Capital city, New Zealand
Wellington for solo travelers
Is Wellington good for solo travel?
New Zealand's compact, creative capital: great coffee, craft beer, walkable waterfront and good food. Suits a short city break or a base for government and creative work; the wind and rain are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women. Usual care with drinks and late-night walking on quiet streets. |
How to meet people in Wellington
Hostels on Cuba Street, craft-beer tap rooms, creative and tech meetups, harbour walks and run clubs, plus live music venues.
Good things to do alone
- Walk the Wellington waterfront at dawn
- Visit Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum
- Ride the cable car to the Botanic Garden
- Hike to Mount Victoria for city views
- Coffee crawl along Cuba Street
Where to stay in Wellington
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Te Aro and Cuba Street | Cafés, bars, hostels and nightlife; close to everything |
| Oriental Bay | Waterfront apartments and swimming; bit pricier |
| Thorndon | Quiet, historic, near Parliament and the train |
| Newtown | Cheaper flats, diverse food, close to the zoo |
Solo travel across New Zealand
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Auckland | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Wellington | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Christchurch | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Rotorua | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Wanaka | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Taupo | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bay of Islands | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Coromandel | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Tauranga | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Dunedin | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Nelson | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kaikoura | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Milford Sound | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Lake Tekapo | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Waiheke Island | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Franz Josef | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Wellington good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). New Zealand's compact, creative capital: great coffee, craft beer, walkable waterfront and good food.
How do you meet people in Wellington?
Hostels on Cuba Street, craft-beer tap rooms, creative and tech meetups, harbour walks and run clubs, plus live music venues. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Wellington?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Wellington safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women. Usual care with drinks and late-night walking on quiet streets.
More about Wellington
Going to Wellington solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Wellington meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.