As the undisputed arts and culture capital of New Zealand, there’s plenty of creativity, adventure and cuisine awaiting your family in our nation’s capital.
CREATIVES
Van Gogh Alive
Immerse yourself in van Gogh’s masterpieces at Digital Nights Wellington – Van Gogh Alive. An outdoor debut of the world’s most visited multi-sensory experience celebrating one of the world’s most famous artists, Vincent van Gogh.
Make no mistake, this is no ordinary art exhibition – forget tiptoeing through silent galleries and imagine a whole new way of interacting with art. Van Gogh’s masterpieces will come alive in a unique exhibition experience of more than 3,000 images projected onto shipping containers at an enormous 8 metre-high scale and synchronised to a powerful classical score.
Hands-on Weta Workshops
Chainmaille
Weta Workshop has kitted out countless armies with chainmaille and leather-adorned costumes for films like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. In this hands-on workshop, learn techniques used by the Weta costume crew as you create your own keyring from leather and chainmaille.
Sculpture
Roll up your sleeves for an introduction to the magic of sculpture, as you begin to create a fantastical 3D character from modelling clay and household materials.
Special Effects
Mix your own fake blood and create convincing wounds with special effects make-up. No humans were harmed in the making of this workshop! With the guidance of the Weta crew, learn the art of crafting convincing special effects by mixing blood and sculpting your own scars and scrapes.
Capital E’s Light Years
What makes a rainbow? Why do things glow? At the end of the day, where does the sun go? Discover the magic and wonder of light in Light Years at Capital E’s PlayHQ. This new interactive play activation sparks curiosity into science and art, making for an enlightening experience for tamariki aged five and under. Join in to explore this sensory play activation that zooms in on colour play and the links to light.
ADVENTURERS
Walk the scenic Escarpment Track
The Escarpment Track runs from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay, taking in sweeping views of the spectacular Kāpiti Coastline and the region’s famous Kāpiti Island. Families of all ages regularly enjoy this trail, but it’s not recommended for the faint-hearted: you’ll scale around 1,200 steep steps, navigate narrow pathways across ridgelines, and traverse two swing bridges.
Hire an e-bike and cycle to Pencarrow Lighthouse
The Pencarrow Lighthouse was New Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse. The cast-iron tower was made in England and then erected on Pencarrow Head, at the entrance to Wellington Harbour. Located within Wellington’s East Harbour Regional Park, the lighthouse makes for a pleasant day trip. Walk or cycle the 8 km gravel track to the lighthouse from Burden’s Gate, at the south end of Eastbourne.
bikeshedpencarrow.com
huttvalleynz.com/experience
Explore the sky at Space Place
Stories of New Zealand skies are shared at Space Place through multimedia exhibits, interactive galleries, the historic Thomas Cooke telescope and their digital, full-dome planetarium. Learn about planets, stars, constellations and galaxies and New Zealand’s contribution to astronomy and space sciences. Complete your trip through the galaxy, look back in time to our history of exploration with the transit of Venus and Māori starlore.
museumswellington.org.nz/space-place
FOODIES
Brewtown
Visit Brewtown, a craft beer destination that’s just as much for kids as adults. Think of it as a microcosm of Wellington, bringing together some of the region’s top breweries and delicious food on one site. Brewtown is a one-stop-shop and a must-visit for craft beer lovers. Also home to a boutique distillery, Brewtown is the perfect place to spend an afternoon taste-testing the best the region has to offer, and it is just a short walk away from Upper Hutt train station making it an easy trip to and from the city.
Wellington On A Plate
Don’t miss Wellington’s annual food festival Visa Wellington On A Plate. Take a seat at the table this October and enjoy the most amazing culinary experiences the Greater Wellington region has to offer. Feast your senses in this celebration of all things food and beverage. Eat, Drink and be Welly with hundreds of festival events and festival dishes that showcase the best of Wellington region’s ingredients, suppliers and producers.
AND DON’T FORGET…
Wellington Zoo
Head along to Wellington Zoo for a wild day out! They’re the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo. See the capybaras, caracals, pygmy marmosets, the cute red pandas, sun bears, and many more varied and interesting animals at Wellington Zoo – New Zealand’s first zoo.
Tickets from just $12 per person. Open everyday except Christmas day.
Discover the wild side of Wellington
Zealandia is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225-hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced over 20 species of native wildlife back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.
