Wellington, Family Activities

Jump on your electric bike and enjoy a fun, light hearted and engaging tour of Wellington. Departing from the Waterfront you will set out on a journey to enjoy picturesque panoramic views of Wellington's spectacular scenery and discover it's colourful history.

The electric bikes are easy to use and suitable for any level of fitness, if you can ride a bike you can ride the electric bikes!

Electric Bays Guided Tour

Half day trip where your guide will navigate you from the Waterfront to Wellington's quiet bays.

Self Guided Full Tour

This is a great full day tour where you can travel at your own pace throughout the day. You will be given instructions and a cycle map and left to your own devices to discover whatever you wish to!

The Rimutaka Rail Trail can be explored by taking the bikes on a train then riding from Maymorn to Featherston.  This is a world class track well away from the city. Pack your lunch, take your camera and ride the old railway line taking in the New Zealand forest and history.

Minimum age 13 years.

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Get the kids outside to have some FREE family fun connecting with nature at Toyota Kiwi Guardians sites nationwide.

Toyota Kiwi Guardians highlights family-friendly, treasure hunt style activities at specific Department of Conservation sites that encourage kids to engage with the outdoors and, ultimately, earn themselves a medal for their efforts.

The goal of the conservation programme is to turn Kiwi kids into guardians of the land and sea.

A total of 50 sites are operational nationwide. Families can get started on their adventure by downloading the appropriate “treasure hunt” map from: www.kiwiguardians.co.nz

Click on the area of New Zealand nearest to where you are to find the choices available closest to home.

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Cool little spot for a family day out: SUP and sit on top kayak hire, real fruit ice cream, unique lolly shop, bike hire. Grab a kayak (weather dependant) and cruise out to Matiu / Somes Island - about 45 minutes paddle each way.

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The Wellington Museum is home to the intriguing stories of Wellington's social, cultural and maritime history. Exhibitions house precious objects and use stunning special effects bringing the past to life.
The Museum is located in the heart of Wellington's vibrant waterfront - just 2 minutes from Lambton Quay and 8 minutes from Te Papa. We are open every day from 10 am to 5pm (except Christmas Day).
A tour with a friendly and knowledgeable Museum Host is the ideal way to gain a personalised insight into the stories of Wellington.

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Fergs Kayaks and Indoor Climbing are home to the largest indoor real rock wall in NZ!  This 13 metre high wall offers something for everyone whether you are an absolute beginner or complete climbing whizz.  There are heaps of kids climbing options available during the school term, in the holidays or for a Sunday morning session.  Birthday Parties are awesome at Fergs, with freedom hire climb parties for 8 or more friends on weekdays or weekends – or come and experience the fun and excitement of Fergs Adventure Birthdays – bring the kids along for an adventure race that includes unlocking clues and challenges either by rock, inline skating or paddling to win your way to victory and prizes! Fergs Kayaks also have a great range of hire options for SUPs, bicycles, inline skate hire and kayaks. 

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HangDog is an indoor rock climbing adventure for beginners through to advanced climbers. It is fun for everyone from adults right down to young children as young as 4. They offer beginner and advanced climbing walls, lessons and equipment hire - everything you need to get started. Birthday party hire options available too.

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Bring your family and friends and take a virtual journey through space in Carter's Pelorus Trust Planetarium – a state-of-the-art full-dome digital theatre, then take your own steps through space as you walk through the world-class interactive multimedia space experience. A varied timetable of Planetarium Shows includes a dynamic and thrilling show and a guided tour of the night sky. Telescope viewing, historical astronomical artifacts and our spacey shop will complete your family experience.

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The Cable Car is one of Wellington’s oldest and most popular tourist attractions. Cars depart every ten minutes from Lambton Quay in the heart of the city and run under the corporate towers of The Terrace, emerging in Kelburn and ending up at the top of Upland Road where the Lookout, Carter Observatory and Cable Car Museum are located.

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Lazer Tag - a fun, fast paced game, played in our space-themed maze with state of the art, New Zealand Made Vests and Guns. Enter the Maze for ten minutes as one of up to 18 players and work together to "tag" the members of the other team. More tags = More points, but be careful: if you are tagged, your vest and gun are disarmed for a short period of time and you lose points! Great for young and old - without the "ouch" of paintball!
Also, Ten Pin Bowling with bumper rails to help the kids, cafe onsite and birthday party packages available.

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The Farm Show is an all weather fun and educational experience including a shearing and milking demonstration, and the chance to handmilk a cow or feed the baby animals with a bottle. Take some food on the farm walk and most of the animals will eat from your hand. There are toilets, a café, restaurant and picnic areas.

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Great family entertainment - 12 fully-electronic / automatic lanes and scoring, Kiddy bumpers on all lanes for children, Comfortable seating, 2 Projection screens for your viewing pleasure, Stylish bowling shoes.

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The award-winning Cable Car Museum brings to life the story of Wellington's iconic cable cars. Situated within the original Winding House, the Museum is home to two of the original grip cars and the historic winding machinery once used to haul the cars through a series of tunnels up the steep incline.

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Wellington’s oldest original cottage is home to the story of the Wallis family who lived there for three generations. A guided tour of Cottage and garden gives a glimpse into the lives of this pioneering New Zealand family. Or you can stroll around the organic heritage garden at any time and visit our resident chickens.

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Experience New Zealand’s pioneering heritage and learn how your ancestors lived in the days before washing machines and running water! The museum at Murrayfield has lots of exhibits to teach the children how life used to be, including items from a general store, chemist and how people saw movies before the advent of videos and DVDs. The miniature town of Helenstown depicts a typical town around the early 1900s, complete with miniature train and water fountain. Meet the beautiful Clydesdale horses in the stables and stop at the café for light refreshments and a view of animals grazing in the green paddocks beneath the Tararua Ranges.

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Enjoy the best of Wellington with a cruise on the citys unique harbour ferry service. Up to 16 return harbour crossings daily between Queens Wharf and Days Bay and calling into Matiu Somes Island.

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Wellington Zoo has more than 500 animals living in enclosures designed to be as natural and similar to the environment they live in as possible. Cheetahs, lions, tigers, reptiles, birds and fish are just some of the animals you can see at the zoo. School and community groups can book a sleepover at the zoo – mattresses, supper and breakfast are all provided. Would you like to hand feed a red panda or a giraffe or spend a day behind the scenes? Book a close encounter at the zoo and enjoy a truly unique animal experience.

Pushchairs are for hire for $20 including a $10 bond. Toilets are situated throughout the zoo and there is a parent’s room in the entrance foyer. Don’t forget to visit the Zoo shop for a fantastic range of soft toys, souvenirs and children’s t-shirts.

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Take your family or friends on a discovery tour from Oriental Bay to Kumutoto on an Enormous Crocodile quadricycle. These two or four seater, four wheeled, covered cycles are fun for the whole family (but person hiring must be at least 18 years of age).

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There's plenty to see and do around Eastbourne and Pencarrow - explore Wellington’s wild South Coast, including historic lighthouses and shipwrecks, lakes and wetlands, amazing views of Wellington and the Kaikoura Ranges, and occasional sightings of seals, little blue penguins, dolphins and orca!

Or for a more relaxed experience, grab a bike and cruise Eastbourne’s bays and cafes.

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