Wellington is a great city to have a fun day out with a preschooler. If you’re looking for ideas, check out these top picks of fun-things-to-do, the under 5s edition!  

Top of the list is PlayHQ, Nōku te Ao Capital E’s interactive play space. A great way to break up a day in town, the current theme Topsy Turvy is all about exploring with your senses. If you visit at 11am on a weekday, you’ll find an instructor-led session happening in the space that you and your preschooler can join in on. 

Next door to PlayHQ is Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum, a treasure trove of local taonga and tamariki activities. Control Wellington’s wind, find your house on the giant map, step into Stephen Adams size 19 shoes, and watch the miniature steam train travel down its track.  

For an exciting adventure, set off on a trip up to Kelburn for the Cable Car Museum. In the free-entry museum you can climb inside cable cars from the past, check out the Lego display and head downstairs to see the giant 20th century Winding Machine Room.  

Space Place is just around the corner in the Wellington Botanic Garden. Their planetarium film Te Whānau o te Rā is suitable for under 6s. Tamariki love this sing-a-long adventure about Pluto finding her way home. Your visit includes access to the space galleries, which you can explore after the show.