Discover Wellington Scavenger Hunt
Discover the coolest little capital in the world with a scavenger hunt across Wellington. Wander into Te Papa free of charge, climb aboard the red Cable Car, take a wind-blown selfie on Mt Victoria above the harbour and follow your nose to a flat white on Cuba Street. Small enough to walk end to end, big enough to fill a camera roll.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Te Papa
Navigate to Te Papa Tongarewa on Cable Street and check in at the main entrance.
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2
Cable Car bottom
Walk to the Cable Car bottom station on Lambton Quay (entrance through a small shopping arcade) and check in by the ticket booth.
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3
Mt Victoria lookout
Rideshare or walk up to the Mt Victoria lookout (Maunga-rāhiri) and check in at the summit viewing platform.
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4
Wellington Waterfront
Walk back to the Wellington Waterfront and check in by the diving platform or the Solace in the Wind sculpture.
Challenges (20)
Wellington kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Wellington backdrop (a red Cable Car carriage, a Cuba Street mural, the Beehive in the distance) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Te Papa
Navigate to Te Papa Tongarewa on Cable Street and check in at the main entrance.
Te Papa entrance pose
Te Papa is the national museum of New Zealand. Find the harbour-facing entrance or the big atrium, line the team up and take a group photo with the building behind everyone.
Colossal squid shot
Te Papa's colossal squid is the largest specimen on display in the world. Find the squid tank, ask the staff if photography is allowed (usually yes), and take a group photo with the team gathered respectfully around it.
Trivia: Te Papa opened
Te Papa Tongarewa opened in its current Wellington waterfront building on 14 February of what year?
Answer: 1998
Bucket Fountain splash
On Cuba Street stands the Bucket Fountain, a kinetic sculpture that tips water into pedestrians from buckets above. Time your visit for a bucket drop and take a group photo with the team dodging (or catching) the splash.
Checkpoint: Cable Car bottom
Walk to the Cable Car bottom station on Lambton Quay (entrance through a small shopping arcade) and check in by the ticket booth.
Cable Car ride photo
The Wellington Cable Car climbs 120 metres from Lambton Quay to Kelburn through three tunnels. Buy a return ticket, take a group photo inside the red carriage and one at the top with the harbour spread out below.
Trivia: Cable Car opened
The Wellington Cable Car opened to the public on 22 February of what year?
Answer: 1902
Botanic Garden top portrait
At the top of the Cable Car start the Wellington Botanic Garden walk. Find the rose garden, the seasonal display or the lookout, and take a group photo with the gardens or the harbour behind the team.
Checkpoint: Mt Victoria lookout
Rideshare or walk up to the Mt Victoria lookout (Maunga-rāhiri) and check in at the summit viewing platform.
Mt Victoria panorama
The Mt Victoria summit gives you the postcard view of Wellington: harbour, CBD, Cook Strait. Line the team up and take a group photo with the whole panorama spread behind everyone.
Trivia: Wellington capital
Wellington took over from Auckland as the capital of New Zealand in what year (within 2)?
Answers: 1865 / 1863 / 1864 / 1866 / 1867
Beehive Parliament shot
The Beehive is the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament, with its distinctive ten-storey beehive shape. Find a clear angle on Bowen Street and take a group photo with the team in front of the iconic facade.
Checkpoint: Wellington Waterfront
Walk back to the Wellington Waterfront and check in by the diving platform or the Solace in the Wind sculpture.
Waterfront jump shot
The Wellington Waterfront has a wooden diving platform that locals jump off in summer. Whatever the season, take a group jump photo from the platform (or a leap on the boardwalk) with the harbour as the backdrop.
Windy Wellington moment
Wellington is famous for its wind. Capture a windy moment (hair flying, jacket lifting, an umbrella turning inside-out) in a group photo or short video. The harder the wind, the better the shot.
Flat white toast
Wellington has more cafes per capita than New York. Find a roastery (Flight Coffee, Customs, Havana) and order a round of flat whites. Take a group photo with everyone holding a cup up in a toast.
Local Wellingtonian tip
Convince a local Wellington resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Wellington finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Wellington spot (the harbour at golden hour, the Beehive lit up, Mt Victoria at dusk) and take an amazing closing group photo. Kia ora from the coolest little capital!
Frequently asked questions
Four hours covers Te Papa, the Cable Car, Mt Victoria, the Beehive and the waterfront at a relaxed pace. Wellington is famously walkable; the CBD is about a mile end to end. The Mt Victoria summit drive (or 30-minute uphill walk) is the only stretch most groups rideshare.
Free for New Zealand residents and for general-admission entry; international visitors pay around NZ$35 for entry. Special exhibitions can be ticketed separately. The colossal squid, the marae and the natural-history hall are usually included. Allow 90 minutes inside.
October to April. Wellington is famously windy year-round (the wind challenge is half the fun), but the temperate months bring more reliable sunshine for the Mt Victoria lookout and the waterfront. Winter is dramatic but cold, so lean into Te Papa and indoor coffee stops on those days.
Te Papa on the waterfront is the natural starting point: free entry, parking under the museum and the harbour-side opening photo. From there walk into the CBD, take the Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden, then descend back to Lambton Quay. Mt Victoria is a rideshare in the afternoon.
Yes. Te Papa is one of the best family museums in the country, the Cable Car ride is a kid favourite, Mt Victoria has gentle paths around the summit and the Wellington Waterfront has playgrounds and the famous jumping platform. The Bucket Fountain splash on Cuba Street is the universal kid moment.