Top 5 Spots in Wellington, New Zealand for Nature Lovers

Kiwi birds. Native plants. Wild fur seals. Endangered species. Tropical flowers. Can you guess where we are?

Did you guess Wellington, New Zealand?

If not, it’s okay; it’s understandable, even. Wellington is known for a lot of things – being New Zealand’s political and cultural capital, for example – but being a hotspot for nature lovers isn’t necessarily one of its claims to fame.

So here’s where Wellington can surprise you. Despite its political and cultural characteristics, the city actually has a lot to offer up to the nature lover, too.

Here are the top 5 things to see and do in Wellington for lovers of flora and fauna: 

5 - Go Wild at the Zoo

The Wellington Zoo (also known as the Newtown Zoo) is a great way to spend a day in the city. Easily accessible by bus, the Wellington Zoo markets itself as “The best little zoo in the world.” It was, at the very least, the first zoo in New Zealand, having opened in 1906.

The zoo is quite compact, but its smaller size doesn't take anything away from the experience. Around 500 different animals call the Wellington Zoo home, from classics like lions and giraffes to unique animals like Malayan sun bears and red pandas. Also be sure to stop by and see the Sumatran tigers, which are an extremely endangered species.

The must-see at the Wellington Zoo is the kiwi bird house, where you can catch glimpses of New Zealand's flightless, nocturnal mascot snuffling around in the underbrush. Around 1 p.m. each day, you can attend the Kiwi Close Encounter, starring a very special one-legged kiwi bird named Tahi. Similar close encounter talks take place throughout the day with animals ranging from chimps to penguins.

4 - Stop and Smell the Roses at the Botanic Garden

The Wellington Botanic Garden is much more than just a garden. The area, situated right above downtown Wellington, comprises of native forest, jogging trails, non-native species and seasonal displays. If you visit the garden at the right time of year, be sure to stroll through the Lady Norwood Rose Garden when the flowers are in bloom.

Check out the displays in the Victorian-style glasshouse (including plenty of tropical species), and grab a cup of tea in the Treehouse Visitor's Center. Then admire some of the sculptures and carvings throughout the garden, and be sure to take the kids to see the duck pond.

The easiest way to get to the garden from the downtown area is to take the historic red cable car from Lambton Quay. The views from the garden station – a panorama of downtown Wellington and the harbor – are alone worth the ride fare.

3 - Search for Seals at Sinclair Head

Hiking (or tramping as it's called here) is sort of a national pastime in New Zealand. And, even though Wellington is a metropolitan area, there are still plenty of opportunities to break out those hiking boots.

Between the months of October and May, Sinclair Head, just a few miles outside of downtown Wellington, becomes a seal hang-out for male New Zealand fur seals that failed to find mates in the nearby south island seal colonies – bachelor seals, if you will. What is a seal hang-out you ask? Basically a place for the single guys to hang out and laze about in the sun.

On weekdays, you can catch a bus to Owhiro Bay, which is close to the beginning of the coastal track through Te Kopahou Reserve that will lead you to Sinclair Head. If you decide to make your trek on a weekend, however, you'll have to take the bus to nearby Island Bay, which will add a few kilometers onto the round-trip journey.

No matter where you begin, hiking to Sinclair Head is an easy, flat hike. If you start in Island Bay, the entire round-trip trek is about 11 kilometers, and will take about half a day. The scenic trail hugs Wellington's coast, where, on a clear day, you'll be able to see the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps across the Cook Strait.

You'll be able to smell the seals once you approach Devil's Gate – the rock formation that marks the entrance to Sinclair Head. Once you pass through these upright rocks, Sinclair Head will be laid out before you, with lazy brown seals dotting just about every rock in sight.

2 - Go Native at Karori

If you're interested in New Zealand's native flora and fauna, Zealandia (formerly known as the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary) is one of Wellington's best-kept secrets. Located just outside the city in the quiet suburb of Karori, Zealandia is the perfect place to spend an afternoon hiking, picnicking and trying to catch glimpses of everything from tuatara lizards to the elusive kiwi bird.

The sanctuary is a protected swatch of land where native plant and animal life have been allowed to thrive. It's a little “conservation island” on the mainland.

Take the bus to Zealandia (though beware that only one or two lines run here from downtown), wear your hiking shoes, and allow enough time to really explore the exhibits and some of the tramping trails. Hike through the sanctuary valley, keeping your eyes peeled for giant weta bugs and playful kaka parrots.

If you visit near dusk, the Sanctuary has special night tours you can pre-book ahead of time, on which you may get to spy a rare spotted kiwi bird in the wild.

1 - Conserve on Kapiti Island

If you, as a nature lover, are looking for something a bit further afield to explore, look no further than Kapiti Island. 

The Kapiti Island Nature Reserve is a bird sanctuary that lies about 5 kilometers of the coast of the southern part of New Zealand's north island. The sanctuary is one of the nation's most important sites for bird recovery, and is home to a number of species that are now extinct or in very few numbers on the mainland, such as the spotted kiwi. The island also has a number of tracks and trails for hikers to explore.

Unlike with Karori, however, Kapiti Island takes a lot more planning to visit.

Visitors to Kapiti Island must first obtain a permit from the Department of Conservation (which can be purchased at the Wellington Visitor Center or various i-sites in the area) and specify which date they would like to visit. Only a total of 68 people per day can access the island – 50 at Rangatira and 18 at the north end – so advanced bookings are essential.

Kapiti Tours Ltd. and Kapiti Marine Charter are the only two boating operators that are DOC-approved to provide transport to Kapiti Island. Both operate out of the Kapiti Boating Club, which is about an hour's drive from Wellington.

Hopefully this list has convinced you that Wellington has plenty to offer for those lovers of the outdoors. If not, I challenge you to explore the city and seek out your own favorite wild spots.

Comments

• New Zealand Tourist Attractions says:

  That's nice....

  2 months ago

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