Butterfly Creek

This idyllic little spot is the furthest from the capital, located in Eastbourne. A perfect picnic spot on a sunny day and a lot more remote than the central Wellington walks, so tends to be a lot less crowded. The track begins at a number of locations but I recommend There will be a fairly steep climb that offers views of the bay, which then heads into denser forest and finally ends at a nice picnic area. The walk itself takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. There is a ferry that leaves from Wellington Harbour to Days Bay, which is just a short walk from Eastbourne, run by East by West Ferries, so check their website for a timetable. Or alternatively you could take a bus. There are a few access points to the walk, below is the one found on Mackenzie Street. Be sure to check out the Cafes and shops in Eastbourne while you are there.

Te Papa and Oriental Bay

This is an obvious one. Te Papa Tongarewa is a free museum and art gallery located along the waterfront of Wellington’s city centre. There is a ton of educational exhibitions and information on New Zealand history as well as a multitude of interactive areas for children, art displays, and short films to watch. Just around the corner is the man-made beach Oriental Bay. Beautiful golden sand was brought up from the Tasman area and placed in Wellington Harbour to form a surprisingly scenic beach right in the city centre. It is packed with sunbathers and volleyball players on a good day. Grab an ice-cream from Kaffee Eis and go for a walk in bare feet or even a swim. Also, if you have a day hanging around the city, go for a walk up Cuba street and do some shopping.

Zealandia

Zealandia is a wildlife sanctuary found in the suburb of Karori which lies on the edge of Wellington city. If you are in the city you will have to catch a bus to get there, and it will cost a bit in admission to get in, but it is your best chance to see some interesting native wildlife such as Kererū or Tui, and there is plenty of native fauna. Zealandia also has an array of scenic day walks and a small educational exhibition. They offer night tours which give a chance to see a Kiwi, but are fairly expensive and you will have to book.

Wind Turbine

The walk to the wind turbine in the suburb of Brooklyn offers gorgeous views of both the south coast of Wellington and the city. There is a fairly short walk from a small carpark which also passes some old, very vandalized, army bunkers and follows the fence that keeps pests out of Zealandia bird sanctuarary, or you could drive all the way up to the turbine. It can be quite hard to find so maybe use google maps. Afterwards maybe check out the close by suburb of Aro Valley, eat some fish and chips in the park with some locally made Garage Project craft beer.

Scorching Bay and Massey Memorial



This is a great idea on a sunny summer day. Scorching Bay is a small beach near the suburb of Seatoun with the close by Scorch O Rama cafe and hill walk. There is a bus to Scorching bay, but this will be much nicer if you have a car and can stop at the Massey Memorial which is located along the Massey Road scenic drive which I very much recommend. While in the area you should also visit the Weta Cave, which showcases work from the amazing team at Weta Workshop, who did design and effects on many New Zealand movies, but most famously on the Lord of The Rings.

Red Rocks Walk



This coastal walk offers some interesting rock formations and types, but more importantly, a high chance of seeing Seals in Winter. The walk is on the rocky beach so will require comfortable shoes and takes around an hour. There is parking at the Owhiro Bay Quarry which has public toilets and some interesting information. If it is a clear day you should be able to see the Kaikoura ranges in the South Island, and as an added bonus there is a high chance you can watch some four-wheel drivers taking on the rough coast and squeezing through the final gap in the rocks. Also take some time to explore Owhiro Bay, or visit the close by Bach Cafe.