Located in the heart of Wellington, Tea Aro is a lively harbourside district home to cultural museums, business headquarters and a diverse range of eateries. In the 19th century, it was the centre of Wellington’s Chinese community after miners moved from the goldfields to find work in the city.
Things to do in Te Aro
Dominating the waterfront is the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which showcases the natural and cultural history of the country. Translating from Māori as “the treasure box”, Te Papa houses a fascinating collection of stamps, fossils and centuries-old dresses. The museum is also home to the world’s largest known colossal squid, which was caught in Antarctica’s Ross Sea and weighs in at 495 kilograms.
A short stroll from the museum is the City Gallery Wellington, which occupies a 1940-built Art Deco-style building that once served as the Wellington Public Library. The gallery hosts changing exhibitions by contemporary New Zealand and international artists, with names such as Frida Kahlo, Wim Wenders and Shane Cotton previously featured.
Te Aro’s most popular green space is Waitangi Park, which is home to a children’s playground, basketball courts and a skate park. It regularly hosts cultural events and lies alongside the Harbourside Market where food trucks gather. Waitangi Park can be accessed along the Wellington Waterfront Walk, which passes the famous “Solace in the Wind” statue by the British-born sculptor Max Patté.
Getting around Te Aro
Wellington International Airport is a 15-minute drive from Te Aro and has flights to destinations across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific. Buses travel throughout Te Aro, although most of the area’s attractions are accessible on foot. Ferries connect from the nearby Queen’s Wharf to Picton on the South Island.