Free Things to Do With Kids in Wellington

Te Papa, New Zealand's national museum, is completely free and is hands-down one of the best family attractions in the country. Our kids love the colossal squid, the earthquake house that shakes, and the interactive natural history exhibits. You could spend a whole rainy day here and not see it all — and it won't cost a thing (a few special exhibitions are ticketed, but the bulk is free).

The City Gallery Wellington and the Cable Car Museum at the top of the cable car are also free to enter.

Wellington's waterfront is a free playground in itself. The kids love jumping off the diving platform at Frank Kitts Park in summer, exploring the wooden Whairepo Lagoon walkways, and running through the splash fountains. There's a brilliant free playground at Frank Kitts Park with a lighthouse slide.

For beaches, Oriental Bay is a short walk from the city with golden imported sand, while Scorching Bay and Days Bay (a ferry ride away) are local family favourites.

Wellington is wrapped in green belt and the walks are free and family-friendly. The Botanic Garden is gorgeous and free — take the cable car up (the only paid bit, and worth it) then walk down through the gardens, past the duck pond and the playground. Otari-Wilton's Bush has easy boardwalk trails through native forest, and the kids love spotting tūī and kākā.

Zealandia eco-sanctuary has an entry fee, but the surrounding Wright's Hill and Tinakori Hill tracks are free with great views.

A couple of Wellington classics cost very little. The cable car is a Wellington must-do and is cheap for a family, especially with the free museum and gardens at the top. The interislander ferry terminal and the wharf are free to watch the big ships come and go, and the weekend Harbourside Market is free to wander (and great for cheap snacks).

Wellington is one of the easiest NZ cities to enjoy on a tight budget thanks to free Te Papa and the compact, walkable centre. Here's how a family day adds up. With Te Papa and the waterfront alone, you've got a full, memorable day for almost nothing.