ValidaTrip / Things to do in Wellington
Things to do in Wellington in December 2026
By ValidaTrip Research · Updated May 20, 2026
Quick answer: Wellington in December 2026 usually runs near 20C by day, 14C at night, with about 9 rainy days.
Dated picks to verify first include Cornelia Parker Exhibition and Wellington Jazz Festival.
Check the event list and public holidays below before assigning fixed dates.
Events, festivals, and public holidays for Wellington, New Zealand, in December 2026.
The point is making sure the places you already want to see are actually open on the days you'll be there.
Planning a Wellington trip in December?
Paste the recommendations you've collected — from friends, a ChatGPT itinerary, or blog listicles. ValidaTrip checks every place against your December dates: opening hours, closures, what needs booking ahead, and which Wellington events overlap your trip.
No account needed to try it.
Month context
Wellington in December: weather, seasonal timing, and what changes.
Wellington weather in December
High
19.6°C
Low
13.9°C
Rain
9d
90mm
15h daylight
What to prioritize in December
Prioritize Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekaka, Zealandia Te Mara a Tane, Mount Victoria Lookout, Wellington Cable Car, Weta Workshop.
Dates to check
Events, festivals, and closures in Wellington.
Events & festivals in Wellington, December 2026
Dates and ticketing change constantly — treat this as a starting point and confirm anything you'd build a day around.
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
- Dec 4 – Dec 6
Wellington Jazz Festival
A vibrant celebration of jazz music featuring local and international artists performing across various venues in Wellington. — Tickets available online and at venue box offices; early booking recommended.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 7 – Dec 8
- Dec 10 – Dec 24
Wellington Christmas Market
A festive market offering crafts, food, and holiday gifts in the heart of Wellington. — Free entry; some stalls may require payment for goods.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 11 – Dec 12
- Dec 12 – Dec 31
Show all 8 events for December
- Dec 12 – Dec 20
New Zealand Festival of the Arts - December Edition
A curated selection of theatre, dance, music, and visual arts events celebrating New Zealand's creative talent. — Tickets must be purchased in advance for most performances.
via GPT Festivals
- Dec 15 – Dec 30
Wellington Waterfront Summer Concert Series
Free outdoor concerts featuring a variety of genres held along Wellington's scenic waterfront. — Free entry; arrive early for best spots.
via GPT Festivals
Public holidays & closures in December 2026
On these dates banks, government offices, and many attractions in New Zealand close or switch to holiday hours. Worth checking before you pin a must-see to one of them.
- Dec 25Christmas Day
- Dec 28Boxing Day
City context
What Wellington is known for before you choose what to prioritize.
Known for
City context
Wellington is New Zealand's compact windy capital wrapped around Wellington Harbour, with steep hills, cable-car views, Parliament, Cuba Street, Oriental Bay, and film-industry workshops packed close together. Lambton Quay, Te Aro, Mount Victoria, Thorndon, Miramar, Kelburn, and the waterfront make the city feel walkable but vertical.
Food & drink
Local flavor
Wellington food includes flat whites, craft beer, green-lipped mussels, paua, fish and chips, lamb, cheese scones, chocolate, and hokey pokey ice cream. Cuba Street, Hannahs Laneway, Harbourside Market, Leeds Street, the waterfront, and Miramar cafes make the first food route.
Things to do
Attractions and sights to consider in Wellington.
Things to do in Wellington
Map of top sights in Wellington
- 1Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekaka
- 2Zealandia Te Mara a Tane
- 3Mount Victoria Lookout
- 4Wellington Cable Car
- 5Weta Workshop
- 6New Zealand Parliament and Beehive
- 1
Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekaka
4.7★ · 10,276outdoorOpen dailyThe botanic garden was established in 1868 on the hillside above the city. Native bush, rose gardens, sculptures, views, and cable-car access make it one of the easiest half-day routes.
- 2
Zealandia Te Mara a Tane
4.7★ · 6,066outdoorOpen dailyThe fenced ecosanctuary opened to visitors in 1999 in a former reservoir valley, protecting native birds, tuatara, forest, and wetlands from introduced predators. It is a short shuttle or bus ride from the central city.
Night tours need advance booking and warmer layers than daytime city walks.
- 3
Mount Victoria Lookout
4.7★ · 6,338outdoorOpen dailyThe lookout rises above the harbor, airport, central city, and Cook Strait approaches. Walking tracks start near Oriental Bay and Mount Victoria village, with road access for faster sunset visits.
Show 7 more sights
- 4Wellington Cable Car
- 5Weta Workshop
- 6New Zealand Parliament and Beehive
- 7Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- 8Old St Paul's
- 9Cuba Street
- 10Oriental Bay
Areas and routes
Neighborhoods, day trips, and getting around Wellington.
Wellington neighborhoods
Each district has its own character — knowing which one you're in changes what's realistic to fit in a day.
CBD and Lambton Quay
The central business district is narrow and practical, with offices, shops, cable-car access, laneways, the railway station, and Parliament nearby.
Te Aro and Cuba Street
Te Aro is creative and food-heavy, with Cuba Street, bars, cafes, galleries, theatres, vintage stores, and late-night music.
Waterfront and Oriental Bay
The harbor edge is open and walkable, with Te Papa, promenades, sculptures, rowing sheds, beaches, restaurants, and ferry views.
Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria is leafy and steep, with villas, lookout tracks, village cafes, film-location paths, and quick access to Oriental Bay.
Thorndon
Thorndon is governmental and historic, with Parliament, the Beehive, Old St Paul's, embassies, the railway station, and old cottages.
Miramar and Kilbirnie
The eastern side is film-and-airport oriented, with Weta Workshop, suburban cafes, beaches, airport access, and roads toward Seatoun.
Day trips from Wellington
Doable as a long day or comfortable as an overnight — each one is a destination on its own.
80km / 1-1.5h by car over Remutaka Hill or train plus local transfer
Wairarapa and Martinborough
The wine region adds pinot noir cellar doors, Greytown shops, Featherston book stops, and rural scenery beyond the hills.
50km / 45-60min by Kapiti Line train or car from Wellington
Kapiti Coast
Beaches, Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, and Kapiti Island nature trips make the easiest north-coast day.
7km / 20-25min by ferry from Queens Wharf
Matiu/Somes Island
The harbor island has quarantine history, wildlife, walking tracks, and strong city-and-harbor views without a long transfer.
Getting around
Metlink buses, trains, harbor ferries, the cable car, walking routes, and Snapper cards cover most city trips, though hills and wind slow short distances. The airport, Miramar, Zealandia, Wairarapa, and Kapiti Coast each need separate timing rather than a single central-city walk.
How to plan Wellington in December
- 1
Anchor the month
Check the 8 dated Wellington events for anything that overlaps your exact December dates before assigning fixed sightseeing days.
- 2
Protect closure days
Hold flexible plans around the 2 public holidays in New Zealand; museums, markets, and government-run sights can switch hours.
- 3
Group and validate
Group each Wellington day by nearby neighborhoods, then validate the saved places against your trip dates before exporting the checked route to Google Maps.
What to pack for Wellington in December
Pack from the monthly climate profile, not a generic Wellington checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 20C.
- A light evening layer because nights average 14C.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 9 days.
How many days do you need in Wellington
4 days covers the main Wellington highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Is Wellington worth visiting in December
Yes. Wellington in December: 19.6°C high, 13.9°C low, 90mm rain over 9 days, 15h daylight. Mild and dry — shoulder-season sweet spot.
Validate your list
Turn this into a Wellington plan that actually works
All your recs in one place
Paste what friends, ChatGPT, and blogs gave you for Wellington. ValidaTrip pulls out each place and sorts it — no spreadsheet by hand.
Open on your dates
Every place checked against the days you're actually in Wellington, with timed tickets and reservation-only spots flagged while you can still get a slot.
Export to Google Maps
Send the cleaned, checked, and neighborhood-grouped plan to Google Maps so your Wellington days are ready to navigate.
Questions
- What's on in Wellington in December 2026?
- Around 8 notable events and festivals fall in December 2026, including Cornelia Parker Exhibition, Wellington Jazz Festival, The Reytons Australian & New Zealand Tour. Dates and times change — confirm each before you build your day around it.
- Are there public holidays in Wellington during December 2026?
- Christmas Day (Dec 25), Boxing Day (Dec 28). Banks, government offices, and some attractions close or run holiday hours on these days.
- Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Wellington in December?
- Not always. Opening days and hours vary by weekday, season, and holiday. Paste your Wellington list into ValidaTrip and it checks every place against the exact dates you're there, flagging closures before the trip instead of at a locked door.
- How do I plan Wellington days without crossing the city twice?
- ValidaTrip groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging. It also flags what needs booking ahead, so timed tickets and reservations don't fall through.