What Are The Top Events and Festivals in Wellington?
Wellington On a Plate
Wellington On a Plate is when New Zealand’s capital fully embraces its reputation as a city for foodies. Book Auckland to Wellington flights in October if you want to experience the plethora of food events taking place. The city-wide festival sees restaurants, bars and cafes put together special dining menus, craft beer events and various other tasting sessions.
Jim Beam Homegrown
If you love pop music, book flights from Auckland to Wellington in March in time for the Jim Beam Homegrown festival. It’s a daytime event, so you don’t need to worry about camping overnight. It takes place by the capital’s picturesque waterfront, giving you the chance to see the city in all its splendour while listening to some of the top local and international musicians. Each stage is tailored to different musical tastes – there’s a main stage, electronic stage and rock stage – so you can visit the stage playing the tunes you and your friends love most.
Wellington Jazz Festival
Another reason for music fans to book Auckland to Wellington return flights is the city’s incredible jazz festival. Taking place in November, the event is among the most prestigious in New Zealand. It runs for five days and features ticketed and free concerts, so if you’ve booked Auckland to Wellington flights but haven’t secured any festival passes, you’ll still be able to see a show. Fans of jazz will tell you that this musical style is made for dancing, so expect good vibes and a party atmosphere when you arrive in the city in November.
Taupō Winter Festival
Families with flights from Auckland to Wellington will love the Taupō Winter Festival. The event runs every year and features fantastic light installations, ice rinks, slides and a giant inflatable snow globe that doubles as a bounce castle. The event usually takes place during school holidays, so think about booking sooner rather than later if you want cheap flights to Wellington from Auckland. Booking early is a fantastic opportunity to find an affordable deal for the family and travel when the kids are on school holidays.
What Are the Best Ways to Get Around Wellington?
Walking
With a population of slightly more than 200,000 people, Wellington is famously one of the smallest capitals in the world. As a result, you’ll probably find that the best way to see all the major sights is by foot. You can walk from one side of the city to the other in less than 30 minutes, which means most visitors with flights from Auckland to Wellington will have no bother spending most of their trip exploring on foot.
Public transport
Public transport is very good and reasonably priced in Wellington, which is ideal if you’ve bought cheap flights to Wellington from Auckland and want to stick to a budget. The public transport system consists of buses, trains, ferries and even a cable car, so there are lots of ways to get around the city. For maximum convenience and cheaper prices, get a Snapper card from the Wellington i-SITE Visitor Information Centre upon arriving in the city.
Renting a car or bike
Bikes are available for hire from a number of rental companies including My Ride Wellington and Switched On Bikes. Since Wellington is so compact, cycling can be a great way to see the main attractions. If biking isn’t your thing, there are also rental cars available. You can easily pick up a hire car from Wellington Airport (WLG) with rental companies such as Avis, Europcar and Hertz operating nearby.
What Should I Pack When Visiting Wellington?
What season are you planning to travel?
Wellington doesn’t experience quite the chilly temperatures that the South Island does in the cooler seasons, but it’s still advisable to bring a warm jacket when you're headed away. Think about packing plenty of layers too, especially if you’re travelling in winter. The average daytime temperature during Wellington’s winter is 12°C; slightly chillier than Auckland’s 14°C. If you travel in summer, Wellington's average temperature is around 21°C so you can pack light. However, the city is well-known for its unpredictable and changeable weather, so packing a light rain jacket or jumper is recommended.
Laid-back dress code
Much like other parts of New Zealand, Wellington doesn't embrace a super formal way of dress. If you’ve booked flights from Auckland to Wellington and plan to go out to experience the city's nightlife, you don’t need to worry about getting too dressed up. You’ll find that most locals dress casually and comfortably; it really comes down to your personal preference.
