Wellington Travel Guide
Buy New Zealand DollarsWellington at a glance
Wellington, New Zealand's capital, is compact, walkable and windy, wrapped around a deep harbour at the southern tip of the North Island, and the place where road trips cross to the South Island. Two or three days covers Te Papa, the Cable Car and the hills, and the cafés and restaurants around Cuba Street and Courtenay Place.
Te Papa, the national museum, charges international visitors aged 16 and over NZD 35 (valid for 48 hours); New Zealanders and under-16s go free. The red Cable Car (NZD 7 one way, NZD 13 return) climbs to Kelburn and the free Botanic Garden, founded in 1868. The Mount Victoria lookout is free, and the Wētā Workshop tour costs from NZD 59.
The Airport Express bus takes 25 to 35 minutes to Wellington station: NZD 12 by cash or contactless, NZD 9.23 with a Snapper card. Since April 2026 you can also tap a Visa or Mastercard on all Metlink buses and trains, at the adult fare plus a 1.5% fee; Snapper is still cheaper for transfers.
Interislander and Bluebridge cross Cook Strait to Picton in about three and a half hours, with foot passengers paying from about NZD 75 to 85 one way. Europcar, Hertz, Ace and Thrifty do not allow their cars on the ferry, so you swap cars at the terminals. Indian passport holders need a Visitor Visa, applied for online before travel: NZD 441, including the NZD 100 International Visitor Levy, and Immigration New Zealand decides 80% within two weeks. The NZeTA is not open to Indians.
What to see and do
The waterfront, Te Papa, Cuba Street and the Cable Car are all within walking distance; the ferry terminals and Miramar are a short drive.
Te Papa
New Zealand's national museum on the waterfront, with Māori treasures, natural history and art. International visitors aged 16 and over pay NZD 35 for a 48-hour ticket.
The Cable Car and Botanic Garden
The 1902 Cable Car climbs from Lambton Quay to Kelburn (NZD 7 one way, NZD 13 return) for city views and a walk down through the free Botanic Garden.
Weta Workshop
The Miramar studio behind the props and creatures of the Lord of the Rings films: tours from NZD 59 for 90 minutes, and the Wētā Cave shop is free.
The Cook Strait ferry
Interislander and Bluebridge sail to Picton through the Marlborough Sounds in about three and a half hours, with foot fares from about NZD 75 to 85. Book early for December to February and Easter.
Paying in Wellington
For the dollar itself, entry rules for Indians, biosecurity and how much cash to carry, see the New Zealand travel guide and the New Zealand dollar page, and before you fly, read how to avoid extra ATM fees in New Zealand.
Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. On Metlink buses and trains, a contactless Visa or Mastercard costs the adult fare plus 1.5%; buy a Snapper card if you will ride often.
What Wellington actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in New Zealand dollars and Indian rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 9 October 2026, NZ$1 ≈ ₹54.30, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹4,340 to ₹15,200 per person per day on the ground, excluding flights and accommodation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Airport Express: contactless or cash / Snapper | NZD 12 / 9.23 |
| Te Papa, international visitor 16+ | NZD 35 |
| Cable Car, one way / return | NZD 7 / 13 |
| Wētā Workshop tour | from NZD 59 |
| Cook Strait ferry, foot passenger | from about NZD 75 |
| Coffee | NZD 5-7 |
| Casual meal | NZD 18-32 |
Getting around
Central Wellington is walkable. Metlink buses and trains take a contactless Visa or Mastercard (adult fare plus 1.5%) or a Snapper card; the Cable Car does not take Snapper.
Common mistakes in Wellington
Expecting an NZeTA
Indian passport holders cannot use the NZeTA, even with a US, UK or Canada visa. Apply for a Visitor Visa online (NZD 441) well before you fly.
Expecting Te Papa to be free
It is free for New Zealanders, but international visitors aged 16 and over pay NZD 35.
Taking a hire car on the ferry without checking
Europcar, Hertz, Ace and Thrifty do not allow their cars on the Cook Strait ferry; you swap cars at the terminals. Check before you book either.
Leaving the ferry booking late
Sailings fill up from December to February and at Easter, especially for vehicles. Book ahead.
Wellington FAQs
The Airport Express bus takes 25 to 35 minutes to Wellington station: NZD 12 by cash or contactless, or NZD 9.23 with a Snapper card.
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Visitor Visa, applied for online in advance: NZD 441 in all, including the NZD 100 International Visitor Levy, and Immigration New Zealand decides 80% of applications within two weeks. The NZeTA is not open to Indian passport holders, even with a US, UK or Canada visa; only Australian permanent residents can use it. Everyone also completes the free New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
For New Zealanders and under-16s, yes. International visitors aged 16 and over pay NZD 35, valid for 48 hours.
By ferry to Picton with Interislander or Bluebridge, about three and a half hours, from about NZD 75 to 85 for a foot passenger.
It depends on the company. Europcar, Hertz, Ace and Thrifty do not allow it, so you swap cars at the terminals; GO Rentals, Apex and Ezi do allow it.
On 9 October 2026 one New Zealand dollar was ₹54.30 at the mid-market rate, so NZD 100 is about ₹5,430.
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