Excitingly, spring and summer calls for endless amounts of picnics. Luckily, there’s plenty of places to dive into an alfresco feast in Wellington. From pristine beaches to lush grasslands and parks, there are dozens of places for picnics in Wellington. Check out eight of our favourites.
1. Te Whiti Riser
This is Wellington’s newest recreational walks. Pop on your active gear and hike up these picturesque hills to experience unforgettable views of the sea and surroundings and capture stunning photos. It will take you one hour on foot to reach the top, or shorter via bike, so you can reward yourself with a D.I.Y picnic after the journey. Certainly, the sunsets atop here are marvellous.
📍 Riverside Drive, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
2. Oriental Bay
This award-winning man-made beach is another excellent place for picnics in Wellington. Already, popular with locals, it does be buzzing in the summertime. Opt to perch your blanket on the beach or on the grassy area if you hate sand. Either way, you’ve got the best of both worlds. A fantastic picnic date and place to make memories with friends.
📍 Oriental Bay, Wellington
3. Wellington Botanic Garden
Already a popular spot for picnics in Wellington, immerse yourself in 25 hectares of a lush garden, enriched in history, surrounded by unique plants, and more, while you dig into a delightful picnic. It sits on the hill between Thorndon and Kelburn, so you’ll be treated to lovely views and a unique landscape. Likewise, the area is huge, so plenty of space to social distance.
📍 101 Glenmore Street, Kelburn, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
4. Wellington Waterfront
Take your outdoor feast to Wellington Waterfront, where you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to picnic locations. Opt to chillout on the lawn, head to the beach area or relax on the stone sidewalks. Whatever your choice, the therapeutic ocean breeze is enough to put a smile on your face, while you munch away with your mates.
📍 Wellington City, Wellington
5. Percy Scenic Reserve
This spectacular park boasts unique forest walks, a famous waterfall, historic water wheel, plenty of recreational activities, and more. With an array of picnic sites across the giant park, it will be hard to decide. We recommend perching yourself on the lawn beside the duck pond for the greatest experience.
📍 5 Dowse Drive, Maungaraki, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
6. Butterfly Creek
Another Lower Hutt spot, this seven-mile walk exhibits a lovely picnic area, in a tranquil valley, near Eastbourne. You have the option to take four walking tracks which will lead you to the picnic area. Equally, the views are to die for. Surrounded by nature, history and wildlife – it’s the perfect place to settle down with a picnic after a hike.
📍 31 Kowhai Street, Muritai, Lower Hutt 5013, New Zealand
7. Tawatawa Reserve
This exercise trail is popular with dog walkers, and features plenty of wildlife, nature, and blooming florals. Nature enthusiasts will adore the views from the top, with lots of grassland to chillout with an outdoor feast and watch birds if you please.
📍(Entrance Point) Murchison Street, Owhiro Bay, Wellington
8. Mount Victoria
We couldn’t forget about the iconic Mount Victoria which boasts wonderful city views. With plenty of trails, parks and grasslands, you can alfresco dine anywhere on the mountain top. Be sure to perch yourself somewhere with epic views of the city, so you can capture those instagrammable moments with your gang. Indeed, an unbeatable place for picnics in Wellington.
📍 (Entrance) Alexandra Road, Wellington