New Zealand's capital is a quarter the size of Auckland, yet has gained a reputation for being one of the country's most sparkling cities, despite its small-town feel. It's home to a creative assortment of media types, and it's also where you'll find some of the country's finest museum and galleries. Meanwhile, the small and charming town of Martinborough, just a short drive away, hosts a cluster of superb wineries.

Explore Wellington

Tucked between lush green hills and a magnificent harbour, New Zealand's unassuming capital is arguably the country's most fashionable city, an energetic metropolitan hub. It's home to a wide and wonderful selection of restaurants, microbreweries, cafes, art galleries and museums, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa – known commonly as Te Papa, which roughly translates as 'Our Place'. It's the most visited museum in Oceania and features everything from science and the arts to exhibits on Maori culture.

The Wellington cable car

Visit Martinborough

Just outside Wellington, Martinborough was founded in the late 19th century by John Martin, who bought a local sheep station and then set about developing the land into a small town. With street names such as Venice, Panama and Ohio, it's laid out in the formation of a Union Jack to reflect its founders love of travel. Today, however, it's best known for its small collection of 20-or-so wineries, which make the most of the sheltered conditions and warm weather to produce some of New Zealand's finest vintages.  

Martinborough vineyards