Places worth the detour in Wellington

40 places worth going out of your way for lie within 12 km of Wellington, New Zealand, across 7 kinds of detour; castles, monuments & landmarks are the largest group (11). Best known: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 39 of them rank as little-known. Click any card to open it on the map.

Built landmarks11 Museums & culture9 Nature & landscapes5 Parks & cemeteries5 Sacred sites4 Fun & leisure4 Ruins & the uncanny2

All 40, ranked 40

Ranked by how many Wikipedia editions cover them.

1.Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Museums & culture · 20th century · Notable

National museum of New Zealand

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2.Sacred Heart Cathedral

Sacred sites · 19th century · Hidden gem

Roman Catholic cathedral in Wellington, New Zealand

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3.Wellington Zoo

Fun & leisure · 20th century · Hidden gem

Zoo in Wellington, New Zealand

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4.Matiu / Somes Island

Nature & landscapes · Hidden gem

Island in New Zealand

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5.Wahine

Ruins & the uncanny · Hidden gem

Ship

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6.St Mary of the Angels

Sacred sites · 20th century · Hidden gem

Catholic church in Wellington, New Zealand

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7.Futuna Chapel

Sacred sites · 20th century · Hidden gem

Heritage church building in Wellington, New Zealand

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8.Zealandia

Nature & landscapes · Hidden gem

Wildlife sanctuary in Wellington, New Zealand

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9.Wellington Botanic Garden

Parks & cemeteries · 19th century · Hidden gem

Public botanical garden

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10.Opera House

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Proscenium theatre in Wellington, New Zealand

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11.Te Ngākau Civic Square

Built landmarks · Hidden gem

Square in Wellington, New Zealand

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12.Wellington Cable Car

Fun & leisure · Hidden gem

Funicular railway in New Zealand

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13.Wellington Cathedral of St Paul

Sacred sites · 20th century · Hidden gem

Cathedral

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14.City Gallery Wellington

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Contemporary art gallery in Wellington, New Zealand

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15.Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Art gallery and museum on the Victoria University of Wellington campus, New Zealand

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16.St James Theatre

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Theatre and former cinema in Wellington, New Zealand

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17.Pencarrow Head Lighthouse

Built landmarks · 19th century · Hidden gem

Lighthouse in New Zealand

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18.The Bucket Fountain

Built landmarks · 20th century · Hidden gem

Kinetic sculpture in Wellington, New Zealand

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19.National War Memorial

Built landmarks · 20th century · Hidden gem

War memorial in Wellington

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20.HMNZS Wellington (F69)

Ruins & the uncanny · Hidden gem

1968 Leander-class frigate

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21.Embassy Theatre

Fun & leisure · 20th century · Hidden gem

Cinema in Wellington, New Zealand of historical significance

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22.Thistle Inn

Fun & leisure · 19th century · Hidden gem

Historic hotel and pub in Wellington, New Zealand

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23.Matiu / Somes Island Lighthouse

Built landmarks · 19th century · Hidden gem

Lighthouse in New Zealand, built 1900

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24.Steeple Rock/Te Aroaro-o-Kupe

Nature & landscapes · Hidden gem

Rock in Wellington Harbour, New Zealand

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25.Fort Buckley

Built landmarks · 19th century · Hidden gem

Historic gun emplacement in Wellington, New Zealand

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26.Fort Ballance

Built landmarks · 19th century · Hidden gem

Coastal artillery battery on Point Gordon, Wellington

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27.Wrights Hill Fortress

Built landmarks · Hidden gem

Artillery battery in Karori, Wellington, New Zealand

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28.Tomb of the Unknown Warrior (New Zealand)

Built landmarks · Hidden gem

War memorial in Wellington, New Zealand

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29.Carter Fountain

Built landmarks · 20th century · Hidden gem

Fountain in Wellington, New Zealand

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30.Ōtari-Wilton's Bush

Parks & cemeteries · 20th century · Hidden gem

Botanic garden in Wellington, New Zealand

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31.Te Raekaihau

Nature & landscapes · Hidden gem

Rugged coastal landform in New Zealand

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32.Queen Victoria Monument

Built landmarks · 20th century · Hidden gem

Statue in Wellington, New Zealand

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33.New Zealand Olympic Museum

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Former sports museum in Wellington, New Zealand

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34.Gifford Observatory

Museums & culture · Hidden gem

Astronomical observation facility

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35.Thomas King Observatory

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand

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36.Dominion Observatory

Museums & culture · 20th century · Hidden gem

Historic observatory in Wellington

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37.Waitangi Park

Parks & cemeteries · 21st century · Hidden gem

Waitangi Park, a re-modelled recreation-space in Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand, dates from 2006.

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38.Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park

Parks & cemeteries · Hidden gem

Biking and walking park in New Zealand

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39.Percy Scenic Reserve

Parks & cemeteries · 20th century · Hidden gem

New Zealand scenic reserve and botanic garden

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40.Ngauranga Gorge

Nature & landscapes · Hidden gem

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All 598 places worth the detour in New Zealand →