Wellington suggestions

[Maple30]

We're on the Princess Dawn and will be in Wellington on the 9th January. We're interested in the cable car, then walking down the gardens. We'd also like to see the Papa museum. Is this do-able on our own, or do you recommend a tour? Thanks in advance.

[avalon007]

We did exactly your itinerary first trip to Wellington - easy to do on your own.

 

About a 15 minute walk from the dock to the cable car & fairly cheap (about $6 one way) but go early as it gets crowded.

 

Gardens are nice but I can also recommend the Planetarium just a short walk from the tram stop within the gardens (about $14), the show was really good.

 

Te Papa is walkable for average fitness levels or take a cab by walking back into town from the bottom of the gardens - free to get in & lots to see & an easy walk back along the waterfront to the ship.

 

I have also heard the ships tour to the seal colony is quite good.

[madnsneaky]

You'll need to get the shuttle from the port into the city, then it's a short walk to where you get on the cable car, $7.50 one way. There were volunteers all along the way directing us where to go. The gardens are spectacular, I could have spent the whole day there. It is about a 10 minute walk from the gardens back into the city. We did not go to Te Papa museum, instead we went to the old government buildings, very interesting. The bank arcade with the old sunken ship underground is worth a quick look. We also went to the port museum, which is free with plenty to see, the new attic area was well done. We did all this and still had time to do a little shopping and have a relaxing beer at a lovely pub.

You will probably find a lot more info on all these ports in the Australia and New Zealand section of the Ports part of the forum.

[aussielozzie18]

We did this too on our first cruise to Wellington. Our ship (with RCI) had a paid shuttle service into Wellington if you didnt want to walk. It dropped you off opposite the entrance to the laneway to the cable car. We bought a one-way ticket for the very brief cable car ride. The walk down thru the gardens was lovely. I wore slip-ons with a wedge heel which wasnt very smart. Make sure you are wearing flats.

 

Once we got the bottom of the gardens, there was a volunteer waiting around if anyone had any questions. I asked her about getting to the Museum. She pointed us to the bus stop across the road. A bus came along not long after and the bus driver was super friendly and helpful and told us which stop to get off at.

 

We had plenty of time to do the cable car, gardens, museum and a spot of shopping before heading back to the ship.

[Beanb41]

If you check the Trip Advisor Wellington Forum , what is proposed is on the Top Questions on top right hand corner of the page.

 

A 15 - 20 minute walk along Aotea Quay to the Railway station and then around the waterfront will take you to Te Papa. First stop at Te Papa should be the World War 1 exhibition. It is without peer anywhere and will blow your mind. A further 10 minute walk to Lambton Quay will put you at the base of the Cable car. The shuttle buses stop here so be prepared for a bit of wait as the Cable car is generally first port of call for those using the shuttle. At the top it is a simple walk down through the gardens, past Parliament to the Railway station and back along Aotea Quay to the ship

[Bimnut]

We were there Jan 1 this year on the Solstice. We walked from port to the cable car, probably about a 15-20 minute walk, average fitness. I'd also suggest to do the cable car first as it will get crowded, we went to the top checked out the view and the cable car museum, which we loved. Then took the cable car back down after a out an hour, by the time we got to the bottom the line was all the way back outside of the laneway.

 

After this we stopped for a coffee and walked to Te Papa. This place is well worth a visit and plan to spend some time in there too, it is very interesting. We had a late lunch on the Quay and walked back to the ship, was a very full day and we totally enjoyed it, even though we were both struggling after a very big night.

 

Enjoy, we loved Wellington it had a great vibe and the people were very friendly, we would have stopped and talk to at least a dozen locals.

[MicCanberra]

We're on the Princess Dawn and will be in Wellington on the 9th January. We're interested in the cable car, then walking down the gardens. We'd also like to see the Papa museum. Is this do-able on our own, or do you recommend a tour? Thanks in advance.

 

Definitely doable on your own and weather permitting one of the nicest ways to spend the day there.:D

[Hawka]

A stone grill meal at D4 on featherson [ it is just around the corner from shuttle drop off in bradley st i think thats right

[Beanb41]

We were there Jan 1 this year on the Solstice. We walked from port to the cable car, probably about a 15-20 minute walk, average fitness. I'd also suggest to do the cable car first as it will get crowded, we went to the top checked out the view and the cable car museum, which we loved. Then took the cable car back down after a out an hour, by the time we got to the bottom the line was all the way back outside of the laneway.

 

After this we stopped for a coffee and walked to Te Papa. This place is well worth a visit and plan to spend some time in there too, it is very interesting. We had a late lunch on the Quay and walked back to the ship, was a very full day and we totally enjoyed it, even though we were both struggling after a very big night.

 

Enjoy, we loved Wellington it had a great vibe and the people were very friendly, we would have stopped and talk to at least a dozen locals.

 

 

The queues to see the World War 1 exhibition at Te Papa will make the cable car line up pale into insignificance. This exhibition have queues every day such is the magnificence of it and it is FREE. This should be your first stop of the day.

[MicCanberra]

I think the weather may play a big part as to where the queues are going to be longest.

[Beanb41]

I think the weather may play a big part as to where the queues are going to be longest.

 

The Te Papa exhibition is now been going for 8 months and since April, weekends and special events in town have created long queues.

[lyndarra]

The queues to see the World War 1 exhibition at Te Papa will make the cable car line up pale into insignificance. This exhibition have queues every day such is the magnificence of it and it is FREE. This should be your first stop of the day.

We always visit Te PaPa when in Wellington. There's always something new and exciting.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

We always visit Te PaPa when in Wellington. There's always something new and exciting.

 

It will be even more exciting soon..Sir Peter Jackson is building a film museum alongside Te Papa .....unfortunately thats about 3 years away.

[lyndarra]

We recently did the tour of Weta Digital. This is where movie special effects are created for many movies, particularly the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Very worthwhile. The tour also included city sights and a walking tour of some of the outdoor settings used in Lord of the Rings.

[MicCanberra]

It will be even more exciting soon..Sir Peter Jackson is building a film museum alongside Te Papa .....unfortunately thats about 3 years away.

 

I look forward to seeing something new when I visit in the future.:D

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I saw recently where Weta Workshops and Hobbiton , in Matamata , are the 2 most popular tours for visitors in NZ now.

[MicCanberra]

I saw recently where Weta Workshops and Hobbiton , in Matamata , are the 2 most popular tours for visitors in NZ now.

 

Yes, they certainly have been popular, you really need to book in to guarantee your tour place.:D

[sweetp12]

I live just an hour or so from Wellington and highly recommend Te Papa. Also second Weta Cave http://wetaworkshop.com/visit-us/the-weta-cave/ which is part of Weta Workshop (Peter Jacksons company).

 

The bus system is very good, you can easily get to Te Papa or if you want to it is a lovely walk from the ship down the water front. Once you get into the CBD part of the waterfront there is a sea front walk way that links around to Te Papa.

 

If you go to Weta workshop take bus number 2 from the city to Miramar. Get off at Camperdown Road (ask the bus driver to drop you off).

 

There is no reason to get a tour, Wellington itself is a very compact water front and everything you want to see is within walking distance for most people. If not a bus or a taxi will get you there easily.

 

Good luck and enjoy yourself. Remember to pack something warm - Wellington is stunning on a beautiful day but it is called windy wellington for a reason!