Wellington on a Rainy Day

The adage may be 'You can't beat Wellington on a good day," but what to do when the weather takes a turn for the worse?

Fortunately, the city boasts a host of indoor activities, subterranean tunnels and cosy eateries to while away a rainy day.

Grab an umbrella and explore these gems...

Discover Wellington's Cultural Treasures

Visitors can spend an entire day exploring Te Papa's warren of exhibits. Explore the natural environment, culture, history, blockbuster exhibits and the national art collection, all under one roof.

visit te papa

Transport yourself from a rainy day in Pōneke to the bustling waterfront of the 1800s, hear about UFO sightings or jump in a time machine all within the Wellington Museum housed within the historic Bond Store building on the waterfront.

visit wellington museum

Explore Wellington's City Gallery and feed your curiosity through its ever-changing roster of dynamic and challenging exhibitions from local and international artists.

plan your visit

Unwind in Wellington's secret bars

The city has a host of secret bars to shelter from the elements. Explore the city's largest selection of American whiskeys in the subterranean Dee's Place on Cuba Street or hideaway in Ghuznee Street's Puffin with a glass of natural wine.

Discover Dee's Place

Visit Puffin

If cocktails are your preference, cozy up by the fire at Hawthorne Lounge, Wellington's best nod to a 1920s speakeasy. Hungry too? Head over to Ascot, a sheltered rooftop bar on Ghuznee Street known for its unique pairing of wine and hotdogs. Escape the hustle and bustle of Courtney Place and dive through the unassuming red door of CGR Merchant & Co, this cosy cocktail lounge specialises in gin, rum and experimental cocktails.

Head underground

Immerse yourself in shopping and history at the Old Bank Arcade. This former Bank of New Zealand is home to a variety of boutiques, the cosy café Smith's The Grocer and the remains of the beached ship the Inconstant.

Explore the Old Bank

In the building's basement, not only will you find the historic hull timbers but a tunnel leading to Wellington's newest underground laneway 'Willis Lane'.

This sleek, subterranean street with vaulted brick ceilings houses a variety of eateries offering diverse cuisines. Enjoy a drink at Churly's bar, or spend an afternoon or evening at the eclectic Archie Brother's Cirque Electrique and Holey Moley, where you can have fun in the arcade, go bowling, or play mini golf.

explore Willis lane

Immerse Yourself in movie magic

There's nothing better than escaping the rain and getting lost in a movie for a few hours. Better yet, discover why Wellington is known as Wellywood and tour Wētā Cave for a peek into the world of special effects and the magic behind Lord of the Rings!

Explore Wētā

Prefer to just watch? Head to Embassy Theatre for blockbusters and the latest releases, or Light House Cinema on Cuba Street for arthouse releases. Venture a little further to Miramar's Roxy Cinema or Brooklyn's Penthouse for a retro art deco experience.

"ON A RAINY DAY, ENJOY A DRINK AT HAVANA BAR BEFORE A MOVIE AT LIGHT HOUSE CINEMA ACROSS THE STREET." TRISH BROWN | FINANCE MANAGER

Take a trip to space

Take the iconic Wellington Cable Car to Space Place for a warm and cosy stargazing experience in their planetarium.

plan your trip

Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated walking tours of Wellington and recommendations at the link below.

Explore tours and recommendations