Walk by the Waters: Wellington Waterfront, New Zealand

Wellington

Wellington, located at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, is New Zealand’s capital city. It is the world’s southernmost capital city. Wellington is very hilly and windy.

Wellington City is on the foreshore of Wellington Harbour, where Wellington-Picton ferry services depart. Wellington is the gateway to the South Island. Bluebridge and Interislander ferry companies operate the regular daily vehicle and passenger ferry services between Wellington and Picton on the South Island.

Wellington City is part of the Wellington urban area which also includes Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Porirua which are all located north of Wellington City. Collectively, Wellington urban area, with a population of around 420,000, is the second largest urban area after Auckland.

Ringed by hills and surrounded by waters, Wellington City is small and compact, and the Wellington CBD area is so compact that many visitors find it very walkable.

Wellington Waterfront Walk

Just a stone-throw away from Wellington CBD, Wellington Waterfront is itself a tourist attraction. Wellington Museum, TSB Arena, Circa Theatre, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Max Patte’s bronze naked man sculpture “Solace in the Wind”, the “Wellington” Sign, and Waitangi Park are all located on Wellington Waterfront. Visitors can walk on walking paths, boardwalks, and pedestrian bridges from Wellington Museum to Freberg Beach on Oriental Bay, all times right next to the water away from vehicle traffic.

You can visit the Sunday morning Harbourside Market at the same time if you come here for your walk on Sunday morning.

The one-way distance between Wellington Museum and Freyberg Beach is approximately 2 km.

Want to discover more great walking locations? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.

Commonwealth Walkway near Frank Kitts Park on the Wellington Waterfront.

A pedestrian bridge at the Whairepo Lagoon on the Wellington Waterfront.

A view of Whairepo Lagoon on the Wellington Waterfront.

The iconic “Wellington” Sign on the Wellington Waterfront.

Very popular food trucks at the Sunday morning Harbourside Market.

Listening to nice music while you check out the market stores at the Sunday morning Harbourside Market.

Boat sheds at Clyde Quay Boat Harbour on the Harbourside Market. Mount Victoria and Saint Gerard's Catholic Church and Monastery can be seen from here.

This boat is actually a café and it is called Boat Café on the Wellington Waterfront.

Fishing pier at the Freyberg Beach on the Wellington Waterfront at the Oriental Bay.

Freyberg Beach on the Wellington Waterfront at the Oriental Bay.

Wellington Museum, TSB Arena, Circa Theatre, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Max Patte’s bronze naked man sculpture “Solace in the Wind”, the “Wellington” Sign, and Waitangi Park are all located on Wellington Waterfront.