Wellington

Tours

Meet your host at the Kapiti Boat Club Paraparaumu and board a purpose-built jet boat for the short 20-minute trip to Ko te Waewae Kapiti o tara Rua ko Rangitani, also known as Kapiti Island. Prior to departure, your guide will take you through a short biosecurity check to ensure Kapiti Island is kept predator free. One of the reasons Kapiti Island is so special is that it does not have any mammalian predators. This means the bird life is not like on the mainland. On Kapiti, you will see and hear rare and endangered species that thrive on the island. On arrival at Kapiti Island, head up to the information center and gain a 20-minute overview of the ecology, natural history and birds you are likely to see on the island. Learn about the best tracks, how to best spot the bird, and where to swim. Then, set off on your own to soak up the beauty of the island. For an additional fee, you can enjoy a 1-hour guided walk with a world-class guide, prior to being let loose on the island. Whilst this is not a fully guided experience, your guide will be on the island for the day, available to answer any questions and help ensure you have the best day possible. After your self-guided experience, climb back onboard the boat to head back to the mainland, arriving around 2:45 PM.

Enjoy a 5 hour guided tour of the Martinborough wine region in the Wairarapa starting with a spectacular drive over the stunning Remutaka Ranges. Stop at the Remutaka Summit for amazing views before heading down into the Wairarapa.  Enjoy the view across the Stuart Macaskill Lakes from the viewing platform perched in the native bush above. Visit three of the Martinborough regions' best wineries and enjoy their Cellar Door experiences as you sample the world-class products available. Specific wineries are available by request. Visit C'est Cheese and try some of their locally produced cheeses or something from further afield. Have a look at the on-site cheese factory and peruse the available cheeses from around the country and the world. Great place to grab a snack for the road if needed.  Transportation is available. Guests may share a vehicle with others. No exclusivity guaranteed.

Soar high and get a birds-eye perspective with land and ocean views from all angles. Enjoy a scenic flight over Wellington and discover the city from a unique aerial perspective. Moments after boarding your helicopter, ascend from the heart of New Zealand's capital city on a short 9-minute exhilarating flight. In an instant, the Wellington landscape will be brought into perspective before your eyes. Marvel at the unique birds-eye views of the skyline below you, dotted with iconic buildings such as Te Papa, the Beehive, and the Cake Tin. You may even get to see the Marlborough Sounds and upper South Island on clear days.

Love cocktails? Taste and enjoy cocktails and nibbles to get your evening started on the right note. Get away from the tourist trap, enjoy the local and quirky atmosphere and sample some of Wellington’s best cocktail creations.  On this guided 2.5-hour walking tour, you will be guided through the popular entertainment areas, soaking in the city’s vibrant personality, famous for its street art, food, and drinks culture. You will hear about the history of the bars and meet the master mixologists at each location through this fun, informal yet informative drinking tour. By the end of the tour, you will learn about the best watering holes in town with plenty of time (and local knowledge) to continue with the fun on a night out.

Discover New Zealand’s native wildlife on an immersive 2-hour guided walking tour at Zealandia Ecosanctuary. Located 10-minutes from Wellington CBD, the fully-fenced, predator-free ecosanctuary is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary and vulnerable animals.  Zealandia can be easily reached by car, free shuttle, or cable car from Wellington CBD. Check in at the vistor center ticket desk where you will meet your guide. Begin with introduction in the ecosanctuary’s exhibition. You will complete a short bio-security bag check before you can enter the sanctuary. This is to prevent any predators from entering the sanctuary with you. Then, venture out into the sanctuary to discovery the riches of our native flora and fauna at its very best.  Make the most of your visit with your expert guide, who will share with you the history, sights and sounds of the forest and its secrets. Witness the highly intelligent kākā (bush parrot), kakariki, tūī and bellbirds at feeding stations positioned along the sanctuary’s walkways. After 2 hours exploring the vast parklands, you will return to the visitor center. Relax after your tour with a coffee or meal at Cafe Rata. 

Embark on a guided tour with an experienced local guide to the Martinborough region from Wellington.  After meeting your guide, you will enjoy a scenic drive over the Remutaka Ranges, with a brief stop at the summit, before descending into the Wairarapa region.  Taste a range of fantastic local and imported cheeses and gourmet foods at a popular local cheese shop in Featherston. Experience Martinborough winemaking by visiting some of the oldest vineyards in the region, before savoring a delicious lunch overlooking the spectacular countryside.  At the Martinborough Brewery, you will be able to sample 4 of the 8 craft beers on offer and wander amongst the oldest olive trees in Martinborough. Learn about different varieties of olive and how they are grown. You will also find out how to taste olive oil like a professional, before discovering how to use the full range of infused oils in quick, easy and delicious recipes.

Sit back, relax and enjoy one of the most spectacular ferry crossings in the world, between the north and south islands of New Zealand. With 92 kilometers of breathtaking views, the 3.5-hour journey between Wellington and Picton is one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourist activities.   There are 3 different ships in operation every day. Whether you are travelling alone or with your vehicle, you’ll always have a wide choice of travel times.   Once on board, enjoy a range of activities. Stroll on the decks, enjoy a meal and a drink, or catch one of the latest movie releases. You can also simply relax and take in the breathtaking view. Keep your children busy with a play area, nursery, cartoons and video games. Plus, there’s plenty of seating for families.

Explore Wellington's highlights on a 5-hour fully-guided tour. After pick-up at a meeting point your hotel, head along the Wellington Waterfront and up to the Mt. Victoria Lookout. Marvel at stunning 360-degree views of Wellington city and it's picturesque harbour. Journey along the coastal drive around Oriental Bay and Evans Bay Parades. Stop briefly at the iconic windy Wellington sign. Arrive at the famous Weta Cave Shop, the hub of Weta Studio Tours in Wellington. It's not just a retail store: it's a cavern of creativity. At the Weta Cave, snap a selfie with the life-sized sculptures, wander through the mini-museum, and watch the exclusive documentary.  Continue along to scenic Shelly Bay and around the Miramar Peninsula. Break for lunch at a seaside cafe or restaurant. Pause for a moment of remembrance at the Wahine Memorial Park. Explore the south Wellington coast, Taputarenga Marine Reserve, and Te Kopahou Reserve Visitors Centre. As the tour returns to the city, benefit from optional stops available at central city locations including the Cable Car, National War Memorial, Brooklyn Wind Turbine or Old St Paul’s Cathedral before the final drop off at Wellington I-SITE.

Enjoy a 10-hour guided tour heading north from Wellington around the western edge of the beautiful Wellington Harbor and up the Hutt Valley following the Hutt River. A scenic drive over the Remutaka Ranges includes a sightseeing stop at the summit before you arrive in the rural Wairarapa where you will enjoy a wine tasting and tapas lunch at a Martinborough vineyard and winery. Visit award winning wineries and enjoy their cellar door experiences and sample their world renowned wines before a sumptuous lunch at a vineyard restaurant. Next you head to the rugged south Wairarapa coast where you will experience epic sweeping views of Palliser Bay as you descend to the coast. Visit the rural fishing village of Ngawi, the North Island's largest permanent seal colony and the Cape Palliser Lighthouse at the most southern point of the North Island. For dinner, head to the Lake Ferry hotel before heading back over the Remutaka Ranges to Wellington. Book optional extra activities available throughout the tour including: a visit to Putangirua Pinnacles, a craft beer tasting, an olive oil tasting or a visit to the quaint town of Greytown and their famous chocolatier.

The tour starts with a coastal drive around the western edge of Wellington Harbour, heading for Beertown in Upper Hutt. Your first visit is to Kereru, a small, independently owned and family operated award-winning brewery that is incredibly passionate about making good beer whilst following sustainable practices. Have a taster of the available beers on tap, some of which include ingredients unique to New Zealand. Next stop is another member of the Brewtown family, Panhead Brewery. Panhead is New Zealand's very own craft brewing monster truck rally, putting the frighteners on anyone who thinks beer should mind its own business and cower behind the wine rack. Launched in 2013 out of the old Dunlop tyre factory in darkest Maidstone, they were embraced enthusiastically from the get go by Wellington's beer cognoscenti. Your next encounter takes you Baylands Brewery for a tasting of their tap beers and a look through their extensive range of home brewing supplies. The final tasting stop is at Tuatara Temple of Taste – The Third Eye where you will enjoy a shared tasting paddle of your choice in the Tuatara small batch brewery in Wellington city centre.