Gather the family and plan your next holiday to Wellington, New Zealand. Located on the Cook Strait, the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington is a fantastic place to visit, especially if you have younger children and teens.

Fabulous Wellington is home to the Weta Workshop and Cave, where many props are created for iconic movies including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy. Wellington also has its iconic Cable Car that is great for all ages. 

While you are exploring the wonderful sights of Wellington, leave your large bags and backpacks with a luggage storage service for safekeeping. You will be able to move more easily through the crowds without bags in tow. 

Weta Cave and Workshop Tours

If you have ever wondered about the special effects in movies or are a huge Lord of the Rings fan, you will want to spend time at the Weta Cave and Workshop. Fans can tour the workshop and see some of the behind-the-scenes magic. 

Best known for their hand-crafted props and use of the latest technologies in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, you can have your picture taken with the trolls from The Hobbit or a life-size statue of the wizard Gandalf. 

Other movies with Weta craftsmanship include Avatar, Blade Runner 2049, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Tours range from 45 minutes to a full-day experience, depending on how much time your family wants to spend exploring. 

Seal Coast Safari

Sign up for a four-wheel drive tour through the Seal Coast Safari over breathtaking farmland and along the rocky coastline. Located only about 15 minutes from the Central Business District of Wellington, it is a terrific place for the family to visit. 

They offer full-day or half-day adventure tours, and all tours include an experienced guide. During your tour, you will see New Zealand fur seals at Tongue Point and even drive through the Meridian Wind Farm. 

While in Tongue Point, you can grab a bite to eat. Bring your camera for panoramic views of the South Island’s Kaikoura Mountains and Kapiti Island. On clear days, you can even see Mount Taranaki and Mount Ruapehu. 

Adrenalin Forest

Families can try to outdo each other on this rope-climbing adventure course. Walk across swaying bridges and test your balance high in the trees at Adrenalin Forest. Located near Porirua, this amazing adventure park is a must for the family.

You can tackle all six levels or if you are afraid of heights, you can climb the first few. Level one is just over four feet off the ground, whereas the sixth level is 98 feet off the ground. 

Kapiti Island

Bring the kids to Kapiti Island, a nature preserve located in Pukerua Bay. This is one of the oldest nature reserves in New Zealand and where you will learn the most about Maori history, starting in the 1820s when they settled here. 

Nature tours are available that last anywhere from an hour to four hours. Learn about the Maori family who started the reserve as well as the various plants in the bush that make up this unique habitat. You can even spend the night at the reserve. 

If you opt to spend the night you can join the night tour that is included in the price of your stay. To reach Kapiti Island, you will need to take a 20-minute boat ride that launches from Paraparaumu Beach. 

Wellington’s Fear Factory

Smaller children may not appreciate the haunted maze at Wellington’s Fear Factory. If you are brave enough to venture below the deck of the HMS Wayfarer, a fictional ship that was lost at sea, you will enter a nightmare like no other. 

Located on Cuba Street, the Fear Factory is something you will want to experience at least once while you are visiting Wellington. Before starting your adventure into the unknown, the staff will give you a safe word so you can exit early if needed. 

Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Bring the whole family to the Staglands Wildlife Reserve and Café to learn about the natural habitats of New Zealand. There are specific areas where you can interact with the wildlife and even feed them. 

Get to know native birds and other furry, cuddly creatures such as goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and deer. Take a guided tour through the reserve and stroll past ponds and rolling streams. Hike through valleys and up small hills. 

Located near Upper Hutt in the Akatarawa Valley, this is a must-see when you are on a family trip to Wellington. Stop by the café for refreshments or to regroup and plan the next place to visit within the reserve. 

Wellington Nature Tours

A local guide will take you on an outdoor experience you will not forget when you sign up for a Wellington Nature Tour. Half-day and full-day tours are available depending on the attention span of your youngest family member. 

The Seal Colony Tour, where you will view a fur seal colony on the South Coast, is great fun especially if you have younger children. The Otari Eco Trek is another exciting tour where you will see the Otari Wilton Bush, the only botanic garden in Aotearoa. 

Wellington Nature Tours are an easy way to see more of New Zealand in a shorter amount of time and keep the kids engaged while learning about the environment and culture of this untamed land. 

If you would like to see more of the city while you are in Wellington, look for free walking tours with local guides. These tours give you the chance to see different parts of the city and ask questions along the way.

Wellington is one of the perfect places to visit when you have the family in tow. The city is brimming with several activities that children will enjoy to help you create memories that will last a lifetime.