Staff Picks – What to do in Wellington

The Wellington Eye Centre is located in the heart of Wellington – Cuba Street. A colourful and vibrant street filled with everything from quirky cafes to fine dining, designer clothes to vintage stores, art galleries to live music. We’ve already written about our favourite places to eat and drink around Cuba Street, so now we’re telling you our favourite things to keep you entertained. We might be slightly biased, but we think Wellington has a lot to offer.

Shopping

You’ll find an abundance of cute and quirky shops up and down Cuba Street, from high-end fashion to second-hand stores, there’s something for everyone.

Clothing and Jewellery

Whether you’re looking for a gift or for yourself be sure to check out Lazulé, located just across the road from us on Cuba Street. A beautiful jewellery store specialising in classic and contemporary sterling silver jewellery. Their range includes one-off handmade jewellery from around the world and a number of exclusive ranges from NZ designers. Whether your taste is extravagant and lavish or timeless and understated, you’re sure to find something you like.

If you’re a thrift store queen or love vintage fashion you should stop into Ziggurat and Honour. Two of Wellingtons best shops for pre-loved clothing and accessories. Ziggurat is located right on Cuba Street and has a range of vintage items as well as designer labels. Whilst Honour is just up the road and around the corner on Vivian Street. You won’t find black t-shirts and plain cardigans here, only beautiful, stylish, high-quality pre-loved clothing.

If you’re looking for high-quality men’s fashion then you must check out Mandatory. Their range includes t-shirts to custom made suits, and most of it’s designed and made in Wellington. The staff here will give you honest advice and make sure you walk out feeling great.

For fancy dresses, bags, accessories and more you’ll want to head up Cuba Street to Madame Fancy Pants. A boutique store with carefully selected designers from New Zealand and international. You’ll also find an assortment of art, cosmetics and treats for the home.

Homewares, gifts and more

In the heart of Cuba Mall, it’s hard to miss the colourful and vibrant Iko Iko. Here you’ll find an eclectic collection of homewares, quirky books, Kiwiana trinkets and the list goes on. It’s a busy shop where it’s easy to lose track of time marvelling at all the epic goodies.

Tucked away just off Cuba Street you’ll find Pegasus Books. A book lovers haven! It is packed to the rafters with quality second-hand books covering a range of topics; from art and philosophy to cooking and comics. The knowledgeable staff are happy to help you navigate the almost labyrinth-like series of rooms to find every book you didn’t know you needed. It’s the perfect place to shelter from the wind or rain too.

When you step into the Wellington Apothecary there’s a sense of calm that washes over you, quite different to the usual chaos that is Cuba Street. If you have a specific problem you want to tackle there are qualified herbalists on hand to guide you through the range of natural remedies. Otherwise, wander around the immaculately presented store filled with beautiful aromas, you’re sure to find something to take home.

Hannahs Laneway

For the foodies! You’ll find a plethora of treats down this laneway from Ghuznee Street to Dixon Street.

Starting in Leeds Street is the Leeds St Bakery where you’ll find the best salted caramel cookies (you have to be in quick to nab one of these) as well as freshly baked bread and other bakery delights.

Next up as you head toward Dixon Street is the Wellington Chocolate Factory, not only can you buy tasty blocks of single-origin chocolate but you can watch the whole process of making it too! WCF is New Zealand’s first bean-to-bar chocolate factory. Grab a hot chocolate while you look around and some bars to take home.

Fix and Fogg is your next stop for possibly the worlds tastiest peanut butter. Look out for the peanut butter flag to point you in the direction of their little window eatery. Here you can get nut butter by the jar or by the pail (up to a whooping 4kgs!). They also have a menu of toast and porridge topped with their delicious nut butter.

Lastly, you’ll find Lashings tucked away upstairs away from the hustle and bustle. A Brownie Bar Cafe with a range of different flavoured brownies on offer to make your mouth water. The range includes vegemite brownies, Fix and Fogg peanut butter and jam, and a vegan salted caramel. There’s something for everyone! Grab one of their take-home packs so you can try them all.

Entertainment

Cuba Street has some of the best people-watching, park up in one of the many cafes and restaurants and watch the world go by. But if you’re looking for something more then you don’t have to go far!

Museums

You can’t miss Te Papa down on the waterfront. New Zealand’s national museum is packed full of history including native flora and fauna, Māori and colonial heritage, natural history, and Kiwi designs and inventions. Located on level 2 is the recently reopened nature exhibition zone where you can learn about our unique natural environment in Aotearoa in an interactive and educational way. Continue up through the museum to explore the history of New Zealanders; learn the stories of Māori (our tangata whenua), colonial migrants and young refugees into New Zealand over the past 200 years.

Not to mention the ever-changing art exhibitions from New Zealand and abroad. Combining history and art is ‘Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War’. Weta Workshop worked to create a groundbreaking exhibition telling the story of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I through the eyes and words of eight ordinary New Zealanders who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. The Toi Art gallery up on levels 4 and 5 houses the national art collection as well as new commissions which change regularly. Be sure to check out if there are any short term exhibitions as well; previous exhibitions include ‘Wonderland’ exploring Lewis Carrol’s story Alice in Wonderland, the Terracotta Warriors, ‘Let’s go Build: A festival for Lego lovers’, and Andy Warhol, to name a few.

Also located along the waterfront is the Wellington Museum, occupying the 1892 Bond Store building. Previously voted by The Times one of the worlds 50 best museums. It’s filled with Wellington history and fascinating stories from Māori legends to seafaring dogs. As you move through the levels you’ll find interactive exhibitions dedicated to different stories and eras. The Wellington Museum is much smaller than Te Papa but it still has a few not to be missed exhibitions. On the second floor, you’ll find the Wahine Theatre – telling the tale of the 1968 Wahine Disaster, a tragic moment in Pōneke’s maritime history. And make sure you make it up into The Attic for a collection of the weird and wacky.

Music and Theatre

The Gryphon Theatre is the principal home of Stagecraft Theatre, a non-profit Wellington-based theatre company, as well as a collection of other theatre companies. This means the shows regularly change, if you enjoy live theatre make sure you check out what’s on.

If you’re more into live music then there are lots of options nearby! Starting with the longest standing – a music venue since the 1960s and located right on Cuba Street – San Fran Bar. Hosting bands from all genres and stand up comedy too there’s something on most nights of the week.

If there’s nothing to your liking there then just off Cuba Street you’ll find The Rogue & Vagabond. A dog-friendly craft beer bar downstairs with a range of live music acts that keep the bar humming. Thursday- Sunday most weeks you’ll find an array of live music acts from jazz to R&B.

Last but not least is Meow, this one is a little bit harder to find, tucked down what looks like an alley with not a lot going on. You feel as if you’ve walked into someone’s living room as the place is filled with midcentury furniture and electronics. Depending on the night you’ll find anything from slam poetry, to rock music, to comedy nights, to a DJ with a heaving dancefloor.

Walks

One of the best parts of Wellington is that you can go from being in the centre of the city to strolling around the waterfront or being up amongst the trees in a matter of minutes.

If you want a birds-eye view of wellington then you’ve got two options easily accessible from the city. You could walk up to Mount Victoria Lookout or take the road less travelled and head up Polhill Reserve to the Brooklyn wind turbine.

There are multiple walking tracks up Mount Victoria, whether you want a leisurely stroll to the top or to climb straight up is up to you. From the top, you get panoramic views of Wellington. From Petone in the North to Pencarrow Head in the East, past the airport to the South, and over the city to the West.

To head up Polhill Reserve you’ll need to head up Aro Valley. This is a slightly longer walk but you’re rewarded for it at the top. Along the way, you’ll hear and see lots of native birds from nearby Zealandia. On your way back down you can stop off at the historic bunkers built during world war II for a different view over the city.

If you’re not up for climbing mountains then take a stroll around the waterfront. Head along the wharf towards the railway station and ferry terminals, you could stop off at the Wellington Museum along the way. Or you could head around the bays towards the airport. Look out for little blue penguins nesting around Balaena Bay.

We’ve got plenty more suggestions on things to do when visiting Wellington so feel free to ask at your appointments! If you’d like to find out more about laser eye surgery, the Wellington Eye Centre, or to find out if you’re suitable then contact our friendly team.