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Things to Do with Kids in Wellington

Explore 40 family-friendly activities in Wellington — filtered by age, scheduled around nap time, and ready to drop into your personalized itinerary.

Top Family Activities

40 of 40 selected
📌

Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Ecosanctuary

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Stroller-friendly paved paths on lower loop; upper trails are steep and uneven. Hire a carrier for toddlers on upper tra...

🎡

Wellington Zoo

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Entirely stroller-friendly with paved paths throughout. Arrive early for animal feeding sessions — check the daily sched...

🏛️

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Free entry and fully stroller accessible with lifts on every floor. Discovery Centre on Level 2 is hands-on and perfect ...

🎡

Wellington Cable Car

1–2 hoursAges 012+

Strollers must be folded on the cable car — use a carrier for infants. Buy a return ticket to ride both ways. Combine wi...

🌳

Wellington Botanic Garden

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free entry. Main paths are stroller-friendly; some hillside sections are steep. Lady Norwood Rose Garden is stunning in ...

🏛️

Wellington Cable Car Museum

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

Free entry. Small and easily manageable with young children. Interactive displays on the history of the cable car. Locat...

📌

Weta Workshop Unleashed

2–4 hoursAges 512+Stroller OK

Booking in advance is strongly recommended as tours fill up. Best for children aged 6+ who can engage with the guided ex...

🏛️

Carter Observatory

1–2 hoursAges 412+Stroller OK

Planetarium shows are great for kids aged 5+; younger children may find it too dark and long. Check the show schedule on...

📌

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free general entry (some exhibitions have fees). Stroller accessible with lifts. Family activity sheets available at rec...

📌

Kāpiti Island Nature Tours

Full DayAges 512+

Booking essential — DOC permit required, book months in advance in peak season. Not suitable for children under 5 due to...

📌

Wellington Waterfront Walk

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Fully flat and stroller-friendly along the entire waterfront from Queen's Wharf to Oriental Bay. Great for spotting boat...

🌳

Frank Kitts Park Playground

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Waterfront playground with splash pad (summer only), climbing frames, swings and slides suitable for toddlers to 1...

📌

Oriental Bay Beach

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Wellington's inner-city beach — calm water and sandy shore great for young children. Stroller-friendly promenade runs th...

📌

Mount Victoria Lookout

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Drive to the top carpark for a pram/stroller-friendly flat viewing area with 360° city views. Walking up from the city t...

🎡

Staglands Wildlife Reserve

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

About 40 minutes north of Wellington CBD — worth the drive. Children can hand-feed deer, ducks and goats. Paths are most...

📌

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Located in Waikanae, about 60km north of Wellington. Excellent for seeing kiwi in the nocturnal house and native birds u...

🌳

Otari-Wilton's Bush Reserve

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free entry. New Zealand's only public botanic garden dedicated entirely to native plants. Flat central track is stroller...

📌

Lower Hutt River Trail (Family Section)

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Flat, sealed trail ideal for bikes, scooters and prams. Hire bikes from nearby shops in Petone. Access easily from...

🏛️

Petone Settlers Museum

1–2 hoursAges 312+Stroller OK

Free entry. Small, accessible museum telling the story of early settlers. Children enjoy the interactive displays. Locat...

📌

Wellington Central Library Tūranga

1–2 hoursAges 010+Stroller OK

Free. Children's section has a dedicated play and reading area. Story time sessions run regularly — check the events cal...

📌

Zealandia by Night — Guided Night Tour

2–4 hoursAges 512+

Booking essential — fills up weeks ahead in peak season. Best for children aged 5+ who can walk and remain quiet. Night ...

📌

Wainuiomata Recreation Area — Remutaka Forest Park

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. The Blue Mountains Road swimming hole is hugely popular with families in summer. Easy riverside flat walk suitable...

🥾

Kaitoke Regional Park — Rivendell Walk

2–4 hoursAges 212+Stroller OK

Free. Flat river walk to the Rivendell LOTR filming site — great for young hikers and curious older kids. River swimming...

🌳

Anderson Park Playground (Botanic Garden)

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. One of the best playgrounds in Wellington, located within the Botanic Garden. Excellent climbing structures, swing...

🌳

Newtown Park Playground

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Large community playground with equipment for all ages. Adjacent to the Wellington Zoo — easy to combine both visi...

🍕

Wellington Night Markets (Newtown & Cuba St)

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Vibrant outdoor food markets — pushchair-friendly but can get crowded after 7pm. Huge variety of cuisines. Kids are welc...

🍕

Harbourside Market Wellington

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Wellington's premier waterfront farmers market. Excellent local produce, street food and coffee. Flat and stroller-frien...

📌

Miramar Peninsula Coastal Walk

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Sections of the walk have expansive harbour views and rocky shoreline for exploring. The flat lower sections near ...

📌

Scorching Bay Beach

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. One of Wellington's calmest and safest beaches for children — protected harbour bay. Rock pools at low tide are br...

📌

Tawa Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Indoor heated pools — perfect rainy-day option. Toddler splash pool and family lanes. About 20 minutes north of Wellingt...

🌳

Karori Park and Playground

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Large neighbourhood park with modern playground equipment and open grass fields. Cricket pitches and sports courts...

📌

Matiu/Somes Island Nature Reserve

Half DayAges 412+

Ferry booking recommended. Suitable for children aged 4+ who can manage uneven paths. No playground but plenty of open s...

🍕

Prefab Eatery Wellington

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

One of Wellington's most family-friendly cafés — spacious seating, excellent kids food options and a relaxed atmosphere....

🍕

Garage Project Taproom

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

Wellington's iconic craft brewery welcomes families in the taproom during daytime hours. Kids-friendly non-alcoholic dri...

📌

Weta Cave Mini-Museum (Free)

under_1hAges 412+Stroller OK

Free mini-museum attached to the Weta Workshop in Miramar. Features props, costumes and behind-the-scenes stories from L...

📌

Queens Wharf & Shed 6 Area

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free to explore the wharf itself. Events, markets and pop-up activities happen here regularly. Great views of the harbou...

🎡

Interislander Ferry — Cook Strait Crossing

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

3.5-hour ferry crossing to Picton. Kids love watching the dramatic Marlborough Sounds scenery. Cafés, kids play area and...

📌

Cuba Street Bucket Fountain

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Wellington's most iconic public art piece — an interactive water sculpture that tips buckets of water in a rhythmi...

🥾

Polhill Reserve Nature Walk

1–2 hoursAges 312+

Free. Bush reserve with native forest tracks close to the CBD. Easy lower tracks suit older toddlers; upper tracks steep...

📌

Brooklyn Wind Turbine

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

Free. Drive up to the Brooklyn hilltop for stunning city and harbour views plus the iconic wind turbine. Short flat walk...

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Packing Tips for Wellington
  • Sunscreen & hats for outdoor activities
  • Comfortable walking shoes for the whole family
  • Stroller or baby carrier
  • Snacks & water bottles
  • Rain jacket or poncho (just in case)
  • Small first-aid kit with band-aids
  • Entertainment for transit (books, tablet, coloring)
  • Hiking gear & bug spray
Get a full personalized packing list when you plan your trip.
Sample Family Itinerary
Day 1 — Explore
🎡
Wellington Cable Car
1–2 hours
🍕
Lunch Break
📌
Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Ecosanctuary
Half Day
Day 2 — Adventure
📌
Kāpiti Island Nature Tours
Full Day
Build Your Custom Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do with kids in Wellington?

Top family activities include Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne Ecosanctuary, Wellington Zoo, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Cable Car, Wellington Botanic Garden. Toddler Trip curates age-appropriate activities and builds nap-aware itineraries for your family.

Is Wellington good for toddlers?

Yes! Many activities in Wellington are suitable for toddlers. Toddler Trip filters activities by your children's ages and schedules around nap time so everyone enjoys the trip.

How do I plan a family trip to Wellington?

Use Toddler Trip's free planner: enter your family profile, pick from AI-curated activities, and get a nap-aware day-by-day itinerary with a personalized packing list — all in about 5 minutes.

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