Focus Weekend: Wellington City, 18th - 19th October 2025

With our Focus Weekends, you can experience multiple heritage-themed events across the city in a single weekend, minimising travel time and maximising your experience. Whether you're interested in walking tours, creative heritage, or unique historical insights, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

We'll release more blog posts like this one in the coming weeks to highlight the 3 other focus weekends around the region, so keep an eye on our website to discover more!

Discover Pōneke's Heritage

Wellington City has a fascinating history woven into its streets, buildings, and natural landscapes. This weekend is your chance to uncover that history through a wide selection of events happening across the city. Below are only SOME of the events in the area; you can filter using region, cost, date and event type on our Events page, making it easy to discover even more options around the wider region.

Saturday, 18th October 2025

• Wellington Writers Walk walking tour 10-11:30am + one other time | Te Papa forecourt, Cable Street | $20 | Booking Required - Book Now Start your day with a tour along Wellington's waterfront and hear the history of the much-loved Wellington Writers Walk consisting of a series of 23 quotations from well-known New Zealand writers.

• SS Hikitia Steam Crane Showcase and Ship Tours 11am-3pm + 3 other times | SS Hikitia, Taranaki Street | Koha - Find out more Continue along the waterfront for a chance to see a nearly 100-year-old steam crane in action! The Hikitia and her crew will be operating a floating crane to showcase technology from the age of steam, along with guided tours of the ship's interior.

• Walk the Walk Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara 1-2:30pm + one other time | Old Bank Shopping Arcade | $20 | Booking Required - Book Now Just a short walk into town you will find the start of this guided walking tour with a focus on the history of fashion businesses in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Covering 15-20 locations ranging from small dressmakers and tailors to large department stores and clothing manufacturers, the tour takes a look beyond the contemporary facade to a building’s fascinating heritage story.

• Pukeahu Park Tour 3-4pm | Pukeahu National War Memorial Park | Free - Find out more Finish your day with a walk through the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park led by an expert guide, and gain a deeper understanding of the park, the memorials, and the people they honour.

Sunday, 19th October 2025

• Bell Ringing Open Day - Wellington Cathedral of St Paul 9-10am + 8 other times | Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Thorndon | Koha - Find out more Start your Sunday early with a tour of the bell tower of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. See the 140-year-old bells up close and in action; you may even have a chance to ring one yourself!

• From Pemberley to Pipitea: Celebrating Jane Austen's 250th Birthday 11am-12:15pm + one other time | Antrim House, Wellington | $25 | Booking Required - Book Now Celebrate 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth with a lively one-hour performance of her witty Juvenilia, from The Beautifull Cassandra to Love and Friendship. Interwoven with outrageous gems from Aotearoa’s earliest newspapers, this fast-paced reading proves that the follies of status, marriage, and manners transcend time and place.

• A Change Is Coming walk tour 1-2:30pm | Jack Ilott Green | Free | Booking Required - Book Now Another insightful walking tour starts just nearby. 2025 marks 40 years since the introduction of the Homosexual Law Reform bill. Hear the stories and struggles of the rainbow community in this ultimately uplifting talk honouring those who paved the way for change and equality.

• Thorndon Creative and Historic Cottages Walk 1-4pm | Thorndon | Koha - Find out more At your own leisure, take a self-guided walk through Thorndon to visit three of Wellington's most creative historic sites: Rita Angus Cottage, Lilburn House, and Randell Cottage. Explore the legacy of these creative icons and discover the stories behind their homes.

• Heritage Tour at the haunted Inverlochy House 4-5pm | Inverlochy Place, Te Aro | $20 | Booking Required - Book Now Finish your day with a cuppa tea and a historic tour of Inverlochy House; a Victorian mansion designed by local architect Thomas Turnbull in the late 1870s, with a modern-day reputation for paranormal activity.

Make the Most of Your Weekend

With so many events clustered in Wellington City, enjoying a full day or weekend of heritage-themed activities is easy. Here are some tips to make the most of your time:

• Plan Ahead: Check the event timings and locations to plan your day. Many events are within walking distance, making it easy to move from one to the next.

• Secure Your Spot Early: Some events in our Festival require bookings and are selling out fast! Book your tickets where necessary to make sure you don't miss out. You can see which events require bookings on our Events page.

• Explore More: Between events, take the time to explore Wellington’s other attractions, from the waterfront to its many cafes and shops.

• Stay Engaged: Don’t forget to share your experiences on social media using our festival hashtags (#whf25) and check out our website for more information about the full festival lineup.

Looking Forward

This weekend marks just the beginning of the Wellington Heritage Festival. With so many events to explore across the Greater Wellington Region, there’s no better time to dive into the past and discover the stories, people and places that shape the present. Be sure to check back for future blog posts highlighting our other Focus Weekends as the Festival continues.

To see the full schedule for the festival, visit our events page.