7 Reasons You Should Visit Wellington Over Auckland

Auckland is great and all, but Wellington is a world class contender. If you’re having to choose between the biggest city and the capital, these seven reasons might persuade you to escape into New Zealand’s cultural playground. Brace yourselves, we’re going to tell you how a Wellington experience can trump Auckland anytime.

Wellington doesn’t feel like a bustling big city

Are you trying to escape the big time rush? Tired of the hustle and bustle of heavily trafficked roads and crowded pavements? Then skip Auckland and go to Wellington. The thing about the capital city is that it doesn’t feel like your average metropolis. Because of this, it’s not uncommon to hear people say that Wellingtonians are much more friendly than the average Aucklander. Basically, if you want to stray from the ‘big city’ mentality as much as possible, Wellington is the place to do it.

The foodie culture is exceptional

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You’ll love Wellington’s dynamic film and theatre scene

Auckland has the Academy Cinemas, Wellington’s got Reading Cinemas and Embassy Theatre. The Civic may bring the theatre crowds to New Zealand’s biggest city, but is it really as dynamic as the capital’s St James? Of course, both cities are well-matched when it comes to the sheer number cinemas, live performances, and alternative venues, but ‘Wellywood’s’ experiences are definitely one of a kind. Having a strong international presence in the film industry probably helps too.

The live music vibes are hard to beat

Auckland may get all the headlining music tours, but Wellington’s got something much more personal. Where the city lacks in international concerts, it makes up for a consistent line-up of local performances. It’s not too difficult to find a central city bar with a live band playing on any given night – and it’s very much a part of the city’s quaint cultural charm. San Fran, The Rogue & Vagabond, and Meow are just a few of the venues showcasing Wellington’s musical side.

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A piece of local history is only a cable car trip away

Locals and visitors alike relish the historic cable car rides. With a regular circuit running from the central city to the hillside peaks of the Kelburn Lookout, this is a fun way to see a whole lot of Wellington in one go. Wherever you choose to get off, you’ll be right next to a popular attraction: for instance, you could walk to the Botanic Gardens, or catch a free shuttle to the Zelandia reserve. The cable car has been doing the rounds for hundreds of years – much more seasoned than the closest thing to an Auckland version, which is still in its earliest days.

You won’t have to travel far to get a glimpse of the untapped scenery

Let’s face it: Auckland is very spread out. If you’re centrally-based and don’t have a car, you won’t be able to get to experience all of the natural landscapes. With Wellington, on the other hand, everything is within walking distance: just brave your way through the hills and you’ll be all set to enjoy all the beautiful scenery.

Going south is as easy as catching a ferry

Geographically-speaking, Wellington is literally in the centre of all the action. After you’ve finished exploring the dynamic capital city, you can catch the ferry to the South Island, or simply drive up to the various scenic locations in its vicinity. If you feel like going on a north-bound roadtrip, you could even pass through Auckland to say hello – you’ve got all that mobility at your disposal, you might as well use it.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.