27th March 2018

Just 48 hours in Wellington? Read on!

Looking back on our summer break with fond memories, and eagerly awaiting a snowy winter ski trip, what better way to pass the time between seasons than with a sneaky weekend getaway. Let’s start with one of our favourite locations – cultural hotspot and New Zealand’s capital city, wonderful Wellington.

Here at MajorDomo, we’re always happy to share our insider locals knowledge to help you make the most of your time, and with so much going on, you can certainly squeeze a lot into 48 hours in Wellington.

Friday Night

We’d recommend staying somewhere nice and central in the city. Sofitel Wellington has a great selection of beautiful rooms and suites to choose from and is the perfect base to explore the city for your weekend away in Wellington.

Once you’ve checked in and unpacked your weekend bag, seek out a local boutique craft beer to kick off your evening and wind down from the working week – we love Fortune Favours Brewery (Leeds Street) for their passion and knowledge of all things hoppy. The craft beer scene in Wellington has taken off in recent years, and there is a great selection to suit every palette.

Keeping things casual for the first night in town, stroll around the corner to Ombra (Cuba Street) for dinner. The rustic touches internally, and friendly staff create a relaxed vibe – the menu can be a little confusing, but it’s worth stretching your brain cells to place your order, as the food is great.

Saturday

Hopefully, there are no craft beer clouds hanging overhead this morning – we always think the best way to dust off the cobwebs is a good hike, and our personal favourite is the Mt Victoria viewpoint. The great thing about the Mt Victoria hike is that you can start it directly from the city with no need to hire a car – the track starts from the top of Majoribanks Street. Passing through Charles Plimmer Park, the route takes you uphill to a beautiful viewpoint offering panoramas across the harbour – if you’re feeling really zesty, it is a great spot for sunrise (or so we’ve been told – we’re normally too busy catching up on our beauty sleep…)

Brunch time! We love Floraditas (Cuba st) for their seasonal menu choices and good coffee – after working up an appetite, this is a fab place to relax and enjoy the fantastic service.

After lunch, something a little quirky! Weta Studios are most famous for their special effects work on Lord of The Rings, but they also have given a helping hand to a number of Hollywood classics. Take a tour of their workshop and get insight into the magic, with a “behind the scenes” visit into one of the most cutting-edge special effect studios in the world. In true kiwi fashion, the tour is low key, and personal – you will find various memorabilia dotted around the studio from a whole range of movies, and the small group sizes encourage interaction with the knowledgeable guides. It’s normally better to make a booking before making the journey out of the city.

Last night was craft beers, so to switch things up for Saturday night, try Noble Rot Wine Bar for beautiful food, clued-up staff and a bloomin’ good wine selection. Choose a la carte or their seasonal degustation menu with matching wines. Yum.

Sunday

Sunday mornings are made to be lazy – take a wander around the harbour where you’ll find the local farmers market on the waterfront bustling with locals. There’s normally something tasty to be found for breakfast, and once you’ve had your share of local treats you will be close by to the next stop: Te Papa. We can’t claim this one as a piece of local’s insider knowledge – it’s no secret that Te Papa is a great museum, but it is definitely worth joining the crowds to stroll around and explore. The Gallipoli exhibit (until April 2019) is another offering from the team at Weta Studios, but the attention to detail and scale of their exhibition pieces is mind-blowing and tells the story of a touching piece of kiwi history.

Time for one more lunch before heading home? Keep it casual and try some “soul food” from Laundry. Think American diner offerings with international flavours – burgers, tacos, gumbo… pick something to make you feel full for the journey home, and en route, with a tummy full of Wellington grub, you can start thinking about your next weekend away….

Want help planning your next weekend away in NZ?  Get in touch with our accommodation and concierge experts by calling +64 3 442 0502 or sending an email to us at hello@majordomo.co.nz!