information and recommendations, and even helped us book a trip to Hobbiton after we thought it had sold out months ago. Also stocks postcards and a rather handsome full-size Gandalf statue. Worth ducking in for sure.

So helpful, Regan went the extra mile to sort out 3 lost old men. We found it hard to find...but really it isnt. Good info on how to get around by bus...many thanks.

Beautiful vistas but dress warm. The day we visited the temperature at the top was 4 degrees C and felt like 4 below with wind gusts up to 90 km/hr. It was very difficult to even walk to the center.

Most wonderful. Great people. We went 3 times: for our Snapper card, twice for a bus ticket and hotel reservations. Very helpful.

Staff member we spoke with was cheerful and very helpful. Tickets to various places could be purchased there.

Thank you Keira for helping us with parking issues and your excellent knowledge of the area. V friendly and helpful.

Very nice view, from top of the cable car..highly recommended to visit in Wellington.

Booked a great trip around Wellington from the tourist bureau. Easy to deal with and no hassles.

Cable Car Museum at Wellington Visited on 31/1/2019 After getting off the real cable car at the peak of Kelbourne, we visit the Cable Car Museum to bring to the past to look at how it started. Besides photographs and documents, there is a model of the cable car complete with a conductor and a passenger. The first cable car run on 22 February 1902. How amazing the service is still in operation.

A great FREE attraction located at the top of the Wellington Cable Car. Ideal jump off point for the FREE Amazing Botanical Gardens. This is a great (very interesting) place to visit whilst you're in Wellington NZ. Even the merch is reasonably priced Did! Did I mention entrance is FREE?🤣😉👍 HOT TIP🔥 Beat the queue for the cable car. Take the Number 2 bus from the same location as where people are queueing to go up on the Cable Car. Go a couple of stops for around $1 get off at Founder's Gate, this way you get to walk through the fabulous Botanical Gardens to the Cable Car Station where there's no queue & ride down for around $6 😉👍

A great little place to visit at the top of the cable car ride. So interesting to read the history behind it all and see some of the original cable cars. Free to enter although a donation is appreciated

A modest little museum that is great to kill some time while waiting at the top of the hill for the cable car. Downstairs is a working model of the old cable wheels. Nice little gift store.

Nice little museum and gift shop. Explained why and how the Trolley/Funicular were built, how Wellington is home to the most private trolleys in the world and other interesting facts. When we visited (04NOV22) tickets were NZ$5 one way or NZ$9 round trip. Once you reach the top, the walk down is listed as 35 min. Some areas are steep or have uneven stairs so if you have difficulty walking you may consider a round trip ticket.

Great fun for young and old alike at a reasonable price. So much to see and do once you reach the top, including fine dining with a spectacular view of Wellington.

I actually walked up and didn’t realize I had, so didn’t bother going on the cable car, but I’m sure it would be really fun for anybody that tries it. What I really loved was the whole history of the cable cars in Wellington and the museum is very well done. And the views up there at the top are amazing. And the cable car one way is only $6, and the museum is free so it’s a good bang for buck. And then you can wander through the Botanical Gardens, which are free as well.

just buy a oneway ticket to the top then walk through the botanical gardens and cemetary all the way back to the bottom. well worth the effort

Free entry. Oodles of Wellington history here, and if you're like me and like to read everything, you're in for a treat! Both static and interactive displays. Great views of Wellington CBD and harbor here also. A nice wee gimmick was the penny press; for a small fee mint your own! Set aside an hour maximum for viewing. Also while you're here be sure to take a ride down the hill on the Wellington Cable Car or just take a leisurely stroll through the Botanical Gardens if that's more your thing. Thoroughly enjoyed my time at the museum, highly recommended 👌

This is good place to visit in wellington. Its is only 5 minutes if you come feom bottom of the cable car. ( you need to buy a ticket to cable car) Museum is explained history of cable car in wellington with clear pictures and description. Its free to visit. You can buy souvenirs from museum shop and if you like you can donate as well for future of the museum.

Amazing little museum with great views of Welly. Lots of information about the history of the cable cars and a fully restored cable car for you to see. The little gift shop is great for cute souvenirs and there is a friendly cat that appeared while I was there.

You take the cable car up to the top of the hill and there is a place to go inside the museum and there’s a gift shop. There’s also a little restaurant that has amazing pizza and there’s a nice lookout to see the city. Highly recommend.

Must visit place as a tourist. Rich heritage of 120 years and 1 million trips can be experienced. Lovely view at the top. Don't miss the museum and the winding room at the top.

Lovely little museum and very interesting to see the old cars and the restored ones. We had a good time learning about the history behind the cable cars

Authentic Wellington!... in a nutshell. A pleasant experience that I believe only Wellington offers. The Trams are no more operational in NZ , but this site give commuters the opportunity to relive yesteryear. The journey by the cable car (tram) was very short but plenty to do at the summit, not to mention its picturesque views. The Museum with its realistic wax figurines soaks the viewer into a nostalgic realm. From Souvenir shops to chances taking photos is all available. Friendly staff too. Thank you team for maintaining the cleanness of this attraction.

The cable car is a must for coming to Welly, and it does not disappoint, well kept and clean, the museum is good great information and you can see the winding mechanism in working order, the ride is a few mins and the cars run about every 10mins so no wait time the tunnels are all lighted so that is good as well a real photo opportunity

It's a fascinating attraction that showcases the history and mechanis of wellington's iconic cable car system. It exhibits on the development of the cable car, it's role in wellington's transportation system and tech behind it's operation. We can explore historical photographs, artifacts and interactive displays that provide insights into the cable car system. A must visit destination for anyone interested in wellington's history & Engineering marvels.

The solar telescope was the highlight! Seeing actual solar flares and cool spots(black dots) and hot spots (white dots) on the suns surface was awesome. The guide running the telescope was very generous, he took the time to zoom into some of the solar flares and explained everything. Well done! Well worth the walk over from the cable car. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity if you've already taken the time to ride the cable car to the top.

A great place for dad's to take a 60 minute nap to the soothing voice of the host and sounds of the planetarium viewing. The chair is comfy and if you do open your eyes it's dark and starry. Fascinating for the kids. There is a fee.

Awesome! We went when Saturn was in view. It was genuinely thrilling to be able to see the rings around it. Great for all ages. Accessibility would be hard for anyone viewing the telescope. There are two sets of stairs. The museum would be fine, however. I would recommend anyone to check it out.

Fabulous experience with my German student. An amazing experience to attend one of the many shows & spend some time going through the exhibitions. We are lucky to have this in Wellington.

Loved the planetarium show. We watched ‘ Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon’. It feels like roller coaster ride and you are travelling in space. Tuhura space simulation was also great. The gallery and museum stuff is also good. Unfortunately we were not able to do telescope viewing due to unclear weather. Overall definitely recommend this place for adults and kids both.

this place was super interesting and informative. we didnt have time to do other things so i just walked around the museum but it was so cool. they had real meteorites and a real piece of the moon there to touch so that was super interesting to look at and a highlight of the trip. they also had a store which was really interesting because they had things like periodic table cups and more scientific toys which is quite different from the usual souvenir store

Located inside the Botanical Garden. For general admission (without Planetarium Screening), then the best option is to buy the combo ticket with the Cable Car online via the Cable Car website. For all inclusive ticket, buy online with the Space Place website in advance as the screening tends to sold out especially during weekend and holidays. The place did open everyday so check the opening date and time before visit. Also Cable Car closes at 7pm so if you are planning for late Planetarium Screening, you should drive. On street parking is very limited and Wilson Parking is expensive. Inside staff is very friendly. Planetarium Screening is highly recommended with last 10-15 min of live show to view the southern sky (live commentary but watching on screen).

Interesting place, which can be found within the botanical gardens. Has plenty of information throughout. Good place to have a wonder. There is an entrance fee. A great place to bring kids. A worthwhile place to visit.

Well worth the visit. The planetarium films are great.

Human-interactive sundial. This is located on the path just around the corner north of Space Place. You make a shadow to become the pointer for the time. Interesting, educational, and a good conversation starter. Needs sunshine with clear shadows - passing clouds were part of the challenge, to jump in while you could tell the time. No tickets needed.

Came up on the cable car, and spent some time walking around in the botanic gardens. Lovely area to spend some time and relax. Lots of areas to walk, eat and rest.

We had a blast, got to learn about the universe ✨️ and the constellations 😍

Space Place at Carter Observatory in Wellington offers an extraordinary experience for visitors. Nestled atop the botanical gardens, the journey to the observatory itself presents stunning views of Wellington. Upon entering, visitors are immediately transported into a world of astronomy that is both educational and mesmerizing. The planetarium show is a highlight, with stunning visuals projected onto a dome ceiling, making viewers feel like they are journeying through the stars and galaxies far beyond our own. The narration provides a wealth of information about the cosmos in an accessible and engaging way. Beyond the planetarium, Space Place is filled with interactive exhibits that cater to all ages. Exhibits about the Southern Skies, constellations visible from New Zealand, and powerful telescopes used to explore deep space engage visitors in the wonders of astronomy. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, eager to answer questions and share their enthusiasm for space exploration. The observatory itself is a significant attraction, offering a tangible connection to the history of astronomy in New Zealand. Peering through the telescope offers a unique experience, linking visitors with the explorers of the past under the same starlit sky, albeit with the advantages of modern technology and understanding. For anyone interested in astronomy, or for families seeking an educational and fun outing in Wellington, Space Place at Carter Observatory is a must-visit destination. It's not merely a place to learn about stars and planets; it's an opportunity to ignite curiosity and wonder about the vast universe.

We decided to take in one of the planetarium shows today for the first time. We watched 'astronaut'. It was really good. We then had a short presentation about our night sky which was fascinating. Next we went around the exhibition. If you read everything you could spend a good hour or so. We wanted to have a go with the telescope but will have to come back one evening. You pay another admission fee but no need to book although it's worth ringing them to make sure the night is clear enough for star gazing.

Went to the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon viewing. Wow how incredible. The audio and video of the show were excellent. Would absolutely love to go again. Would be awesome if the chairs went back slightly more so you could get the full effect of the dome projector. But other than that, awesome!

Absolutely fantastic place to visit❤️ We were very lucky to be able to do... Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon😍