Wellington City Self Guided Walking Tour

NZ's oldest pub! Built 1840 by Scotsman William Couper. Survived fire, centuries of stories. Te Rauparaha drank here, Katherine Mansfield wrote about it.

Gothic Revival masterpiece built from native timbers—kauri, rimu, totara, matai. Glows with warm golden hues. Reverend Thatcher's 1866 design perfection.

Striking diplomatic building with glass canopy, metallic elements, and proud Lion Capital of Ashoka—representing vital India-New Zealand relations.

Salmon-pink concrete walls soften this massive Anglican cathedral. Built 1954-1998, features Mughal details and stunning Māori-patterned stained glass.

Victorian Gothic gem with ironwork, turrets, finials. Mount Cook bricks bear convict arrows. John Ballance statue honors Liberal Party founder.

Edwardian neoclassical beauty in white granite. Built 1914-1922, survived demolition threats. Free hourly tours 10am-4pm—experience democracy firsthand!

Sir Basil Spence's iconic 1964 design resembles traditional beehive. 72m tall, houses PM and Cabinet. Built on earthquake isolators—function meets style.

Bronze lions guard sacred memorial. Pegasus sculpture symbolizes peace rising above war. Unveiled 1931, heart of Anzac Day services since.

Surprise! This "stone" building is kauri timber disguised as masonry. 1876 earthquake-smart construction, 143 rooms, 126 fireplaces.

Wellington's Golden Mile! Former 1840s shoreline, now shopping spine. Modern towers embrace Victorian facades. Supreme Court's bronze pōhutukawa screen.

That copper dome marks NZ's first steel-framed building (1909)! Tonga Bay granite survived demolition threats. Now Culture Ministry headquarters.

Virginia King's 3.3m steel tribute to Katherine Mansfield. Laser-cut with writer's words, glows at night. Cultural milestone celebrating women's literature.

Cable Car Lane between McDonald's/Subway! Red carriages climb to Botanic Garden since 1902. Wellington icon connecting city to hills.

Wedge-shaped BNZ head office (1901) by Thomas Turnbull. Corinthian columns, restoration preserved Victorian banking hall as boutique arcade.

Bronze John Plimmer with dog honors Wellington's founding merchant. Gertrude ship marker and Plimmer's Oak tell colonial courage tales.

Shoe magnate Robert Hannah's Edwardian Italianate statement (1904-1905). Timber treasure with ballroom rooms, fairy-tale garden setting.

Clere's 1922 concrete Gothic masterpiece from fire ashes. Cream towers, rose window. "SUB MARIÆ NOMINE" entrance—Wellington's Catholic heart.

Seven 11m steel poles spiral skyward—Fibonacci/koru designs. 21 blue neon ribbons glow at night. Red phone booths add nostalgic charm.

Grey building houses 1892 Bond Store treasures—blue-grey bricks, mansard roof. Interactive galleries bring Wellington's maritime story alive.

Wellington café culture buzzes! Harbor breezes meet coffee aromas. Watch South Island ferries from blue-grey wharf buildings—perfect people-watching.

WWI soldiers wore kiwi badges, earned "Kiwi" nickname. Post-war spread nationwide, replaced "Enzedders." Kiwifruit came later—just marketing!

Three white forms capture albatross grace. Cascading water celebrates sea-hills connection. Sparked Wellington Sculpture Trust, poet Hone Tuwhare unveiling.

Legendary explorer Kupe points toward destiny. Māori carving motifs honor indigenous storytelling. Bronze masterpiece celebrates Wellington's foundation discovery.

Cultural heartbeat since 1976! Theatre revolutionaries' cooperative. Westport Coal building façade (1916) relocated here. Two intimate performance spaces.

Playful globes guide to national treasure! 1998 Jasmax design, earthquake isolators. Bicultural exhibitions, colossal squid, earthquake simulator.

Nicholls' 2000 bronze embraces Wellington wind. "Naked Man" symbolizes freedom, nature connection. Art, humor, nature colliding beautifully.

Wellington's "mini Riviera"—golden sands, calm waters. Carter Fountain's water-light magic, bustling promenade. The red floating restaurant offers unique dining!

Concrete slab with high-relief writer typography. 23 literary plaques honor poets, novelists. "Tail of Whale" bronze nearby—marine life tribute.