Wellington’s Weirdest Wonders: A 1-Day Itinerary of the Odd & Unusual

Sarah-Jane Lee
Feb 11
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Forget the standard tourist trail. Dive into Wellington’s hidden corners: a steampunk museum attic, haunted maritime adventures, and abandoned clifftop fortresses. This guide uncovers the city’s most unusual history, odd collections, and spooky hidden corners for the truly curious traveller.

Here is your one-day itinerary to unusual places in Wellington, complete with tips about getting around Wellington and where to grab a bite.

9:00 AM – The Underground & The Attic. Start at the National Tattoo Museum (Manners St) to see ancient Ta Moko tools. Then, walk to the Wellington Museum and head straight to The Attic, a steampunk wonderland of time machines and peculiar relics.

🏛️ A Time-Traveling Attic: In the Wellington Museum’s attic, 19th-century feather boas sit right next to a "time machine" projecting vignettes of the past. It’s a steampunk dream where flying saucers and birdcages live side-by-side. 🎩🛸

I🎌 The "Irony" of War: The massive guns at Wrights Hill Fortress were sold as scrap metal in the 1960s. The irony? They were bought by a Japanese consortium.. The very nation the fortress was built to defend against! 🔩🚢

10:30 AM – The Giant Squid & Quasi . Walk the waterfront to Te Papa (Level 2) for the Colossal Squid. On your way back to the centre, head to Civic Square and look up at the roof of the City Gallery to lock eyes hwere Quasi, the giant, was located. The hand-face sculpture, in Note: March 2026, the sculpture in your image, known as Quasi, is located on the roof of the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. NZJane was fascinated by the debate over the 'beauty' of Quasi when it was installed in Wellington. Weird sometimes does not equal 'beautiful'. Weird is fascinating, intriguing and a conversation starter. Nearby is The City to Sea Bridge is a landmark pedestrian bridge and public artwork that connects Wellington's Te Ngākau Civic Square to the waterfront precinct at Whairepo Lagoon. The bridge is wedge-shaped and constructed from reinforced concrete and timber. NZJANE suggests take a peek at the bridge as a replacement for Quasi's removal!

LUNCH

12:30 PM – Lunch: Kitsch or Coastal Grab a "Po' Boy" at Sweet Mother's Kitchen for a taste of quirky Cuba Street soul, or walk 10 minutes to the Boat Café to dine inside a historic floating tugboat.

2:00 PM – The Ghostly Pioneers & High Fashion. Visit the Old Bank Arcade to watch the Mechanical Clock reveal its dioramas at the top of the hour. Then, take the Cable Car up and walk downhill through the Bolton Street Cemetery, where 19th-century graves are tucked right under the motorway flyover.

3:30 PM – The Cat & The Fortress (Karori). Take Bus 2 to Karori Cemetery to find Mrs Chippy the cat’s statue. Afterwards, hop on Bus 21 or take a 20-minute uphill walk to Wrights Hill Fortress.

Tip: The fortress tunnels are only open 4 days a year (Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, King’s Birthday, and Labour Day). On other days, you can still explore the surface bunkers and incredible views.

🚢 The Grudge of Mrs Chippy: The statue of Mrs Chippy at Karori Cemetery exists because of a century-old grudge. The ship’s carpenter, Harry McNish, never forgave Sir Ernest Shackleton for shooting his cat during their stranded Antarctic expedition. 🐈❄️

TIPS: Getting Around Wellington

The "Snapper" Card: This is the local transit card. It’s significantly cheaper than paying cash (about 25%–30% less). You can buy one at the i-SITE Visitor Centre or most dairies (convenience stores). Tag on and tag off at the front and back doors of the bus.
Wrights Hill Connection: To get from Karori Cemetery to the Fortress, take Bus 21 (it says "Wrights Hill" on the front). It drops you on Campbell Street, leaving you a 15-minute uphill walk to the fortress gates.
The "Wellington Lean": The city is famous for its hills and wind. Wear comfortable, grippy walking shoes, "jandals" (flip-flops) aren't recommended for the steep paths at Wrights Hill or the uneven terrain of the cemeteries.
Metlink App: Download the Metlink app for real-time bus tracking. Wellington buses are frequent, but "Ghost Buses" (scheduled but delayed) can happen during peak hours.