Wellington Shopping
With its colourful arcades, boutiques and historic shop fronts, Wellington offers a great shopping experience.
Lambton Quay
Serious shoppers should check out The Golden Mile – the local nickname for the main downtown retail area of Lambton Quay. This elegant inner city quarter has several shopping centres and a wide range of designer boutique stores, as well as tempting cafés, bars and restaurants. A highlight for shoppers a visit to Wellington institution,
Kirkcaldie & Stains (165-177 Lambton Quay) with its elegant surroundings and upmarket goods. This classic department store was established in 1863 and is one of the oldest in the country. Lambton Quay is close to the Wellington railway and bus stations and on the city circular service.
Thorndon
Wellington’s oldest district is another good place for interesting finds. As well as some fine examples of early colonial architecture, there is a good selection of arts and crafts, antique shops and art galleries.
Courtenay Place
The city's entertainment zone is most lively by night, but there are plenty of boutiques to tempt shoppers on Blair, College and Vivian Streets, and on Oriental Parade. The Wellington Market on Wakefield Street has a varied range of craft and gift stalls, and also sells second-hand goods and furniture.
Cuba Street
Known for its cutting edge artisans, fashion boutiques and interior designers, Cuba Street is one of Wellington’s hippest hang-outs. Buskers ply their trade in front of shops offering everything from crystals to lava lamps, and there are plenty of alternative-style bargains including second-hand book shops and music stores, retro clothes, markets, and galleries showing original design works.
Willis Street
One of Wellington’s key shopping quarters, Willis Street spreads to Victoria and Manners Streets, offering an eclectic range of gifts, souvenirs, designer labels and ethnic restaurants. Manners Mall is a popular haunt for buskers and street entertainers.
Crafts & Clothing
Wellington has an excellent selection of quality craft and clothing shops, and a huge range of New Zealand-made souvenirs and crafts. Souvenir hunters after something uniquely local can pick up paua shell jewellery, greenstone (New Zealand jade) or bone carvings at reasonable prices. Other good gift ideas include sheepskin products, jewellery, ornaments, furniture, ethnic art, toys, shoes, handblown glassworks, Celtic goods and a huge range of quality clothing including woollen, ski, outdoor wear and designer labels.
Wellington Markets
- The Wellington Market (cnr Cable & Taranaki Streets)
A good range of NZ crafts and souvenirs with ethnic food shops. Open Thurs-Sun and public holidays.
- James Smith's Corner
A range of retail outlets and a market offering everything from jewellery to designer clothing. Open 7 days. 55 Cuba St.
- Porirua Market
An excellent ethnic-style market open from 6am Saturdays at Cobham Court, Porirua.
- Upper Hutt Flea Market
A craft and flea market held every Saturday from 9am to 12pm.
- Riverbank Market
Crafts, clothes and produce. Saturday 8am-3pm. Riverbank Carpark, Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt.
- Tawa Lions Saturday Market
Produce, arts and crafts. Open Saturdays 10.30am-2.30pm. 24 Main Road, Tawa.
Shopping Hours
- Shopping hours - Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm. Sat-9am-4pm. Sunday 10am-2pm.
- Bank Hours - Most open Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm. Visitors wanting to exchange travellers' cheques can use banks or exchange agencies. American Express, on Lambton Quay, offers international pre-paid phone cards, drafts and telegraphic transfers.