48 hours in Wellington

They say you can’t beat Wellington on a good day. And while that may be true, we reckon a day is what you make of it, regardless of wind or weather. Anyway, when did a little sea breeze ever put us Swanndri people off?

With that in mind, here’s our shortlist of what to do with 48 hours in Wellington.

First things first, food. Because no one ever achieved anything worthwhile on an empty stomach (or without coffee, for that matter).

Let’s start at Gramercy, at the Southern end of the city on Adelaide Road. A simplistically stylish bakery, you’ll find delicious bread and baked goods – all imperfectly perfect in true handcrafted style. There’s coffee too, of course, to keep us moving…

Down into the city itself, where the food options are almost endless. Whether you’re after culinary indulgence or food as fuel, a simple stroll down the vibrant and eclectic Cuba Street has everything you need, from cafes and bars to street style food and fine dining.

1154 Pastaria is a particular favourite. Fresh, handmade pasta served fast around shared tables. That’s right, with strangers! Just around the corner on Tory Street is Mabel’s, famous for traditional Burmese food and yarns. And just around the corner from that is Little Penang, where you can get your laughing gear around some of the best authentic Malaysian Street food outside of Penang itself.

Feeling hungry yet? There’s plenty to keep you occupied till dinner time. If shopping is your thing (window or the real deal) a wander down Cuba and Ghuznee Streets are a great call. Kaukau on Ghuznee is well worth a nosey. Along the way, you can stand under the bucket fountain to freshen up. All the locals do it. Honest.

This part of town is peppered with second-hand boutiques. So keep an eye out for second-hand steals on classic Swannies. If you don’t have any luck there, keep walking down Cuba Street, hang a left at the bottom end, and you’ll end up at the official Swanndri store. Number 49. Say g’day to Phil for us.

Now, if you’re not carrying too much shopping from the Swanndri store, you might as well keep walking in the same direction. Just a few metres further on is the high-street-style shopping and business centre of Lambton Quay. There’s also the City Gallery Wellington, worth a look in and of itself, but also a great starting point for a waterfront walk all the way around to Oriental Bay.

Speaking of, if you’re up for some more outdoorsy or intrepid adventures, a walk along the South Coast Trail to the wild Southern shores of Red Rocks is well worth the effort. Just watch out for seals. Alternatively, you can head west to Mākara beach or into the hills for some mountain biking. On your way stop in at Zealandia, a world-first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary.

Thirsty work, right? Here are our favourite Wellington watering holes. Little Beer Quarter, tucked away in the Edward St Precinct, isn’t just for bearded beer-enthusiasts (although they do tend to congregate here). It’s a wonderful mish mash of traditional pub, craft beer heaven, and modern eatery. If fine wine and classy dining is more your thing, you can’t beat The Puffin on Ghuznee Street. Otherwise there’s the quality crafted cocktails at Crumpet, or the intimate intrigue of the Hawthorn Lounge, a speakeasy hiding on Tory Street.

Now, unless you’ve packed your swag, you’ll need somewhere to stay. For somewhere a little outside the city (and handily close to the airport), The Lighthouse B&B is an actual lighthouse you can stay in. Cool, huh? If you’d rather stay in the thick of it, The Intrepid Hotel offers boutique luxury accommodation bang on Ghuznee Street, or there’s the Museum Hotel – chocka full of art – a bit further down on the Waterfront.

So, there you have it. Get down (or up) there and get into Wellington. If that’s not enough to fill 48 hours in Wellington, we want to know where you get your beans from.