Wellington: City Tour, Cable Car Ride & Weta Cave with Pickup

4.86

(169 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest—I thought I was prepared for Wellington’s wind. Turns out, you can’t really be. The first thing I remember is our guide, Jamie, grinning as my hair whipped around at Mount Victoria lookout. “That’s the real Wellington welcome,” he said. The view stretched out forever—harbor on one side, tangled hills on the other—and someone’s scarf nearly took flight. I still think about that spot when I hear the word ‘Wellington’ now.

We piled back into the van (not a bus—thank god) and zipped down to Lyall Bay. There was this salty smell in the air and surfers out even though it was barely 10am. Jamie pointed out a café where Harry and Meghan once had coffee—felt oddly normal to imagine them there. Then he got quiet for a moment by a memorial near the water, telling us about the Wahine disaster in 1968. It was strange how quickly the mood shifted; you could almost feel it in the sea breeze.

The Weta Cave was next—honestly, I thought we were going to see bugs at first (nope). Inside it’s all movie props and Lord of the Rings stuff; there’s even a troll statue outside that made me laugh harder than I expected. Jamie took photos for us—he kept making jokes about “getting our best hobbit angles.” After that we wound back through Oriental Bay (fancy houses, golden sand) before hopping out for the famous Wellington Cable Car ride up to Kelburn. It’s not a long ride but something about watching the city drop away behind you feels quietly magical.

The Lady Norwood Rose Garden surprised me most—so many colors and smells all at once, bees everywhere but nobody seemed bothered. Last stop was New Zealand Parliament; people were lounging on the grass like it was just another Tuesday. Jamie pointed out some old iron gates with royal initials—I’d have missed that detail if he hadn’t mentioned it. The whole day felt packed but not rushed. I guess that’s Wellington: wild weather, stories everywhere, locals who actually seem happy you’re here.