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Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there!

Wellington is such a beautiful city with such a cool vibe! I had been told that, but I didn't quite expect to be so blown away by it. It totally had a Vancouver/San Francisco/Seattle vibe to it. Pretty much any big coastal city surrounded by lush green hills would fit the bill. There is so much to do and see for the family, here are a few of our favorites!

Wellington Cable Car

Take a scenic ride on the historic Wellington Cable Car. If you have a little one that's into trains, then this will definitely be a highlight, although honestly it's fun for all ages (bonus 5 and under are free)! The cable cars leave about every 5 minutes, so even when it's busy you don't have to wait long. The ride itself is less than 5 minutes, it's more of a novelty ride but it's worth it for the views and once you get up to the top of Mount Victoria there is plenty to do. Check out the cable car museum, it's small but free and worth a stop. Also worth a stop is the Space Place at the Carter Observatory near by. Entry is free, but you can purchase tickets for the planetarium show.  Then enjoy the walk back down the hill through the botanic gardens. You can take  train back down, but I would highly recommend walking through the gardens.

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (cable car)
Botanic Gardens

 

I will be the first to admit that my kids were not thrilled about the idea of walking around looking at flowers, they think it's an old person sport. However, these Botanic Gardens are unique as they are all along the side of the mountain and vary in scenery. As a bonus they have a fun playground and interactive Treehouse Visitor's Center along with a Children's Discovery Garden. They ended up having a great time, I would highly recommend it for all ages. Follow the path from the Cable Car museum down the hill, plan for about 40 minutes to complete the trail. 

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Te Papa Museum

 

A few months before our trip the kids were watching a Nat Geo special about the colossal squid and when they found out that the largest one ever found is on display at Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum, then a visit to this museum immediately went on their bucket list. It was a fascinating way to spend a drizzly morning. The museum is filled with so many great exhibits and the best part is that it's free!

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Te Papa Museum)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Te Papa Museum)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Te Papa Museum)
Explore Downtown

The Botanic Garden trail ends downtown so take advantage and explore around then head over to Cuba Street. Cuba street is an outdoor pedestrian mall that is home to an eclectic mix of cafes, shops and boutiques. It is considered to be one of the coolest streets in New Zealand and has unique architecture and a fun vibe. Lambton Quay is the other main shopping area of Wellington.

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Botanic Gardens)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Cuba Street)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Cuba Street)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Cuba Street)
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Cuba Street)
Hang out at the Waterfront

Grab a picnic and let the kids get their energy out at the Frank Kitts Park where they'll love the iconic lighthouse slide. Older kids will enjoy the skate ramps and climbing frames further around at Waitangi Park. Wander around The Waterfront, the stretch along the harbour. There is plenty to do in this area, rent a kayak, paddle board or paddle boat. Ride a crocodile bike (2-4 seat covered bikes) along the waterfront to Oriental Bay Beach. Oriental Bay is Wellington's city beach and is a great place to let the kids play in the sand or take a swim. Stop for some Gelato at Gelissimo and try the Feijoa flavour. You can also go rock climbing, admire the various art installations or take a dip from one of the many diving platforms. If you happen to be there on a a Saturday, there is an underground market as you walk along the waterfront with lots of crafts and souvenirs, and is nice to browse around. Or take a short walk and visit the Wellington Museum.

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Frank Kitt's Park)
Otari-Wilton's Bush

I know, I know, our kids weren't too thrilled about another botanic garden, but what sold my kids on the  Otari-Wilton’s Bush was the canopy walkway high above the trees. It's only a few miles outside the city, but feels like a completely different world, definitely worth a stop! And seriously, I could never get tired of all that green. 

Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there! (Otari-Wilton's Bush)
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We only had one day in Wellington and while we managed to pack in as much as possible, here are a few more things that I wish we had time to do:

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Weta Workshop- for all you Lord of the Ring fans take a behind the scenes tour to learn about non digital effects and prop production for movies including LOTR and many more!

Brooklyn Wind Turbine Hike- Check out a wind turbine up close while enjoying amazing views of the city and bay.

Wellington Zoo- always a great place for kids to explore! Check out the different playgrounds, get tickets for an upclose encounter, or se the zoo vets in action during their daily talks.

Wellington Museum- free entry, very engaging and filled with plenty of history. 

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I hope your family enjoys exploring Wellington as much as we did! Let me know what your favorites are or if you have any questions!
Visiting cities with little ones can be stressful, but not if you know the right places to go! Wellington is such a family friendly city and this guide will help you make the most of your time there!

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