3 Days in Wellington: The Perfect Itinerary
3‑day itinerary in Wellington, New Zealand with balanced sightseeing, meals and rest.
Day 1 — Arrival and Central Wellington
- 08:00 — Flight arrival at Wellington Airport (Wellington Airport)
- 08:45 — Shuttle to hotel (Wellington Airport → Hotel)
- 09:15 — Check‑in at hotel (Hotel St. James (or similar central hotel))
- 09:45 — Breakfast (Café on Lambton Quay)
- 10:30 — Mount Victoria Lookout (Mount Victoria, Wellington)
- 11:30 — Brooklyn Wind Turbine (Brooklyn, Wellington)
- 12:30 — Lunch at a local restaurant (Cuba Street)
- 13:45 — Pātaka Art + Museum (Queens Wharf, Wellington)
- 14:45 — Wright's Hill Fortress (Wright's Hill, Wellington)
- 15:45 — The Bucket Fountain (The Bucket Fountain, Courtenay Place, Wellington)
- 16:45 — Rest / coffee break (Café near Courtenay Place)
- 18:00 — Dinner (Restaurant on Willis Street)
- 20:00 — Evening walk to Centennial Lookout (Centennial Lookout, Wellington)
- 22:00 — Return to hotel (Hotel St. James)
Day 2 — Cultural and Natural Highlights
- 07:30 — Breakfast (Hotel restaurant)
- 08:30 — Mount Victoria (hike to summit) (Mount Victoria, Wellington)
- 09:30 — Rangituhi / Colonial Knob (Rangituhi, Wellington)
- 10:30 — Goldmine Hill (Goldmine Hill, Wellington)
- 11:30 — Lunch at a local restaurant (Thorndon area)
- 12:45 — Butterfly Creek (Butterfly Creek, Karori)
- 13:45 — Wētā Digital (tour) (Wētā Digital, Miramar)
- 14:45 — The Wētā Cave (interactive exhibit) (Wētā Digital, Miramar)
- 15:45 — Rest / snack (Café in Miramar)
- 16:45 — Matiu / Mako Island ferry (view from harbor) (Wellington Harbour)
- 18:00 — Dinner (Restaurant on Oriental Bay)
- 20:00 — Evening at the Bucket Fountain (night lights) (The Bucket Fountain, Courtenay Place)
- 21:30 — Return to hotel (Hotel St. James)
Day 3 — Final Day – Coastal and Historical Sites
- 07:30 — Breakfast (Hotel restaurant)
- 08:30 — Seal Colony (on Matiu Island) (Matiu Island, Wellington Harbour)
- 09:30 — Somes Island Memorial (Somes Island, Wellington Harbour)
- 10:30 — Wellington Cable Car to Botanic Garden (optional) (Wellington Cable Car)
- 11:30 — Lunch at a local restaurant (Botanic Garden Café)
- 12:30 — World War One Memorial (World War One Memorial, Wellington)
- 13:30 — Check‑out and travel to airport (Hotel St. James → Wellington Airport)
- 14:30 — Flight departure (Wellington Airport)
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Quick answers
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This itinerary covers Wellington in 3 days — see the full day-by-day plan above.
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