One of the best ways to experience the rugged beauty of the North Island is on two wheels. Starting by the Wellington Harbour, the epic 115 kilometre Remutaka Cycle Trail goes north along the Hutt River, through restored rail tunnels and lush forest, all the way up to Wairarapa. You’ll need two-to-three days for the full circuit; for a day trip, take the train from Wellington to Maymorn, cycle the Rail Trail to Featherston and make the one-hour train trip back to Wellington.

The beach at Lyall Bay, 10 minutes by car from downtown Wellington, is the place to surf – or, watch the action from the safety of the shore if you’d rather leave it to the pros. Either way, be sure to kickstart your morning with a coffee from Maranui Cafe. Or if you visit later in the day, have lunch at Fresko, a restaurant attached to a seafood market (so you know the fish is as fresh as can be) and a brew at Parrotdog Brewery (the Birdseye Hazy IPA is a local favourite).

For a few fleeting weeks each spring, more than 350 Sakura cherry blossom trees bloom in Aston Norwood Gardens in Kaitoke, Upper Hutt, where a sea of delicate pink petals burst over five hectares of greenery. The annual festival, called Blossom Valley, is on from September 6 to October 5, 2025. As is the tradition in Japan, where cherry blossom festival culture originated, visitors are encouraged to enjoy a picnic under the dazzling canopy of blossoms.

Beachside flat whites or pink-petalled picnics? You can have both in Wellington. Book now at qantas.com.

The Escarpment Track, an at times rugged walking trail along the Kāpiti Coast from Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay (or vice-versa) is not for the faint-hearted: nine kilometres, around 1200 steps and some steep inclines. But endless views of rolling green hills and the vibrant blue bay along the way – it is called the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for a reason – are very much worth it.

Once you’ve tasted the cinnamon-spiced cloud that is a Croatian doughnut – complete with golden sultanas, lemon, orange zest and brandy – from Tomboy, you’ll understand why there’s often a queue out the door of the gourmet bakery on Majoribanks Street. To try one of the most delicious treats in Wellington, plan to get there as close to opening as you can.

For an awe-inspiring day trip from Wellington (two-and-a-half hours each way by car), head to Castlepoint Scenic Reserve, a picturesque spot on the North Island’s south-east coast. See Castle Rock, the 162-metre-tall rock formation the area is named for, as well as a lighthouse, seals and dolphins in the beach’s shallow waters. Keep an eye out for the Castlepoint daisy; a yellow flower that is only found naturally in Castlepoint.

From pillow-soft doughnuts to rare endemic daisies, Wellington serves up sweet surprises. Book your taste now at qantas.com.

A former Dunlop tyre factory in Upper Hutt, a 45 minute train ride from Wellington, has been reimagined as Brewtown, a beer drinker’s paradise. It’s home to four craft breweries – Panhead, Boneface, Good George, and Te Aro – as well as Wild Kiwi Distillery, Fermented Bar & Eatery, and Get Fixed Bicycle Café. Brewtown beers are celebrated thanks to the incredible water quality of the local area. But there’s more to Brewtown than drinking and eating (the breweries all serve food): you’ll also find a farmer’s market, escape rooms, axe throwing and more on offer.

Spend an afternoon strolling along the water’s edge on the sculpture-lined Wellington Waterfront, a pedestrian-only area that stretches from Wellington Station to Oriental Bay. Be immersed in local history at the Wellington Museum or Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, cross the City To Sea Bridge (it’s both an overbridge and public art installation), order a sweet treat from Carrello Gelato (try the Manuka Honey flavour), or on a sunny day, watch swimmers jumping into the harbour from the diving platform on Taranaki Street Wharf.

Wandering Wellington’s maze of laneways can work up an appetite – luckily, Hannah’s Laneway is blessed with delicious bites. Order a hot chocolate from Wellington Chocolate Factory, a slice from Pizza Pomodoro (the pomodorina – buffalo mozzarella, garlic, olives, basil, rocket and cherry tomatoes – is a crowd-pleaser) and a salted caramel cookie at Shelly Bay Baker on Leeds. Legs need a rest? Grab a seat on the balcony at brewpub Fortune Favours to watch the action on buzzing Ghuznee Street, which is decorated with street art murals.

Laneways, waterfront wandering and lashings of craft beer – Wellington keeps you busy. Make plans at qantas.com.

With a population of more than 1200 little spotted kiwis thanks to tireless conservation efforts, Kapiti Island Nature Reserve, just an hour’s drive and a short ferry ride from Wellington, is one of best places to observe the furry flightless birds. Since they’re most active after dark, an overnight glamping stay with Kapiti Island Nature Tours will increase your chances of a much sought-after sighting of these adorable creatures.

Take a gentle hike along Te Ara Utiwai, a 5.1 kilometre trail passing through native bushland, to reach Rangituhi Lookout. You’ll be met with staggering views of verdant green hills that give way to vistas of Porirua Harbour and beyond – the scene is even more dramatic at sunrise or sunset. For a more strenuous session, tackle Te Ara Rangituhi, a 1.6 kilometre steep climb up several hundred steps from Camp Elsdon to the Lookout.

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, perched on the Wellington waterfront, is not your average exhibits-behind-glass venue. As the country's national museum, it houses a diverse collection spanning Māori history to 17th-century paintings and modern art. Don’t miss Te Taiao Nature, which celebrates New Zealand’s unique wildlife (and features the world's largest specimen of the rare colossal squid), or Indra’s Bow by Tiffany Singh, where spices, herbs, gemstones and other natural materials are arranged to create a rainbow.

Takahe, weka – and the superstar kiwi. See these rare flightless birds up close in their wild home on Kapiti Island. Book your flight at qantas.com.

Below, the lights of downtown twinkle as ferries glide along the harbour. Above, the sky is streaked orange, pink and purple. There is simply no better place in Wellington to watch the sunset than from Mount Victoria. You can get to the top on foot (a steep but moderate 40-minute walk), by car, public transport or do it on two wheels by hiring an e-bike from Switched On Bikes. Either way, pack a picnic of local goodies and settle in to watch the show.

The otherworldly natural wonders that made New Zealand ideal for filming The Lord of the Rings include Kaitoke Regional Park in the foothills of the Tararua Range, less than an hour by car from Wellington. The location for the trilogy’s Rivendell and Fords of Isen settings, the park comprises almost 2500 hectares of ancient beech, rimu, northern rata, hinau and kamahi trees, with the clear brooks of the Hutt and Pākuratahi rivers meandering throughout the verdant forest. Visitors can explore on foot – the Swingbridge Track and Pākuratahi River trails are beginner-friendly and between one and two kilometres – while experienced kayakers have the option of taking to the Hutt River Gorge rapids for an exhilarating ride.

In Mount Victoria lies one of Wellington’s top restaurants, the seafood-centric Ortega Fish Shack. You can expect upmarket dining but with a laid-back vibe – waitstaff wear casual clothes and nautical paraphernalia cover the walls. The menu changes daily, depending on what fresh and sustainably-caught New Zealand kaimoana (seafood) is available. But you’ll always find ceviche on the menu; fresh raw fish with Asian herbs, crispy shallots and ginger-spiked dressing.

Wellington can take you from Middle Earth to Mount Victoria in a day. What’s on the itinerary for tomorrow? Start planning at qantas.com.

Majestic Matiu/Somes, the Wellington Harbour island rich with Māori and colonial history (including time as a prisoner of war camp and quarantine facility), should be seen at dawn or dusk – when the sky is light up in shades of pink and purple – to fully appreciate its beauty. To explore the island on foot, take the 25-minute ferry leaving from Queens Wharf.

Karaka Cafe, on the Pōneke Waterfront, gives classic brunch fare a Pasifica and Māori-inspired twist. The eggs benedict is served alongside smoked Hãngī hash with kumara (a mainstay of the menu since the café’s 2011 opening) while the smashed avocado is matched with Rēwana – a Māori sourdough leavened with a potato starter – baby bocconcini and heirloom tomatoes. If your sweet tooth is calling, the Pacific Donut comes with whipped honey ricotta and rhubarb panikeke (Samoan pancakes).