Wellington is known as the “coolest little capital in the world”. Hire a campervan with VroomVroomVroom and explore the sights and scenery of New Zealand’s capital city. Whether you prefer staying near the beach or right in the heart of the city, there’s something exciting waiting for you in Wellington.
Situated at the southern end of the North Island, Wellington offers a great mix of heritage, culture, delicious food, and vibrant arts. Truly a must-see stop for anyone travelling to New Zealand, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do here. Get up close and personal with wildlife at Wellington Zoo, treat yourself to live music at The Green Man on Victoria Street, or you can visit the historic Katherine Mansfield House and Garden.
Some of our favourite things to do year-round in Wellington are:
Summer (December, January, February): The city is blessed with so many stunning beaches. If you want to enjoy the ocean breeze or just feel the sand between your toes, you won’t need to travel far to find a nice beach. The famous Oriental Bay is right in the city, with great ice cream shops nearby to help you cool off. Scorching Bay, which is just a short drive from the CBD, is absolutely breathtaking for a beach day. Other incredible beaches within reach of Wellington are Days Bay, Kapiti Coast, Island Bay, Makara Beach, and Waitarere Beach.
Autumn (March, April, May): If you’re into movies, then you are in for a treat. The city is home to the Weta Studio which was central to the filming of the Lord of the Rings. Just a short drive from Wellington by campervan, head to Wairarapa and discover some of the beautiful vineyards and wineries in the region. If you are looking for other great places to explore just a few hours away from the city, go on a day trip and visit Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Martinborough.
Winter (June, July, August): The streets of Wellington come alive at the annual Wellington Jazz Festival in June. Also known as the craft beer capital of New Zealand, don’t miss the biggest and most popular beer festival in the country. Held over two days in August at Wellington Stadium, get ready to blow your mind at Beervana.
Spring (September, October, November): Take a mesmerising ride on the historic Wellington Cable Car. This 5-minute journey starts on Lambton Quay and finishes in the picturesque suburb of Kelburn. Enjoy impressive views from the lookout and easy access to Cable Car Museum and Botanic Gardens. There are plenty of walking tracks through the gardens, including the award-winning Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The main garden is extraordinary all year round but it comes alive with 25,000 tulips in the spring.
Year-Round: There are many places that you can explore in Wellington for free. These include the Weta Cave, Wellington Waterfront, Underground Market, and Seal Colony at Red Rocks. Other must-see attractions in the city include the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Zealandia, and Colonial Cottage Museum. Of course, no visit to the city is complete without stopping into Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand.
Wellington TOP 10 Holiday Park which lies at 95 Hutt Park Rd, Lower Hutt boasts a drive-through check-in for your convenience so you can be welcomed without leaving your campervan hire. Enjoy the BBQ areas, playground and jumping pillow the Holiday Park offers. Also available is a hot tub to sit back and relax after a long road trip.These clean facilities are waiting to provide you with every comfort.
Harcourt Holiday Park which can be found in the breathtaking parklands of Akatarawa Valley on the banks of the Hutt River in Upper Hutt offers its guests with worthy and great facilities. Thinking about your adventure in Wellington? Now is the perfect time to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere with their powered and non-powered sites.
Camp Elsdon is situated on the western side of Porirua which is wrapped up into the edge of the Colonial Knob Reserve. The campsite is a 5-minute drive from Porirua City, which provides 10 campervan powered sites and consists of 20 grassed tent sites near to private NZ native bush.
Capital Gateway which is situated just off State Highway 1 provides a choice of reasonable accommodation units very ideal for families and groups. It has 27 powered sites for campervans, with easy public transport links to the city. Staying at Capital Gateway will give you a wonderful and stress-free experience.
Visit Mount Victoria Lookout: There’s nothing quite like the view from Mount Victoria Lookout towards the suburbs to the south and across the harbour to the north. This is also a perfect romantic spot at night with all the city lights. You can drive all the way up, or walk through the nature trails.
Explore the Te Papa Museum: Known as the National Museum of New Zealand, the museum explores everything from Maori and European settlement and integration, World War history, the emergence of the Rock n Roll era, and many more.
Take a tour of the Houses of Parliament: At the far end of town, you’ll find the Parliament Building, known as The Beehive. The building has some nice grounds and the Parliamentary Library building is worth a visit too. The entrance to the building is free.
You need to be at least 21 to rent and drive a campervan in Wellington. However, few rental providers will accept 18-years-old drivers but an underage surcharge may apply.
No. All you need is your valid and unexpired drivers license for the entire rental period. If your license is not printed in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation in English will be required.
You can camp for free at the Motukaraka Point Reserve, Evans Bay Marina Car Park, Waikawa Campsite, Raumati Beach Car Park, Graces Stream Campsite, Paraparaumu Beach Car Park, Ladle Bend, Waikanae Beach Car Park, and Otaki Beach Car Park as long as you are travelling in a certified self-contained campervan.
You can park your self-contained campervan overnight in Wellington City except Saturday for a fee at Barnett Street car park, located on the corner of Barnett Street and Cable Street.
If you receive an infringement notice from an Enforcement Officer, you can pay the fee online using your credit card (choose the Camping payment type) or visit the Wellington City Council Service Centre, located at 12 Manners Street. Check out the Wellington City Council website to know more.
