Wellington Travel Guide: Why I Spent a Year Living in New Zealand's Capital
Wellington is one of my favourite cities in the world, and in this episode I'm sharing exactly why.
I first visited New Zealand's capital in 2013 on the Kiwi Experience and instantly connected with the city. In 2017, when Emma and I arrived in New Zealand on a working holiday visa, we spent weeks road-tripping around both islands before deciding where to settle. I already had my sights set on Wellington, and thankfully Emma fell in love with it too. We ended up spending nearly a year living there, giving us the chance to experience the city far beyond the typical tourist highlights.
In this Wellington travel guide, I share the places, experiences and local tips that made the city so special to us. From riding the iconic Wellington Cable Car and exploring Te Papa Museum to walking the waterfront, climbing Mount Victoria and discovering all parts of the city, I cover the attractions that I think every visitor should experience.
Of course, no episode about Wellington would be complete without talking about coffee and brunch. This is the city where my love of coffee began, and over the course of 11 months I worked my way through more cafés than I can count. I share my favourite spots for brunch, great coffee, waterfront views and local atmosphere, including some long-time Wellington institutions that I still think about today.
I also dive into the practical side of visiting and living in Wellington, including where to stay, the best neighbourhoods to base yourself, transport options, day trips, travelling between the North and South Islands, and what it was like finding work while on a New Zealand working holiday visa. If you're considering moving to Wellington or spending time there as a backpacker, digital nomad or working holiday traveller, there's plenty here for you.
Along the way, I share some personal stories from our time living in the city, including working in government ministries, surviving a late-night earthquake, becoming known as the office "serial monster", buying a $1,000 road-trip car and somehow making a profit when it was written off.
Whether you're planning your first visit to Wellington, preparing for a New Zealand working holiday, or simply looking for inspiration for your next trip, this episode will give you an honest look at one of the most creative, quirky and liveable cities I've ever experienced.
In this episode:
• Why Wellington became our home for nearly a year
• The best things to do in Wellington
• My favourite cafés, brunch spots and coffee roasters
• Where to stay and the best neighbourhoods to explore
• Working holiday and job-hunting advice
• Transport tips and South Island connections
• Road-trip recommendations and day trips
• Stories from everyday life in New Zealand's capital
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If you enjoyed this episode:
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Why Wellington became my favourite city
02:30 Wellington explained: location, culture and first impressions
03:20 The "Serial Monster" work story
05:50 Working holiday jobs and finding work in Wellington
08:10 Best things to do in Wellington
10:50 Waterfront walks, Mount Victoria and local neighbourhoods
12:05 Day trips, sporting events and road trips
13:30 Where to stay in Wellington
15:55 Support the podcast
16:40 Earthquake experiences in Wellington
17:50 Best cafés, brunch spots and coffee in Wellington
22:15 Food markets and eating on a budget
23:15 Wellington travel and transport tips
25:40 Kiwi Experience and travelling New Zealand
26:40 Buying a car and road-tripping New Zealand
28:05 Why Wellington is still one of my favourite cities
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Produced by Winging It Productions - https://www.wingingitproductions.com
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Winging It Travel Podcast Credits
Host/Producer/Creator/Composer/Editor - James Hammond
Contact me - jameshammondtravel@gmail.com or james@wingingitproductions.com
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Cheers James.
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