Top 10 Activities in Wellington for Young Adults in Winter
Craig Mackinlay
| Last Updated: December 2022 - Go ice skating at Daytona Adventure Park.
- Challenge yourself and go try out an escape room at Escape Mate.
- Enjoy high tea at Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.
- Enjoy a spa day at Bodyhaven Spa Tory Street.
- Have a movie marathon at Penthouse Cinema.
- Go on a cafe crawl to find your favorite hot chocolate or coffee in the city.
- Try the Finnish sauna at Tory Urban Retreat.
- Go on a staycation at Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington.
- Ride a cable car and explore Wellington.
- Go on a guided tour at Wētā Workshop.
Just because the weather’s cold doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! We listed the best winter activities in Wellington to give you fresh ideas for activities this season, whether you’re a local or a tourist.
1. Go ice skating at Daytona Adventure Park.
| WEBSITE | https://www.daytonaadventurepark.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | unit 13a/25 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt Central, Upper Hutt 5018, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 979 9426 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Sunday-Thursday (10 AM-8 PM); Friday-Saturday (10 AM-10 PM) |
| COST | Kids (under 5): $7.50 PP Kids (ages 5 to 13): $15 PP Adults (above 14): $20 PP |
If you’re looking for a low-cost yet enjoyable wintertime activity, ice skating is a good choice. Daytona Adventure Park offers Wellington’s only permanent ice skating rink.
Whether you’re into sports or a beginner, you’re welcome here. The rink measures around 50m x 20 m and is open the whole year.
The risk is home to the Wellington Ice Hockey Association, Wellington Women’s Ice Hockey, and Wellington Figure Skating.
They have a lot of events such as disco nights on Friday and Saturday nights that you and your friends shouldn’t miss. We like that aside from ice skating, they also have an array of other activities you can try.
They offer paintball, archery tag, bowling, and go-karting. Aside from that, they also have an arcade and trampoline park.
It’s an awesome indoor entertainment center for adrenaline junkies out there. The activities offer a great workout alternative to your usual gym and yoga routine.
2. Challenge yourself and go try out an escape room at Escape Mate.
Image from Escape Mate
| WEBSITE | https://escapemate.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 12 Johnston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 210 225 4443 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (9:30 AM-10 PM) |
| COST | $45 per person |
Escape Mate opened its doors in 2015 as the first escape game provider in Wellington. It’s the brainchild of a team of puzzle enthusiasts.
Expect unique scenarios, immersive game structures, impeccable set design, and a lot of different kinds of puzzles that are locally-designed and invented.
They have different escape rooms which are themed rooms with different kinds of puzzles, codes, and locks. Your team will be briefed on the mission objective and you have to work together as a team to work your way through the obstacles and achieve your goal.
They have three escape rooms available at the moment: Atlantis, Ancient Temple, and The Spaceship. Each escape room activity lasts for around 90 minutes and can accommodate 4-16 people.
They also accommodate corporate events, birthday parties, family reunions, and more.
3. Enjoy high tea at Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.
| WEBSITE | https://www.qthotels.com/wellington/eat-drink/hippopotamus/ |
| ADDRESS | 90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 802 8935 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday- Wednesday (6:30–11AM) Thursday- (6:30–11AM, 6–11:30PM) Friday – (6:30–11AM, 6–11:30PM) Saturday- (6:30–11AM, 2–11:30PM) Sunday- (6:30–11AM, 2–11:30PM) (High Tea: Saturday & Sunday, 2PM) |
If you want to have high tea to warm up during the winter, Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar is your best bet. With its glamorous decor, chandeliers, and plush chairs, you’ll have a fancy and cozy experience.
They have a wide range of high tea options. We also love that they cater to different kinds of diets, with gluten-free, vegetarian, dairy-free, and plant-based options available.
Their high tea sets change quite often. However, you’ll get to experience different kinds of teas with sweet pastries and savory options every time.
4. Enjoy a spa day at Bodyhaven Spa Tory Street.
| WEBSITE | https://www.bodyhaven.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 2/2 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 495 3255 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (10 AM-7 PM) |
For a relaxing day either alone or with your friends, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Bodyhaven Spa. They have different massages, facials, advanced skin care treatments, manicures, pedicures, grooming, and other services.
We especially want to recommend their body rituals that use a combination of massage, facials, body scrubs, and wraps. It’s a great way to warm up and ease your worries.
You can book an appointment here.
5. Have a movie marathon at Penthouse Cinema.
| WEBSITE | https://penthousecinema.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 205 Ohiro Road, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 384 3157 |
| COST | Refer to this page for full details. |
If the weather’s too cold outside and you’d rather stay indoors, then a movie marathon with your friends at Penthouse Cinema is a great idea.
They have luxurious armchair seats, wall to wall screens, and a state-of-the-art sound system. At the same time, we love how the cinema kept its old-fashioned charm that has captivated moviegoers then and now.
Make sure to check their website to see what’s showing and what the schedule is.
You can either book online on their page or by calling them on the phone. Phone booking should be collected half an hour before the session begins.
They also have a great cafe. You can check out their menu here.
Note: If you want to opt to have your movie marathon at home, however, check out these fantastic projectors and soundbars you can try to capture the cinema experience better.
6. Go on a cafe crawl to find your favorite hot chocolate or coffee in the city.
It’s not a secret that Wellington is home to a lot of great cafes. Take advantage of this and go on a cafe crawl to look for the best coffee or hot chocolate for you.
Some of our favorite cafes include the following:
| Cafe | Address | Contact Details |
| Evil Twins | 161B Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand | +64 21 653 881 |
| The Hangar | 119 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand | +64 27 535 0884 |
| Pour & Twist | 13 Garrett Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand | |
| Customs | 39 Ghuznee Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand | |
| Fidel’s Cafe | 234 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand | +64 4 801 6868 |
These cafes are also a great place to read a book, study, work, or meet with friends. The staff are friendly, accommodating, and there are a lot of choices for drinks, pastries, and savory treats.
7. Try the Finnish sauna at Tory Urban Retreat.
Image from Tory Urban Retreat
| WEBSITE | https://toryurbanretreat.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 80 Tory Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 384 4329 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (9AM-9PM) |
Going to the sauna is a reinvigorating experience that will warm you up when the weather’s cold. You get to sweat out the tension from your body and unwind.
It helps revive and relax you so you’re ready for what the day will bring. They have a Finnish sauna and a large icy plunge pool where you can bathe after.
Contrast therapy can be very beneficial for you and would relax you. The sauna sessions are around 60-90 minutes long.
You can either book a shared or a private session. Check the prices here.
| Early Riser Hours | (8am – 9am Wed, Fri & weekends, & 9am – 10am everyday) shared session | $10 |
| “Rise & Shine Special” | (10am to 11.30am ) – shared sessions (Mon, Tue & Thurs only) | $15 |
| 90 minute SHARED SESSIONS all other shared sessions | – | $25 |
| “Sauna Starter Pack” 3 sessions for first time patrons only (Expires within a month) | – | $50 |
| PRIVATE BOOKINGS – Early Riser Hour 8am & 9am ONLY weekdays | (60 minute session for 10 people – extra people $10 each) | $100 |
| PRIVATE BOOKINGS – Early Riser Hour 8am & 9am ONLY weekends | (60 minute session for 10 people – extra people $15 each) | $150 |
| PRIVATE BOOKINGS Off Peak Weekdays 10am ONLY | (90 minute session for 10 people – extra people $25 each) | $150 |
| PRIVATE BOOKINGS ALL OTHER SESSIONS | (90 minute session for 10 people – extra people $25 each) | $250 |
Aside from their sauna, this facility also has float pod therapy, massages, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, and red light therapy.
8. Go on a staycation at Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington.
| WEBSITE | https://naumihotels.com/studiowellington/ |
| ADDRESS | 10 Dunlop Terrace, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 913 1800 |
Sometimes all you need to recharge is some peace and quiet in a beautiful hotel room eating room service in bed. If that sounds like an exciting time for you, head on over to Naumi Studio Hotel Wellington for a deluxe hotel experience.
We love this hotel because of its prime location near Cuba Street. The street is known as the city’s cultural center with delicious food, street art, galleries, record stores, shows, and more.
The hotel is located in a renovated heritage building and we love how the interior has so much character. It features works by local artists and designers.
The interior design and feel of the place is very whimsical and creative. They have a wide range of choices on the types of rooms, from the cozy studio to the extravagant suite.
9. Ride a cable car and explore Wellington.
Image from Wellington NZ
| WEBSITE | https://www.wellingtoncablecar.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central, Wellington 6011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 472 2199 |
| COST | Return tickets: Adult- $9.00 Child 5-15 yrs return- $4.50 |
If you’re a tourist, riding the iconic bright red Wellington cable car is a must. It’s a cable car that departs from Lambton Quay and into the hills of Kelburn every 10 minutes.
The ride itself takes around 5 minutes and rises over 120 meters. You’ll go through three tunnels and three bridges.
It offers a fantastic view of the city. For fun things to do at each station, you can check out this page.
Locals can still enjoy this experience because there’s always something new to see here. There are so many great activities you can enjoy at each station.
10. Go on a guided tour at Wētā Workshop.
Image from Tours Weta Workshop
| WEBSITE | https://www.wetanz.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 21 Camperdown Road, Miramar, Wellington 6022, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 4 909 4000 |
| COST | FREE entrance Guided Tour Wētā Workshop Experience – $49 Wētā Workshop Experience + Guided Transfers – $89 Full Experience & Kai (Lunch)- $145 |
Fans of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy and The Hobbit will love a trip here at the Wētā Workshop. You’ll see wonderful artifacts from different films such as sculptures, prints, apparel, and prop replicas.
There is also a miniature props showcase, which is a mini-museum displaying different artifacts from the films. It will be fun to take selfies with your friends and immerse yourselves in another world.
Although entrance to the Wētā Cave and mini-museum is free, we do encourage you to go on a guided tour for an elevated experience.
You’ll get to see how creative the people at Wētā Workshop are. You’ll see how movie effects and props are made.
It’s a great way to reconnect with films you grew up with. It’s definitely an experience you don’t want to miss.
There you have it, our comprehensive list of fun, relaxing, and exciting things young adults can do in Wellington in winter. Did we miss out on any cool activities?
Let us know! We’d love to hear from you.
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