111
For all emergencies.
Emergency Number
New Zealand dollar ($)
Local Currency
550,600 (2024)
Population
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Local Time
UTC+12 until 3:00am on 28Sep25, then UTC+13
Time Zone
English
Māori
New Zealand Sign Language
Official/Primary Languages
Port Essentials
Everything you need to know for your visit to Wellington.
Cruise Terminal
General Information
New Zealand dollar (NZD $).
Below we've listed some conversion rates for the New Zealand dollar against popular international currencies. The exchange rates are based on 100 NZD, are refreshed once per day and were last updated on 03 Jul 2025
Currency | Equivalent |
---|---|
USD | 60.66 |
EUR | 51.61 |
GBP | 44.45 |
AUD | 92.32 |
CAD | 82.28 |
JPY | 8799.59 |
CNY | 434.86 |
To convert custom amounts, or to see the exchange rate of the New Zealand dollar against different currencies, try our currency converter by clicking the button below.
Credit cards, particularly Visa and Mastercard, are widely accepted throughout Wellington While American Express is accepted at major supermarkets and retailers, it may not be as readily accepted at smaller businesses or can incur additional fees.
Tap-and-pay options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely available, supported by major banks and accepted at most retailers where contactless payments are available.
Shops are generally closed on Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. On Anzac Day, shops can open from 1:00pm.
Always check with individual stores for their specific hours, especially around holidays and special events.
Wellington, New Zealand, offers several convenient public Wi-Fi locations - though options may be a bit more limited than in other major cities, with no major city supported WiFi network (as of 2025):
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Known for its strong and fast free Wi-Fi, especially in its cafés and public gathering areas.
Wellington Central Library: Currently under redevelopment, but past branches and pop-up library services have offered reliable free Wi-Fi. Check Wellington City Libraries for the latest information.
Zealandia Ecosanctuary: One of Wellington’s most unique eco-attractions provides free Wi-Fi throughout the sanctuary.
Tomboy Café: This locally loved spot in Mt Victoria is popular for its good food and reliable free Wi-Fi.
WiFi Map – Wellington: A crowd-sourced directory of Wi-Fi spots around the city, including cafes, shops, and public spaces. Always check with the venue before connecting.
A note of caution: Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s not always secure. Avoid logging into sensitive accounts or entering personal information when connected to open networks. Consider using a VPN for additional security.
PortQuest recommends Nomad eSIM
Whether you're checking maps, messaging friends, or booking last-minute tours, staying connected matters. That’s why we recommend Nomad eSIMs — one of the best travel eSIMs on the market (and we've tried a few!)
Nomad offers reliable, affordable data in over 100 countries, including most cruise ports. No physical SIM swap, no roaming surprises — just install and go.
Get a Nomad eSIMTransportation
Below is a list of common transport options for cruise ship visitors. We haven't included every possible choice — public transport, for example, is not listed since most visitors won't need it for a short, one-day stay.
Ride-share
Website: Click here.
Wellington is considered highly walkable for visitors due to its compact city center, well-maintained pedestrian infrastructure, and ease of access to key attractions.
The city's walkability is further enhanced by initiatives promoting pedestrian-friendly spaces and efficient public transport options for longer distances. While the hilly terrain might present a challenge in some areas, the overall experience is generally positive for those exploring on foot.
Safety & Health
Call 111
Notes: For all emergencies: fire, police, ambulance.
Level 1 – Exercise Normal Safety Precautions
The security environment is similar to that of a large Australian city.
- Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour.
- Monitor media for changes to local conditions.
- Check entry requirements before you travel.
Not sure what these levels mean? Learn more about travel advice levels.
Smartraveller is the official travel advice service of the Australian Government. While primarily aimed at Australian citizens, PortQuest believes it offers practical, up-to-date safety guidance for travellers worldwide. See the full advisory on Smartraveller.gov.au .
Last updated: 17 Mar 2025
Weather
°C °F | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum Temp | 19.2 | 19.2 | 18 | 16.3 | 14.7 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 12 | 12.9 | 14.3 | 15.8 | 17.8 |
Minimum Temp | 15.1 | 15.3 | 14.1 | 12.9 | 11.4 | 9.7 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 9.6 | 10.6 | 12.1 | 14 |
Avg Rainfall (mm) | 51 | 66 | 69 | 91 | 91 | 103 | 93 | 97 | 88 | 77 | 75 | 80 |
Avg Rainy Days | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
Daylight Hours | 14.8 | 13.7 | 12.4 | 11 | 9.8 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 | 13.2 | 14.4 | 15.1 |
Avg UV Index | 9.1 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 3 | 4.5 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 9 |
Best Time to Visit
Cruise ships usually just spend one precious day in port — and we want to help you make the most of it.
To give you the best chance of an enjoyable visit, we’ve created a custom “Best Time to Visit” score for each month, unique to each destination. The score is calculated using factors that are likely to matter the most:
- Comfortable temperatures
- Lower rainfall and fewer rainy days
- More daylight hours
- Moderate UV levels
Each score is based on historical monthly averages and adjusted for each port’s climate. We weight the above factors — for example, long daylight hours and fewer wet days matter more when you're only ashore for part of the day. That's also why no month gets a 10/10, as there's always a trade-off. For example, warmer weather and clear skies comes with higher UV (and more sweat!).
This chart isn't meant to suggest that a port is bad to visit outside the highest rated months — each season provides something memorable for each location. But if you’re deciding when to cruise, this will hopefully give you the best chance of having perfect weather on your visit.
Temperature Chart
Rainfall Chart
UV Index Chart
1–2: Low
3–5: Moderate
6–7: High
8–10: Very High
>10: Extreme
Tours & Experiences
Each tour you see below has been selected for cruise ship visitors. For example, each tour has Free Cancellation, as most of us have experiened the stress of trying to refund a tour when a port visit is cancelled or an itinerary changed on short notice. They're also no more than 6 hours in length, leaving you plenty of time to make dinner on the ship, or explore the port further on foot.
By booking through our links, you help support PortQuest and allow us to continue providing valuable content to enhance your port visits (at no extra cost to you).
Top Attractions
Discover the top attractions in Wellington, selected for cruise passengers!
Wellington Botanic Garden
View DetailsCuba Street
View DetailsMt. Victoria Lookout
View DetailsTe Papa (Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa)
View DetailsOld St. Paul's
View DetailsCentrePort Wellington
View DetailsPortQuest Picks
Our team has hand-selected these tours to showcase the best and most unforgettable experiences each port has to offer — ones we've either personally enjoyed or have at the top of our bucket list.
Browse Tours

Spectacular Wellington: Full Day Private Sightseeing Tour
Get connected with the Wellington that locals love. Kia ora, we are Jo & Suzee. We create fabulous & fun private Wellington tours and shore excursions tailore...
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Wellington Guided eBike Tour-Cruise Shore Excursion
From the centrally located Waterfront to the quiet bays and panoramic lookouts, you’ll be enthralled from start to finish. These quality electric bikes are easy...
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Spectacular Wellington: Half Day Private Sightseeing Tour
Get connected with the Wellington that locals love. Kia ora, we are Jo & Suzee. We create fabulous & fun private Wellington tours and shore excursions tailore...
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Guided Wellington Tour by Electric Bike
Choose a Morning or Afternoon Departure. From the centrally located Waterfront to the quiet bays and panoramic lookouts, you’ll be enthralled from start to fin...
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Wellington Region Full Day Private Tour: Get out of the City
Get connected with more of the Wellington that locals love. Kia ora, we are Jo & Suzee. We create fabulous & fun private tours and shore excursions tailored j...
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Wellington City and Sea: Private Tour in Electric Tesla SUV
Our guests enjoy travelling in the comfort and luxury of electric Tesla SUVs , with zero emissions. We provide a private tour for you, offering flexibility in t...
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Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour, Chef's lunch from Wellington
Exclusive Kosher Wine Experience in Wairarapa's Premier Vineyards – Just 75 Minutes from Wellington Immerse yourself in the authentic flavours of New Zealand's ...
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Remutaka Rail Trail Mountain Bike Explorer Cycle Tour
Discover the Remutaka area’s rich rail history and natural beauty on an easy, all-inclusive, 6 hour mountain biking day trip. The flagship of the Remutaka Cycle...
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Seal Coast Safari - Exclusive access to Wellington's secret coast
A unique and exciting exploration to Wellington’s secret coast. With exclusive access through private farmland, we'll take you on a journey to discover Wellingt...
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Wellington in a Nutshell Capital Highlights Private 5 hour tour
Discover Wellington's breath-taking vistas through our expertly curated City Heights Tour. This signature experience showcases New Zealand's capital from its th...
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Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Explorer Cycle Tour
Discover the Remutaka Ranges' rich rail history & natural beauty on an eBike (electric bike). The flagship daytrip of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this is suitable...
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Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour
Join us on this 3hr journey into the story of Wellington, where we share the history, culture, conservation and place in the world of Te-Whanagnui-a-Tara - the ...
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Remutaka Rail Trail Explorer - eBike Cruise Ship Shore Excursion
Discover the Remutaka area’s rich rail history and natural beauty on an eBike (electric bike) day trip. The flagship of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this trail is ...
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Wellington Shore Excursion: From Cave to Coast Highlights Private Tour
A 5 hour guided highlights tour of coastal Wellington. Tour highlights include spectacular views at the Mount Victoria Lookout, a scenic coastal drive from Orie...
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Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Explorer Cycle Tour
Discover the Remutaka Ranges' rich rail history & natural beauty on an eBike (electric bike). The flagship daytrip of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this is suitable...
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Half Day Tour in Wellington
Your opportunity to visit locations in Wellington that you simply couldn't make on foot. All accompanied by a local, educated driver who hopes to crack at least...
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Martinborough Winery Private Tour
Enjoy a 5 hour guided tour over the Remutaka Ranges to Martinborough, one of New Zealand's premier wine regions. Visit three of the regions best wineries and en...
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Private Tour in Wellington
The highlights of Wellington on a personalized 4.5hour private tour. Take in stunning panoramic views from Mt Victoria, the famous Te Papa Museum, and indulge i...
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Full Day Guided Wellington Tour
During our tour, we provide opportunities to get out of the vehicle, stretch your legs & get some fresh air. Our friendly guides will even be your photographer ...
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Lord of the Rings 1/2 day Tour to rule them all
We squeeze loads of Lord of the Rings magic in to this one! Recreate some of the most iconic scenes from the trilogy as we visit the location for the first day ...
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Private Wellington Craft Beer Half Day Tour
You've heard about Wellington's Craft beer reputation, now discover it for yourself. We take you to four of Wellington's finest breweries for tastings and the s...
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Wellington’s Food Walking Odyssey
Discover the ultimate Walking Food Tour in New Zealand's Coolest capital city, Wellington,experience the unique food and drink explosion that has made Wellingto...
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Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour
Visit three of Wellington and the Hutt Valley’s best craft breweries with tastings at each location. Enjoy a range of locally made craft beers at each location ...
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Private custom tour with a local guide Wellington
Get to know the city through the eyes of a local guide. With no set itinerary, you can customize the tour or leave it to the local for an enlightening introduct...
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Craft beers & car museum - Half Day Tour
A little bit of something for everyone in this tour, with the highlight being visiting a local car museum. Access to Cars Inc is exclusive to Ka Rawe Tours. We...
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From Cave to Coast Wellington Highlights Tour
A 5 hour guided highlights tour of coastal Wellington. Tour highlights include spectacular views at the Mount Victoria Lookout, a scenic coastal drive from Orie...
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Wellington in a Nutshell Capital Highlights Experience 3&5 hrs
Discover Wellington's breathtaking vistas through our expertly curated City Heights Tour. This signature experience showcases New Zealand's capital from its thr...
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Remutaka Rail Trail Mountain Bike Explorer Cycle Tour
Discover the Remutaka Ranges' rich rail history & natural beauty on a mountain bike. The flagship daytrip of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this is suitable for ride...
Find out more
Remutaka Rail Trail Explorer - eBike Cruise Ship Shore Excursion
Discover the Remutaka area’s rich rail history and natural beauty on an eBike (electric bike) day trip. The flagship of the Remutaka Cycle Trail, this trail is ...
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Taste Buds Tour: Petone - Half Day
Discover the locally made treats and secret foodie spots in Petone, one of the oldest settlements in Wellington. This 5-hour tour gives your taste buds a thrill...
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Half Day Martinborough Winery Tour from Wellington
Experience a 5.5-hour guided tour to Martinborough, one of New Zealand's premier wine regions. Departing from Wellington, the tour follows the Hutt River thro...
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6hr Martinborough Chefs shared wine tour ŵ lunch from Wellington
Feel like your on Holiday with a leisurely lunch accompanied by 3 wine tastings. Your Chef guide will accompany you through the best things in life in New Zeala...
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Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour
Enter the world of Wētā Workshop with the Wētā Workshop Experience + Guided Transfers, a guided round trip by Wētā Workshop! You’ll enjoy return transfers from ...
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Martinborough Foodie Half Day Tour
Experience a 5-hour guided tour over the stunning Remutaka Ranges to the Wairarapa region, renowned for its world-class culinary producers. Just an hour’s drive...
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Half Day Tour of Wellington
Must See and Fun Tour of Wellington Where your Wellington adventure begins … Features include: • Downtown entertainment area of Wellington • Mt Victoria • ...
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Half Day Lord of the Rings Tour
We make our way up to the Mount Victoria Lookout to see spectacular views of Wellington’s city by driving up Courtenay Place, past the Embassy Picture Theatre w...
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Exclusive Wellington Sightseeing Private Tour
We offer a private sightseeing tour with our knowledgeable and experienced guides. We drive you in our luxury vehicles. Wellington is an awesome city to explore...
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Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour
First stop, Dry Creek Quarry site of Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith. Then River Anduin where the Fellowship travelled to Amon Hen, Gardens of Isengard -Gandalf m...
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Wellington's Original HD LOTR Experience - includes Weta Tour
Descend into the forested slopes of the Outer Shire, where our expert guides will entertain you with stories of how the Lord of the Rings movies were brought to...
Find out moreWellington Travel Map
Legend
Cruise Terminal
Restaurants
Bars & Pubs
Hospitals (Emergency)
Pharmacies
General Attractions
Museums & Galleries
Zoos