The following are six-day trips from Wellington to consider.
Yes, there are plenty of walks and things to do in Wellington, but these day trips from Wellington are all awesome in their own way.
Note, the destinations are in no particular order. If you’ve got any questions, leave a comment at the bottom of the post or email me at jub@churnewzealand.com.
THE 6 DAY TRIPS FROM WELLINGTON
1. WAIKANAE
2. MARTINBOROUGH
3. KAPITI ISLAND
4. PAEKAKARIKI
5. EASTBOURNE & PETONE
6. THE TARARUAS
1. WAIKANAE
Distance/time from Wellington by car: 59km and 50 – 55 minutes (you can also reach Waikanae by public transport).
Over the years Waikanae, where I grew up, has become a great place for a day trip from Wellington.
Start off with a walk up to the top of Hemi Matenga, one of the many awesome walks in Waikanae.
Then head to Mahara Place, visit the gallery or museum, and grab a bite to eat (maybe at Salt and Wood Collective).
Then take a walk along Waikanae River towards the lagoon or head out to Nga Manu Nature Reserve for some fun experiences.
Depending on how much daylight is left, spend a couple of hours at Waikanae Beach while you wait for sunset. Or grab some fish and chips and head straight there for the sunset…as long as it’s a half-decent day, it’s an amazing sunset.
For those who need a coffee boost later in the day, one of the cafes by the beach have you covered. They’re also a great place for a meal before you head back to Welly.
READ MORE: 10 THINGS TO DO IN WAIKANAE
2. MARTINBOROUGH
Getting from Wellington to Martinborough for a day trip is easy, with several options available.
What’s Martinborough known for? Wine. It’s the smallest wine region in the country but does an awesome pinot noir.
You can visit many of the wineries by foot from the town centre, or hire crocodile bikes to get around.
Looking for a day tour from Wellington to Martinborough? There are plenty of options that’ll let you drink without needing to think about planning a thing.
- Book a 5 hour tour: You’ll stop off at some amazing viewpoints, visit 3 top wineries, and sample some amazing cheeses.
- Book a 7 hour tour: You’ll get to 4 wineries on this tour, which includes a deeper chat to one of the winemarkers. You’ll also get to explore Martinborough itself, a small town with boutique shops. And a brewery 😉
- A 7 hour tour, for the foodies: This does include some visits to wineries, but you’ll also get to visit a cheese shop, chocolate shop, and a olive oil maker.
If you’re planning to drive over to Martinborough, consider heading out to the tractors at Ngawi, Cape Palliser Lighthouse (above), Lake Ferry, and the Putangirua Pinnacles. They’re all fun attractions and are great to add to your list of things to do in and around Martinborough.
Then you can park up in Martinborough and drink all the wine (please don’t drink and drive).
I haven’t been here yet, but have yet to hear a bad thing about the Patuna Chasm.
3. KAPITI ISLAND
Distance/time from Wellington by car: 53km and 45 – 55 minutes.
I’m not sure if I would consider a visit to Kapiti Island a hidden gem or not, but either way, it’s great.
Kapiti Island is a predator-free island a few kilometres off the Kapiti Coast.
You’ll need to book your trip in advance and on the day make your way to Paraparaumu Beach Boating Club, where one of the two companies depart to Kapiti Island (they also have specials on this BookMe.co.nz page sometimes).
You have to join one of the two companies on a tour as they hold the permits to visit Kapiti Island.
Once on the island, you’ll see an array of birds, many endangered, and the guide is full of information (you can take a guided walk if need be). There’s a variety of walks you can do on the island (I love the walk to the summit), and/or take a dip in the water off the island.
READ MORE: EXPERIENCING A KAPITI ISLAND TOUR
4. PAEKAKARIKI
Distance/time from Wellington by car: 35km and about 40 minutes.
Paekakariki has become one of the most popular day trips from Wellington thanks to the Paekakariki Escarpment Track, one of the best day walks in New Zealand.
Most people are only going to be doing the walk one-way, so start in Paekakariki and catch the train back from Pukerua Bay to continue your Wellington day trip in Paekakariki.
Paekakariki is a small village so grab a bite to eat at The Perching Parrot and take a walk through the Paekakariki Art Studios (if it’s open) to see some artists in action.
Next up for the adrenaline junkies, it’s time to give the Fly by Wire, a bungy jump alternative.
For those looking for the best day trips from Wellington with kids, Queen Elizabeth Park is what you’re looking for with a small train, playground, walking tracks, and beachfront. You could forget the Escarpment and spend the whole day here.
For more information, check out this post on things to do in Paekakariki.
5. EASTBOURNE & PETONE
Eastbourne is located across Wellington Harbour from the city and is easily reached via the East by West Ferry (you might want to go via Somes Island too).
The Ferry will drop you off in Days Bay, from which you have a few options to pursue:
- Cycling (to Pencarrow Lighthouse)
- Hiking (in East Harbour Regional Park)
- Kayaking (from Days Bay)
Bikes and kayaks can be hired from next to the wharf.
After some time at the Days Bay Beach and visiting Chocolate Dayz Cafe, you’ll be ready to head to Petone via the #81 bus (check the bus timetable here).
Petone is a large suburb with easy access to Wellington and has a variety of things to do. You could explore Belmont Regional Park, visit the Settlers and/or Dowse Art Museums, play golf at Shandon, or walk along Jackson Street.
Food-wise, there are lots of great options. Whenever I go, we seem to end up at the awesome Seashore Cabaret on the waterfront (that’s where the photo above is taken from).
From Petone, you can catch a bus or train for the short journey back to Wellington.
6. THE TARARUAS
Distance/time from Wellington by car: This varies, depending on which trailhead you start at.
The Tararua Ranges are amazing! There are heaps of tracks in the Tararua Ranges, and you could spend a week or more in them if you wanted to do a massive hiking journey.
The ranges are 80km or so long, extending from the Hutt Valley to Palmerston North.
In terms of day hikes, there’s a bunch of options. Do note, these hikes will usually contain at least 1000 metres of elevation…so they’re not for the faint-hearted. But you’ll get to experience some Goblin-like forest, and on a nice day, the view from the tops is world-class.
A couple of good day options include:
- the Kapakapanui Track
- the Jumbo-Holdsworth Circuit
Note: In the Tararua’s, hiring a personal locator beacon is a good idea. It could save your life.
I hope these Wellington day trips spark your inspiration. The best part for me? You can do most of these day trips from Wellington by train which takes away a lot of hassle if you don’t have access to a car.
RECOMMENDED READING
What to do in New Zealand?
A massive list…
NZ Supermarkets
In case you need to pack lots of day trip snacks, this post will give you the various (and cheapest) option.
Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.