New Zealand · TOURS IN WELLINGTON

The 15 Best Wellington Tours & Tickets

35 tours  ·  from $7 a head

The capital is small, walkable and windy, which suits short bookings. The 15 below cover Weta Workshop, the cable car, the harbour and the wildlife sanctuary, priced and mostly done inside half a day.

Wellington: Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket - Starting at the Wētā Cave in Miramar
Guided, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Wellington: Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket

1.Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 997 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35Our pick

At Wētā Workshop on Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula, an English-speaking guide leads you through props, costumes, creatures, and movie-making techniques from The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, District 9, and more. Meet an artist at work, handle selected pieces, and explore the Wētā Cave store. The tour lasts 90 minutes and does not include transport.

“Great Tour! Our guide Holly showed us around and did a fantastic job explaining to us how the different costumes and props are made, what the process looks like etc. and always made sure to answer any questions we had. We also got to talk to one of the artists working there. Can definitely recommend!”

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Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour - Wellington - Props, costumes and creatures you can examine up close
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour – Wellington

2.Wētā Workshop Experiences Tour – Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 875 reviews · from $36Top rated

Spend 90 minutes inside Wētā Workshop’s Miramar creative base, where guides explain the making of props, costumes, creatures, prosthetics and miniatures from films including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. You may handle selected pieces, meet artists, and watch practical effects being made. Groups are limited to 16.

“We're huge LOTR fans and could have spent all day here- so much to see. Brandon our guide was enthusiastic, entertaining and knowledgeable. My only slight criticism is that as a hearing impaired visitor I couldn't hear the videos, and there were no subtitles. Fascinating place, with the opportunity to handle props and have a go at sculpting. Also noticed other Weta items on display around Wellington, which we would otherwise have missed. The shop is incredible.”

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Wellington: Return Cable Car Ticket - What the journey is really like
Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Wellington

Wellington: Return Cable Car Ticket

3.Return Cable Car Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 714 reviews · 183 days · from $7Best value

Ride Wellington’s short historic funicular from Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay to Kelburn. The trip passes through three tunnels and over three bridges, with access to the Botanic Garden, Cable Car Museum, Space Place, cafés, and hill walks. Choose a one-way or return ticket, and exchange your voucher at the ticket counter before boarding.

“Great experience for all ages. Recommend this to anyone visiting Wellington or just a family activity to do.”

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Half Day Tour of Wellington - Mount Victoria gives you the big picture
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Half Day Tour of Wellington

4.Half Day Tour of Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 638 reviews · from $79

This 3-hour-20-minute Wellington tour uses an air-conditioned minivan to connect Mount Victoria, Wētā Cave, Oriental Bay, the Cable Car, Parliament, Old St Paul’s, and more. Local guides such as Merv, Brian, Wayne, and Marty add history, humor, and practical city insight. Hotel and cruise-port pickup are available.

“Great tour guide and lots of information. Being in a small group was really nice. The van was a good way to being able to see better during the tour.”

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Wellington: Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket - Starting near the cruise terminal or city center
City Tours, City Tours in Wellington, Guided, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Wellington: Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket

5.Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 553 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Settle into an air-conditioned vehicle for a three-hour Wellington overview with local guides such as Jack, Gina, Sarah, and Chris. You’ll stop at the Wellington sign, South Coast, and Mt Victoria, then ride the cable car and pass Te Papa, the Beehive, Old St Paul’s, Cuba Street, and Courtenay Place. Cruise-port pickup is available.

“The tour was great value. Saw a lot of Wellinton we hadn't seen before. Gina was a great guide with her local knowledge & humor. She is a very capable driver making sure her passangers had a smooth ride. James was amazing giving us a lift to the pick up spot where Gina was when we were stuck at the cruise termianal. Thank you James.”

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Wellington's Original LOTR Experience - includes Weta and Lunch - Mount Victoria combines city views with a famous forest scene
Tour Reviews, Tours in Wellington

Wellington’s Original LOTR Experience – includes Weta and Lunch

6.Wellington’s Original LOTR Experience – includes Weta and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 529 reviews · from $201

Spend about eight hours tracing Wellington’s Lord of the Rings locations with a film-savvy guide. Visit Weta Workshop, walk through the forest used as Rivendell, see Mount Victoria and the Hutt Valley, and stop for lunch at Aston Norwood Gardens. Guides such as Marc, Grant, Andy, and Hamish add personal film stories and local insight.

“Marc was great! Really relaxed tour, and thorough. He told personal and excellent stories of production of LoTR and the Hobbit. Did really good with the trivia quiz! This tour exceeded years of expectation!”

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Kapiti Island: Classic Guided Day Tour - Waiorua Bay and the first guided walk
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Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour

7.Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 522 reviews · from $191

Take the ferry from Paraparaumu Beach to Kapiti Island for a private nature and history tour. A local guide leads a one-hour walk toward Waiorua Bay, with chances to spot kākā, kōkako, kererū, takahē, and other native birds. Lunch, coffee, permits, and return ferry transport are included.

“Our guide Tim was awesome, very knowledgable and passionate about the island’s history, fauna and flora.”

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Northern Explorer Train Journey from Wellington to Auckland - Rolling farmland and the Waikato countryside
Tour Reviews, Tours in Wellington, Train Experiences

Northern Explorer Train Journey from Wellington to Auckland

8.Northern Explorer Train Journey from Wellington to Auckland

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 513 reviews · from $157

Travel from Wellington Station to Auckland by Northern Explorer, passing the Kapiti Coast, Waikato farmland, and Tongariro National Park. Your seat includes GPS-triggered commentary, while open-air viewing decks bring you close to volcanic peaks and dramatic rail engineering. A licensed café serves food and drinks for purchase.

“That you need to sit on the A and B side of the train if you are travelling from Wellington to Auckland for best views from viaducts. We were on the other side. The viewing coach is quite low so if you are tall you have to bend down to see out.”

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Wellington: Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch - Mt Victoria and the first steps into Middle-earth
Full-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Wellington: Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch

9.Original LOTR Full-Day Tour with Weta & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 481 reviews · 8 hours · from $194

Spend eight hours tracing Wellington’s Lord of the Rings locations with an English-speaking guide, then visit Wētā Workshop for its film-making exhibition. Expect Mt Victoria, Hobbiton Woods, Rivendell, Isengard, a Hobbit-style lunch, and guides such as Marc, Dixie, Grant, and Gina, whose film knowledge adds plenty of behind-the-scenes detail.

“loved this tour, our guide was amazing with great information. the Weta tour was fun! well worth it”

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Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington - A short stop at C’est Cheese
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington, Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Wellington

Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington

10.Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 454 reviews · from $114

Travel from Wellington to Martinborough in a small group of up to 11, crossing the Remutaka Ranges with a local guide such as Simon, Athena, Gary, or Alistair. Visit three wineries, taste included wines, and stop at C’est Cheese when time allows. Lunch is optional and paid separately.

“Athena was an excellent, informative guide. She shared winery and local information like a pro. She engaged everyone on the tour and was able to call us all by name.”

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Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island - Reaching Kapiti Island from Paraparaumu Beach
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island

11.Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 443 reviews · from $415

Stay overnight on Kapiti Island, a protected predator-free sanctuary off Wellington’s Kapiti Coast. Your package includes return ferry transport, DOC permits, meals, guided bushwalks, a night walk for ruru, korora, and kiwi pukupuku, plus your choice of cabin, luxury tent, or en suite accommodation.

“The island is so beautiful with its natural soundscape and landscape, pest and predator-free since 1997. Native birds were literally all around us and the whole experience was quite magical. Hikes were great to go on for the active, and theRead more”

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InterIslander Ferry - Wellington to Picton - Crossing Cook Strait by ferry
Tour Reviews, Tours in Wellington

InterIslander Ferry – Wellington to Picton

12.InterIslander Ferry – Wellington to Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 417 reviews · from $58

Travel passenger-only from Wellington to Picton in about 3.5 hours aboard the InterIslander ferry. You’ll cross Cook Strait, watch for dolphins and seabirds, and approach the forested Marlborough Sounds and Queen Charlotte Sound. The ticket includes two 23-kilogram bags, viewing-deck access, and a Wellington Railway Station shuttle if needed.

“Wonderful crew. They were very professional. They were very helpful with directions. I made the crossing and survived.”

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Wellington: Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta - Starting in central Wellington and at Embassy Cinema
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours in Wellington

Wellington: Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta

13.Original LOTR Half-Day Experience with Weta

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 368 reviews · 4 hours · from $104

Join an English-speaking guide such as Dixie, Andy, Sarah, or Natalie for a four-hour Wellington film tour. Visit Embassy Cinema, Mount Victoria, forest filming sites, and Wētā Workshop in Miramar. Transportation, a native forest walk, and the workshop exhibition are included. Cruise-terminal pickup is available.

“Andy was great! We loved his anecdotes and the firsthand information he had about the LOTR from working on the movies. He also had shared interesting information about the city and nature of Wellington. Definitely recommend!”

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Wellington's Original HD LOTR Experience - includes Weta Tour - From the Embassy Theatre to Mount Victoria
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Wellington’s Original HD LOTR Experience – includes Weta Tour

14.Wellington’s Original HD LOTR Experience – includes Weta Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 312 reviews · from $108

Visit Wellington’s Middle-earth filming sites with guides such as Marc, Robbie, Gina, or Chewy, then tour Weta Workshop’s exhibition and Weta Cave. You’ll see Mount Victoria views, forest locations from the films, props, costumes, and special-effects displays. Pickup is available from central Wellington and the cruise terminal.

“The half day experience was a great introduction into the making of LOTR and special effects. The weather didn’t cooperate and it would’ve been nice if we could have switched the order of activities to be indoors during the rain, but I Read more”

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Zealandia by Day Tour - The first walk through the protected valley
Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Wellington

Zealandia by Day Tour

15.Zealandia by Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 295 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Spend two hours walking Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne with a small group of up to 12 people and an English or Chinese-speaking guide. Look for kākā, takahē, tūī, bellbirds, kākāriki, and tuatara while learning how Wellington restored a predator-free sanctuary. The $41 fee includes entry and the guided walk.

“Guide was knowledgeable, chatty and helpful. He took the time to explain and catered to the children in the group.”

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