Top Wellington Half-day Tours

An hour or so north of Wellington, Martinborough is fast making a name for itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading wine regions. Each weekend, Wellingtonians make the trek over the Remutakas to escape to this European-style wine village. This small group tour is a convenient way to visit Martinborough. There’s no need to stress about driving on country backroads, and no need to plan the day’s itinerary - leaving you to focus on the wine and the iconic scenery.

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy a hassle-free end to your time in Wellington with this shared departure transfer to Wellington Airport. You will be picked up from your accommodation doorstep and transferred by comfortable shuttle to the airport. It’s a budget-friendly alternative to the pricey private taxi rides.

Book a shared arrival transfer from Wellington Airport to your hotel doorstep, and enjoy a stress-free start to your trip. It’s a simple, cost-effective option that takes all the hassle out of arranging transportation after you land. Transport is by climate-controlled shuttle.

Experience the wildlife of New Zealand in the early evening with a guided 2,5-hour tour of Zealandia, a wildlife sanctuary located on the outskirts of Wellington. This after-hours tour takes place during the most active period for many resident animals, when they transition from daytime to nighttime activity. You may observe birds returning to their nests, hear nocturnal birds waking up, and learn how the sanctuary restores native habitat.

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.

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.

View the must-see attractions of Wellington on a 2.5-hour shore excursion. During your sightseeing tour of New Zealand’s capital, observe architectural landmarks such as the New Zealand Parliament Buildings and Beehive, and visit Old St Paul’s Cathedral. Soak up picturesque views of the city and harbor from a lookout pt on Mt Victoria, and have the option to take a ride on the Wellington Cable Car. Round-trip port transport by coach is included.

Wellington’s sprawling coastline can be intimidating to explore. This guided tour will take you around all the highlights in around five hours. Starting with views of the harbour and the sprawling Wellington region at the Mount Victoria lookout, you’ll be driven around Oriental Bay, the Miramar Peninsula and the winding southern coastline. In between, enjoy stops at Weta Workshop’s Weta Cave shop, the Wahine Memorial Park and Taputarenga Marine Reserve.

Enter the world of Wētā Workshop with the Wētā Workshop Experience + Guided Transfers, a guided round trip by Wētā Workshop! You’ll enjoy return transfers from Wellington i-SITE to Wētā Workshop, where you’ll explore our two unique tour spaces. Your driver will highlight iconic film sites during your journey to the Wētā Cave (a cavern of creativity in it's own right!) On arrival, a Wētā Workshop crew member will show you incredible props and costumes from films like The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia.

When you ship docks in Wellington, explore New Zealand's vibrant capital city while getting fresh air and exercise on an electric bike tour. Ride along the Wellington Waterfront and Miramar Peninsula, pedaling past beaches, urban landmarks, and residential neighborhoods with a guide and small group. Stop often to snap photos, and use the bike’s battery power to easily scale Mt. Maupuia for stellar views over the city and coast.

Our guests enjoy travelling in the comfort and luxury of new electric Tesla SUVs , with zero emissions. We provide a private tour for you, offering flexibility in the itinerary and taking you to a scenic locations that large tour buses do not offer. Tours are fully inclusive with no added extra charges. They include refreshments and all entry fees. Complimentary Antipodes artesian mineral water, along with HEPA air conditioning. Please note venues may vary as a result of their availability.

With innovative brewers, New Zealand’s biggest craft beer festival and a craft beer bar around every corner, Wellington is the Southern Hemisphere’s craft beer capital. With new breweries popping up around the city, however, it can be hard for hop heads to know where to go. On this private tour, check out some of the city’s most successful craft breweries and brewpubs.

Across the Cook Strait is the Marlborough Sounds, a cluster of picturesque bays, inlets and islands. Set in one of these bays is the Bay of Many Coves Resort, a luxury hotel that can only be accessed by boat or helicopter. Your helicopter will leave the Wellington waterfront and fly you over the Cook Strait to the Resort. Once there, you’ll be treated to a three-course lunch at the resort’s gourmet restaurant The Foredeck.

Lovers of good food and drink will enjoy this small-group food walking tour of Wellington. Sample some of the capital’s finest cuisine, including local specialties. Your guide will show you the best spots, and eat at places that you might miss when touring independently. Whether you’re a first-time or repeat visitor to Wellington, you’re sure to try something new.

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.

Set amid 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of lush countryside and rolling hills, the Wharekauhau Country Estate is an idyllic spot for a lunch date and the most spectacular way to arrive is by helicopter. Make like a VIP on this 3-hour tour from Wellington, with round-trip transfers by helicopter and a 5-course lunch of gourmet cuisine and wine.

Wellington, long-celebrated for its bohemian liberal arts and cafe culture, is fast-becoming renowned as New Zealand’s capitol of craft beer. Visit four Wellington and Hutt Valley breweries, tasting a range of tasty local beers at each establishment on this small group day tour designed for lovers of ales, stouts, lagers and everything hoppy in-between.

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.

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.