Wellington, capital of New Zealand, lies on the southern tip of the country’s North Island. At the mouth of the Hutt River, Wellington is known as ‘the harbour city’ thanks to the vast, lake-like expanse within its sheltered bay. It’s not surprising that Wellington Harbour is a popular destination for sailors reaching its calm waters as Wellington is also known as the world’s windiest city lying between 40-50 degrees south of the equator, in the path of the ‘roaring 40s’ – strong westerly winds.

Wellington also enjoys the distinction of being New Zealand’s hilliest city with a spectacular skyline rising set against a backdrop of verdant green mountains.

Wellington was chosen as the country’s capital in 1865 and today is a compact but lively metropolis. As the seat of Government and with its finance and business districts as well as its world-renowned research centre at Victoria University, Wellington is a key economic centre.

With more than 150 years of history, the city is home to several of New Zealand’s architectural landmarks as well as museums and art galleries. As a cosmopolitan destination it has a vibrant food scene and love of coffee houses. It’s also a big draw for sports fans and athletes from around the world with international venues for rugby, cricket and football along with cycling, athletics and motor sports.

So, with its attractive waterfront and so many natural wonders to explore, there is plenty to see here on a short break or longer stay.

Whether you’re planning a short break in Wellington or a road trip across New Zealand’s North Island, you’ll want expert advice and our friendly Avis team at Wellington Downtown is on hand to help provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

There are Avis rental stations right across the North Island and you’ll find our other Avis rental locations in Wellington at Wellington Airport and Wellington Ferry.

With Avis Car Rental from our convenient location in the Wellington Downtown area you can easily and conveniently reach all the popular destinations across Wellington as well as explore the surrounding area to experience all it has to offer.

Wellington is a small city with its own individual character seen across different districts and neighbourhoods.

Our Avis rental office in the centre of Wellington is in the Te Aro district of downtown Wellington on Victoria Street between Vivian Street and Ghuznee Street. The downtown area of Wellington is easy to explore on foot and within easy reach of transport hubs, buses and trains as well as the city’s shopping district, hotels, cafes and restaurants.

With Wellington’s main attractions located within a short distance, you can easily make the most of your time here. First, to get your bearings, take a ride on the city’s iconic cable car. The trip may be short – it takes just 5min – but the ride sweeps you up from Lambton Quay in the heart of the city and up the hillside to the terminal at Kelburn for the best views in Wellington. While you are there, explore Wellington Botanical Gardens, 25 magical hectares filled with native species, plant collections and dazzling floral displays.

Back in the centre, don’t miss Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum for its celebration of Maori culture and heritage.

Spend time strolling around the stunning harbour area, with its super-yachts moored up alongside the fishing boats and head to the harbourside market to see the day’s catch or watch the sun go down from one of the area’s cafés, bars or restaurants.

Although Wellington lies at the southern tip of North Island, the road network in New Zealand is good and with your hire car, the city is within easy reach of some of the country’s most popular destinations.

You can head off into the hills to explore the stunning countryside around Wellington where scenes for the famous Lord of the Rings movie were filmed. Mount Victoria, the setting for Hobbiton Woods, is one of the closest of the locations a short distance from the city.

To delve further into the world of the Hobbits, drive up the west coast from Wellington to Queen Elizabeth Park just outside Paraparaumu, where the Battle of the Pelennor Fields was filmed. A short distance up the coast you reach Waitarere Forest (Osgiliath Wood),.

If you’re keen on water sports, aim for Porirua, a 20min drive up the coast where you can try everything from swimming to sailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking and Waka Ama (outrigger canoe paddling).

To explore further afield, take State Highway (SH) 1 north as far as Levin and join SH 57 for Palmerston North in Manawatū-Whanganui region, a trip of 142km and around 1hr50min. The Palmerston area is known for its remarkable scenic beauty and the city itself is a haven of art and culture. Take a hiking trail or travel by bike or horse, around the Manawatū Gorge to experience one of New Zealand’s must-see locations, with waterfalls, native species and Whātonga, a 6-metre-tall Māori Chief sculpture. Return to Wellington via SH2, stopping off on the way at Masterton to explore its independent boutiques and coffee shops.

Back in the capital, there’s even a great New Zealand drive right on your doorstep around the harbour and southern bays. You’ll set off from the harbour area and head east on SH1 around Evans Bay, following the coastline around the peninsula stopping off when you choose at some of North Island’s best beaches including Scorching Bay and Breaker Bay making detours to sites like the Massey Memorial along the way.

While the city of Wellington is compact, walkable and easy to navigate, it is worth hiring a car to travel around and outside the city. Renting a car in Wellington gives you the chance to explore further afield opening opportunities to plan a road trip across New Zealand – maybe even taking a ferry ride across Cook Strait to explore Picton and the wonders of the South Island.

It may be a small city but the top tip for driving around Wellington is to plan your route carefully, use GPS and try and avoid peak times – you’ll find that the rush hour in Wellington runs from 7.30am-9.30am and until around 7apm in the evenings.

Be aware of obeying local speed limits which range from 10 km/h in special areas to 50 km/h in built-up neighbourhoods and 100 or 110 km/h on highways. If you are planning to park in the city, you’ll find on-street parking fees apply around the city centre on weekdays, and there are time restrictions on weekends and public holidays.