Top Wellington Day Trips

Take a break from the city and spend the day in Martinborough, one of the finest food and drink destinations in the North Island. Enjoy the views as you leave Wellington and cross the Remutaka Ranges into the Wairarapa region. Visit a cheese factory, a chocolatier, and a winery, tasting some of the finest local produce as you go. Spend some free time in Martinborough at the end, sampling more food if you wish.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand’s best-kept nature sanctuaries and a predator-free haven for native birds. On this day trip to the island, take a ferry from Paraparaumu Beach and spend your day walking the island, identifying kākā, kōkako, kererū and more with the help of your nature guide. Enjoy a chef-prepared lunch on the island before you head back to the mainland.

Tick off the top attractions of the Windy City on this private full-day tour of Wellington. Experience the myriad delights of New Zealand’s capital as you take in the views from Mt Victoria, spot seals at Red Rocks, then go behind-the-scenes with a short tour of the Weta Cave, where the special effects for Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were created. After a scrumptious lunch at the Chocolate Fish Café (included), ride the cable car over Wellington and visit landmarks like the Botanical Gardens, the Parliament Buildings and the Beehive.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” movies will love being immersed in the mythical universe for a day in the Wellington region. You’ll visit a number of places that appeared in the films, including rivers, forests, and a quarry. Spend time at Wētā Workshop, where the special effects for these films, and many others, were created and brought to life. This is a must-do tour for Tolkien enthusiasts.

Whether it’s your first time in Wellington or you just want to see as much as possible during your time in port, this half-day sightseeing tour offers a great introduction to the city and a diverse range of sights. Visit the iconic Weta Cave and the historic Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, ride the Wellington cable car to the top of the city, and enjoy panoramic views from the top of Mount Victoria.

Wellington’s south coast is both a popular choice and a missed opportunity for visitors; although a visit to Weta Workshop is a popular choice, many visitors pass up the chance to see the rocky beaches and rough surf that Wellington locals have learned to love. From the Weta Cave to the Taputarenga Marine Reserve, this small group tour offers the full south coast experience.

The hills around Wellington offer a spectacular backdrop for a cycling tour, but you don’t need to worry about biking uphill. This 3-4 hour electric bike tour takes all the effort out of cycling, so you can concentrate on admiring the sights and enjoying the views.

Travelers with a short time in Wellington can enjoy a Lord of the Rings-themed tour in just half a day. Visit Hobbiton Woods, where many scenes were filmed, and take a tour of Weta Workshop, where many of the films’ special effects were thought up and brought to life. You’ll even see the theater that hosted the films’ world premiers. This is a must-do tour for Tolkien fans.

Wellington, New Zealand, is home to an entire community of creative Wētā Workshop artisans who’ve brought life to such films as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies, King Kong, The Chronicles of Narnia, Avatar, and many others. Wētā Workshop is your gateway to filmmaking creativity. Join our guided tours and learn about the making of movie effects, from armour to weapons, creatures to costumes, make-up to miniatures, and more!

Combine award-winning wine and gorgeous scenery on a full-day tour from Wellington to Martinborough that also explores Hutt Valley, the Rimutaka Ranges, the Wairarapa coast, and Lake Onoke. You'll visit Martinborough wineries for cellar tours and tastings, pause for lunch in a vineyard restaurant, then eat dinner at the edge of Lake Onoke after a short shoreline hike. This Martinborough wine tour includes meals and a wine tasting, and it's limited to 11 people to ensure personalized service.

See and do exactly what you want on a private full-day tour of the Kapiti Coast. Choose your own sights and activities from several suggestions, so every member of your group is satisfied. Spend time on the beaches at Plimmerton and Paraparaumu, enjoy the views from the Paekakariki Hill Road Lookout, and sample sweet treats at the Kapiti Chocolate Factory, among other options. All entry fees are included.

Explore the nature around Wellington on this exciting mountain bike tour on the Remutaka Cycle Trail, suitable for riders of all levels. On this tour, enjoy a longer ride through bird-filled native forests, over bridges, and through rail tunnels. Equipment, transport, and food are taken care of - all you need to do is to be ready and dressed at your accommodation.

Martinborough is known as one of New Zealand's premier wine regions. This private tour takes you to three of the best Martinborough wineries—Palliser Estate, Poppies Martinborough, and Te Kairanga Wines—tastings included. Cellar door experiences let you sample world-class wines. Departure time is flexible, with hotel or port pickup from Wellington.

We will pick you up with a 9.30am shuttle from Wellington Station and travel up to the start of the trail at Kaitoke. Follow the meandering Hutt River downhill from its source to its end at Seaview, then ride around the coastline to the beautiful Days Bay. You can either drop your bikes off at Wildfinder Days Bay and go for a paddle on a kayak or SUP (open during summer only), then jump on the ferry back to Wellington. 46km of moderate riding, suitable for riders with reasonable levels of fitness. Please note this tour is for a Mountain Bike, if you would prefer to ride an eBike please select the day trip: 'From Source to Sea eBike Remutaka Cycle Tour' instead.

Escape from Wellington for the day on this private fully-day tour of the beautiful Kapiti Coast. Enjoy a variety of sights and attractions to suit your needs and interests, including the views from Paekakariki Hill, the Nga Manu Wildlife Centre, and the Tuatara Brewery. This is an ideal tour for travelers short on time in the Wellington region who want to explore beyond the city.

Sip your way around Martinborough — a once sleepy colonial town that’s now a prominent wine village at the heart of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail — on this private day trip from Wellington. Following hotel or port pickup and a scenic drive through the Wairarapa, you’ll visit three of Martinborough’s renowned wineries. Enjoy a guided wine tasting at each and a lunch platter with wine at Poppies Martinborough. Then, choose to continue hopping around Martinborough’s wineries or travel to nearby Greytown, whose pretty streets are thronged with cafes and antique stores.

Martinborough - just a stone's throw from central Wellington - is one of New Zealand's most prestigious and awarded wine areas. This full-day tour includes tastings at three boutique wineries, showcasing some of the finest local drops from the region, and travels through beautiful natural scenery featured in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For those less inclined to wine, stop at a local brewery to try some craft beers.

Get out of Wellington for the day and explore scenic wine-making country in South Wairarapa on a private tour. One benefit of going with a guide and driver is you can sample local wines without worrying about driving home. Visit two wineries, scenic Cape Palliser Lighthouse, and a seal colony, and relax over lunch at a top restaurant in Martinborough.

Beginner and advanced cyclists alike will enjoy this fun cycling tour through the Remutaka Ranges, on the Remutaka Cycle Trail. The easy-to-moderate trail is suitable for most riders who are up for an adventure, and the standard 11 mile (18 kilometer) route can be lengthened or shortened to suit your needs. Enjoy the forested scenery that you’ll ride through, and learn more about the history of this area from your local guides.

Get to know the ‘coolest little capital’ Wellington on this private guided tour. Take in spectacular views of the city from three incredible vantage points; Mount Victoria the Wind Turbine and the top of the Cable Car. See the golden sands and colorful townhouses of Oriental Bay, discover nature at the Rose Gardens and see Peter Jackson’s impressively restored art-deco style Roxy Cinema.

Spend a day touring the Wairarapa, the most accessible wine producing region from the capital. This convenient tour is ideal for cruise ship passengers or those with limited time in Wellington as return transfers from the central city are provided. Visit three top-notch wineries and taste samples at each, and enjoy a platter-style lunch at one. Spend time in Greytown and Featherston, and visit a Lord of the Rings filming site.

Your tour is your tour only! No mixed groups! You get to have your own dedicated Driver/Guide and 'Memory Creator' for your entire tour. Enjoy a 7 hour private tour capturing the best tastes Leed Street Wellington and beyond has to offer.

Choose this day-tour for a personal and comfortable visit to a number of craft beer breweries in Wellington.  With beverages and lunch included, you’re all set to have a low-stress, informal day away from the hustle and bustle of your cruise ship. This is a great way to understand, from beer to beer, why the city is the craft beer capital of New Zealand.  Make the most of Wellington’s array of craft beer and its friendly, knowledgeable residents!