Getting there

Planes

Wellington International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the city centre and less than an hour’s flight from anywhere else in New Zealand. Domestic carriers include Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.com) and Sounds Air (www.soundsair.com); from Australia you can also pick up flights on Qantas (www.qantas.com.au) and Pacific Blue (www.flypacificblue.com.au).

Boats

Ferries travel across the Cook Strait (between New Zealand's North and South Islands) and through the Marlborough Sounds up to nine times daily; try Interislander (www.interislander.co.nz) or Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry (www.bluebridge.co.nz).

Trains

Tranz Scenic runs the Overlander, which links Auckland and Wellington, taking in the spectacular Mount Ruapehu, river gorges and the world-famous Raurimu Spiral, a single-track railway spiral (www.tranzscenic.co.nz). For city train travel, see www.metlink.org.nz.

Automobiles

Major State Highways 1 and 2 lead to Wellington. Go Wellington runs the bus system | including the trolley buses (www.gowellingtonbus.co.nz). Several companies offer bus tours of the city and surrounding regions | try Hammonds Scenic Tours (www.wellingtonsightseeingtours.com). For hire cars | try Ace Rental Cars (+64 (0)4 471 1176; www.acerentalcars.co.nz) or Apex Car Rental (+64 (0)4 385 2163; www.apexrentals.co.nz).