By Joel MacManus
Copyright thespinoff
How to have the perfect Wellington holiday on just one bus – a guided tour by Joel MacManus.
Figuring out how to get around is a challenge for any holidaymaker. Hiring a car is expensive, and learning a new city’s public transport network can be a headache, especially when you have a lengthy itinerary of places to see. In Wellington that’s not a problem. You can have the perfect short break using just one bus route.
Let me introduce you to Route 2. It’s my local bus, so I’m very familiar with it. An East-West route that goes between Karori and Miramar/Seatoun, the 2 is the most popular Metlink bus route, with an average of 66,000 rides per week. It’s also the most frequent, as regular as every six minutes for much of the day, and never any longer than 17 minutes, even close to midnight. It’s also 100% electric.
Aside from being a super reliable commuter route, it might be the best tourist bus in the country. I recently sang the praises of the incredibly scenic Number 24, and while the 2 may not offer the same sweeping vistas, it is just as memorable an experience for the way it links together all my favourite Wellington attractions. It’s affordable too – just use your Snapper card or grab an Explorer Day Pass which allows hop-on hop-off on weekends and public holidays.
Let me take you on a stop-by-stop tour through the best of Wellington, using only the Number 2 bus…
Karori to Allington Road
Starting at the eastern extremity of the route, this stop puts you right at the foot of the Makara Peak Mountainbike Park – and directly across from Mud Cycles, where you can hire mountain bikes and ebikes for a half day or more. For adventurous types, this is always a highlight – and there’s a great photo spot by the iconic yellow road sign if you make it all the way to the top of the hill. The Koru/Lazy Fern Loop is perfect for beginners, and for intermediate and above riders, Peak Flow is a legendary trail that lives up to its name.
Karori Mall to Karori Road
The Karori mall did not even qualify for The Spinoff’s ranking of Wellington malls. So I don’t recommend stopping there. But that’s not our focus here. If you have some time, Karori Village is a lovely spot to meander around. I recommend checking out Marsden Books, browsing Goblin Games and grabbing a bite from Shelly Bay Baker.
Zealandia to Chaytor Street (at Tunnel)
You’ll know this stop from the big sign that reads “See what everyone’s chirping about”. It’s just a 500m walk down Waiapu Road to reach the Zealandia visitor centre. Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, covering 225 hectares of bush filled with thriving – and noisy – birdlife. Zealandia won the Air New Zealand Supreme Tourism Award in 2023, for New Zealand’s best tourism operator, so you know it’s worth a visit.
You could spend a full day, maybe even several, at Zealandia. It offers many far-flung trails to explore, but for a quick visit, follow the concrete path around the lake, then head to the Upper Dam, and loop back to the start for a bite at the fantastic Rātā cafe.
Botanic Garden to Glenmore Street (opposite)
After passing through heritage-listed Karori Tunnel and under the heritage-listed Kelburn Viaduct, the lush, vibrant greenery of the Botanic Gardens comes into view. This stop drops you right opposite the Founders Gate, which is a great spot from which to explore the gardens. Take a wander through the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and grab a coffee at Picnic Cafe. Feed the ducks. If you’re lucky, you might catch a performance at the soundshell. For history nerds, check out the Bolton Street Cemetery, where some of New Zealand’s most important early figures are buried. Trek uphill to explore Space Place and the Cable Car Museum, and catch some of the best views in the city. But honestly, my favourite thing to do is just to wander around, trying to get lost, following the beautiful tangled paths that continually reveal hidden beauty.
Tinakori Road to St Mary Street
At the very next stop, you’ll find Tinakori Road Village, a quaint community with well-preserved colonial architecture and excellent spots for antiquing. Walk down to the end of Tinakori Road and you’ll find the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden, surrounded by many of the buildings and landscape features she referenced in her writing.
Lambton Quay North
There’s a huge array of stuff to do at this bus stop if you’re interested in politics and history. Tour the Supreme Court. Head over to the Old Government Buildings to see the public displays and visit the old Cabinet Room where leaders of the past made the decisions to send New Zealand into WWI and WWII, passed universal suffrage, and established social security.
Visit parliament grounds (try to spot the trees with scorch marks from the 2022 parliament occupation), book yourself in on a free tour of the buildings, or, if it’s a sitting week, go check out a bit of Question Time – you might see me in the gallery taking notes for Echo Chamber. My top recommendation in the government quarter – and one that is often overlooked – is to visit the National Library to see the original copies of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, He Whakaputanga, and the Women’s suffrage petition.
Willis Street at Willbank Court
This stop drops you off directly outside Unity Books, the best bookshop in Wellington (and probably New Zealand). If you’re in the mood for a shopping spree, peruse the boutiques at Old Bank Arcade, or if you want some fun, head to Willis Lane for arcade games, bowling, mini golf and karaoke. If you’re thirsty, pop into The Malthouse for the biggest range of craft beer in the city. Around the corner, down Mercer Street, you’ll find Te Matapihi Central Library and Te Ngākau Civic Square, which are currently under construction and due to open in March 2026.
Manners Street at Cuba Street
Cuba Street has it all: food, drink, music, vintage clothes, vibes. Doing justice to this stop would require its own guide – which, lucky for you, I’ve already written. Don’t be afraid to veer off onto some of the side streets and laneways. Head down Eva Street to check out Wellington Chocolate Factory, the award-winning restaurant Supra, or Goldings Free Dive, where Stephen Colbert hung out with Lucy Lawless and Bret McKenzie on his visit to town. Have a beer on a beanbag in the sun outside Rogue and Vagabond or check out Bowen Galleries on Ghuznee Street.
Courtenay Place at Courtenay Central
This is the closest bus stop to Te Papa Tongarewa and the Tākina Exhibition Centre. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you, but Te Papa is amazing. I’d suggest planning at least a half day for your visit – or break it up into two shorter visits focused on the museum and the Toi Art. Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War is a can’t-miss.
Pirie Street at Bus Tunnel
The Pirie Street Play Area is the best entrance to the Town Belt if you want to reach the Mt Victoria Lookout without taking a route that is too long or too steep. Along the way, you’ll pass the Hobbit’s Hideaway, a filming location from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring.
Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre
For a bit of chill fun – especially if you’re with kids – this is a great area for a break. Go for a dip at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre, zoom around the rollerblading rink at Kilbirnie Recreation Centre, or have some quiet time at Kilbirnie Library. From this stop you’re also within walking distance of The Children’s Bookstore – which, as the name implies, is entirely dedicated to kids literature.
[Important note: After passing through Kilbirnie, the Number 2 branches off into two distinct routes: the Miramar arm and the Seatoun arm. Make sure you know which route you’re on – it will be displayed on the front or your bus].
Miramar arm
Miramar Shops: If you want to catch a movie in Wellington, there’s no better spot than The Roxy, owned by Oscar-winning film editor Jamie Selkirk. An art deco cinema complex with an air of old Hollywood glamour, it has been the site of many local premiers and film industry galas, with close ties to the nearby Wētā Studios. The Roxy also offers tours, which explore the venue and the history of the Miramar film scene. You’re also a hop, skip and jump away from the iconic Chocolate Fish Cafe or a pint from Double Vision Brewing.
Darlington Road at Camperdown Road: Here, you’ll find a premier Wellington tourism highlight: Wētā Workshop, the globally-renowned practical effects studio which worked on The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, King Kong, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Avatar and many more. Guided tours take you inside the world of the workshop to meet some of the artists and see their work. If you have the time and budget, I’d suggest trying a Creative Workshop to learn sculpting, leatherwork, or the art of crafting battle wounds using film makeup. And don’t forget to visit the Wētā Cave to explore the mini museum and buy some collectables. If you’re peckish after all that, grab a bite at The Larder or Pestle & Mortar.
Seatoun Arm
Dundas Street at Monro Street: The coastal path found here takes you around Seatoun Beach and Worser Bay and makes for a lovely walk in the early morning. With the view of East Harbour Regional Park on the other side of the harbour mouth, it’s easy to forget you’re in a city at all, with hardly any man-made objects in sight. For history lovers, there are two important sites here: The Seatoun Wahine Memorial Garden, which marks the site where many survivors of the 1968 maritime disaster made it to shore. The ship’s original anchor and chain, and replicas of its ventilators, are on display in the park.
We’ve now reached the end of the Number 2 tour, but I’ll leave you with one final bit of local knowledge. On the Seatoun arm of this route, you’ll find Bus Stop: Broadway at Hobart St/Hobart St at Broadway. This is the closest bus stop to Wellington Airport, about a 650m walk from the terminal entrance. Taking the number 2 here is the cheapest way to get to or from the airport. It’s a little slower and less convenient, but it’s half the cost of the Airport Express and a tenth of the cost of an Uber into the city.
