J&J in Wellington

What better way to celebrate a birthday than a weekend getaway! Each year we take Arlo & Belle away for their birthdays. Last year we did Taupo which you can read about here. We love to spend time as a family and much prefer experiences than presents. This year we decided to take them just over the hill to the coolest little capital in the world, Wellington. I love capturing our holidays together as a family and finding family friendly accommodation, activities and eateries to share with you all.

Where we stayed:

We recommend staying somewhere nice and central in the city. Museum Apartment Hotel has a great selection of beautiful rooms and apartment suites big enough for the whole family. Our favorite part was swimming in their swim in the heated pool. They also offer family packages where kids eat and stay free! They especially loved the breakfast buffet. It’s the perfect base to explore the city for your weekend away in Wellington!

What we did:

For some birthday fun we decided to take the kids to Willis Lane, a dining and entertainment hub. First stop was Archie Brothers where we were greeted by the scent of popcorn and fairy floss heavy in the air, we spent some time playing some arcade games before claiming our prizes. Next we went to Holey Moley, for a game of mini golf. The kids loved the innovative obstacles and pop-culture themed holes.

There is simply no better way to experience the hidden charm that Wellington has to offer than to take the cable car ride from the heart of the city center, to the top of the Botanic Gardens where panoramic views of the city and harbor are the reward. It's a fun short ride for the kids and under 5’s are free!

Where we ate:

Wellington has a huge array of dining options from relaxed to fancy. Moonsoon Poon was just around the corner from our accommodation and is great for families and offers a great range of Asian food to suit all tastes. The kids enjoyed coloring in their kids menus while we waited for our food. The atmosphere was buzzing, the staff were energetic and friendly and best of all the food was delicious.

You can’t come to Wellington without stopping in at Willis Lane’s food hall. Highly recommend Crack Chicken. Think Koren fried chicken buggers, waffles and donut cheeseburgers. There’s always room for ice cream! You can't leave Willis Lane’s food hall without treating yourself to a Duck Island ice cream.

We couldn't come to Wellington without stopping at our favorite Grand Century for Yum cha. This legendary Chinese restaurant on Tory Street does the best Yum cha which is a Cantonese tradition of brunch involving Chinese tea and dim sum. Our kids love it and we've been coming here for so long that were friends with the owners.

If your kids love pasta then a stop at 1154 on Cuba street is another must do. They have a great selection of pasta dishes and better yet theres another Duck island ice cream shop only a few stores further up the road. It's a double win!

We had the best time celebrating in Wellington. Along with catching up with friends while we were there.  Our little country kids enjoyed their time in the big city. Escalators and lifts were a huge hit and Arlo couldn't stop mentioning how big and tall all the buildings were.