Guide To Wellington Accommodation

Positioned at the southern tip of the North Island, the bustling harbour city of Wellington offers a wide variety of accommodation from upmarket waterfront hotels, large corporate chains, themed hotels, to small luxury boutique hotels.

Downtown

The city centre has plenty of large hotels catering for both corporate and leisure travellers. The roads around Victoria and Willis Streets, and The Terrace, have a good concentration, smack bang in the middle of town amongst the cafes and shops. Cambridge Terrace features some beautiful boutique hotels converted from 1930s residences. Close to Te Papa Museum, Oriental Bay offers more resort-style hotels that overlook the beach and harbour. Lambton Quay, Cambridge Terrace and anywhere around Civic Square are where you’ll find modern, self-catering executive apartments. Try Kelburn, Highbury and Mount Victoria for larger properties. 

Backpacker

For those on a tighter budget, Wakefield Street, The Terrace and Willis Street have some decent backpacker hostels. If you don’t mind the walk into town, Taranaki Street and Vivian Street offer even better value for money. Mount Victoria, around Kent Terrace and Brougham Street has a couple of hostels away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Kapiti Coast

The rugged coastline of the Kapiti Coast is renowned for the unique wildlife and tranquility. Around 45 minutes drive from the CBD, many writers and artists set up home here, drawn by the natural beauty of the cliffs, inlets and islands that characterize this stretch of the west coast. Paraparaumu Beach, Waikanae and Te Horo feature a range of motels, boutique lodges and private beach houses to suit all budgets. For the more adventurous, Kapiti Island, a bird sanctuary and wildlife reserve, includes a small lodge that can be booked.

Hutt Valley

Scattered along the valley, are the residential suburbs around Lower and Upper Hutt, You’ll also find beautiful seaside towns, rolling countryside, flat flood plains, and even striking mountain ranges. The accommodation is less corporate and more picturesque in Petone and Eastbourne to the east. In Petone, many of the motels line Esplanade Road overlooking the water. The main high street, Jackson Street runs parallel behind. The scenic drive east from Petone brings you to the pretty coastal communities around Eastbourne, with its boutique, artisan shops and picturesque coastline. The ferry service from the beach at Day's Bay connects you Queen’s Wharf to Wellington's waterfront area in less than half an hour

Wairarapa

The wine growing region of Wairarapa is situated in the middle of New Zealand’s Classic Wine Trail. The main wine towns are Martinborough and Masterton, but make time to uncover some history in Carterton and Greytown. To the south, Palliser Bay has the lighthouse and bird haven, plus some excellent cliff line walks. To the north, Mount Bruce has a wildlife centre, and marks the border between Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay. The accommodation tends to focus on the smaller scale with bed & breakfast, motels and luxury lodges. The region's biggest town of Masterton offers the widest selection of properties and is the place to check out for those looking for a larger hotel chain.