The Most Beautiful Churches in Wellington, New Zealand

The iconic architecture of Saint Gerards Catholic Church and Monastery of Mount Victoria, Wellington
The iconic architecture of Saint Gerard's Catholic Church and Monastery of Mount Victoria, Wellington | © Molly Marshall / Alamy Stock Photo
Thalita Alves

Beautiful churches are a prominent feature of Wellington’s architectural heritage. Whenever you’re exploring New Zealand’s capital city, make sure to keep an eye out for these 10 magnificent places of worship.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

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10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Old St Paul’s

Built by the Anglican Church between 1865 and 1866, Old St Paul’s is widely considered to be one of New Zealand’s greatest heritage places. Along with being one of the world’s finest examples of timber Gothic architecture, the central city church is also known for its interesting history; in fact, it survived demolition in the 1960s after a new St Paul’s was built just a block away. While Old St Paul’s is no longer a parish, it is still a popular place for weddings and funerals among other religious services.

St Barnabas

St Barnabas is an Anglican church in the suburb of Roseneath, just east of Oriental Bay. Originally part of St Mark’s parish, the church opened in 1899 and was designed in a simple neo-gothic style. Architect Joshua Charlesworth, who also conceptualised the Wellington Town Hall, was in charge of the church’s first iteration; after St Barnabas was extensively damaged by a fire in 1924, Frederick de Jersey Clere was tasked with its renovations. These days the church still has a plain Gothic aesthetic and also features a belfry tower and timber-panelled interior with exposed beams and sculptures.

Saint Gerard’s Catholic Church and Monastery

Perched on a hill that overlooks the Wellington Harbour, St Gerard’s is arguably one of the capital’s most prominent historic landmarks. The Catholic Church was erected in 1908 and was the first in the world to be dedicated to the Italian saint Gerard Majella. A monastery was later incorporated in 1932, despite initial resistance from the archbishop – while he could see the structure’s landmark potential, he was also concerned that it would overshadow the original place of worship.

St John’s Presbyterian Church

The present St John’s Church dates back to December 11 1885, and was constructed after its predecessor was destroyed by a fire in 1884. It was designed by renowned New Zealand architect Thomas Turnbull, who also conceived various other churches in the city. Some of St John’s most noteworthy architectural features include its Gothic design, a stately spire, plus a splendid interior composed of a large gallery with remarkable columns.

St Mary of the Angels

St Mary of the Angels was the third Catholic church to be built on its imposing Boulcott Street site. It has served local parishioners for nearly a century, despite having to temporarily close from 2013 until 2017 for some post-earthquake structural repairs. St Mary of the Angels is notable for its distinctive Gothic design, which was modelled after 13th century Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula in Brussels, Belgium.

Wellington Cathedral of St Paul

The Wellington Cathedral of St Paul sits just across the road from the Parliament buildings. This is, in fact, the parish that took over from Old St Paul’s as the key place of worship for Wellington’s Anglican community. Along with being the mother church of the capital’s Anglican diocese, the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul is also notable for its strong royal connections. In 1954, the cathedral’s foundation stone was laid by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; she later came back in 1995 to lay a commemorative stone to mark the cathedral’s completion.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Also known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, this Roman Catholic parish is again located in the Parliament precinct. The present brick and concrete structure stands on the same site as the former cathedral of St Mary which burned burnt down in 1898. Originally, Sacred Heart was conceived as a basilica – and its design strongly reflects that. Ionic columns made out of Oamaru Stone, bell towers culminated in domes and distinctively Roman aesthetics make Sacred Heart stand out from other local churches built in the late 19th-early 20th centuries.

Christ Church, Taitā

Christ Church in Taitā, Lower Hutt, is the oldest surviving church in the Wellington region, as well as being one of the oldest in its original condition in New Zealand. It originally opened in 1844; at the time Taitā only had 30 households and many of these pioneering residents are now buried in the churchyard. In the 1950s, controversy over a proposal to move the church influenced the establishment of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Parishioners won the battle to keep Christ Church in its original location; after suffering fire damage in the late 1980s the church was rebuilt and reopened in 1991.

Futuna Chapel

In 1958, the brothers of the Society of Mary (Marists) commissioned Hawke’s Bay architect John Scott to design a chapel for their spiritual retreat in Karori. The brothers themselves took charge for most of the construction and the Futuna Chapel made a strong architectural impression as soon as it was completed in 1961. With its culmination of a number of architectural traditions that included references to traditional indigenous Maori designs, the Futuna Chapel earned itself a New Zealand Institute of Architects’ gold medal in 1968 and was later named a place of historic significance by the Historic Places Trust.

St Joseph’s

St Joseph’s is a Catholic church in the suburb of Mount Victoria. Its parish was formally founded in 1913 in response to the burning down of the first local Catholic church in 1898; unfortunately a series of setbacks meant that the church itself wasn’t completed until 2004. The completion of the church is testament to local parishioners’ dedication to having a place of worship in Mount Victoria, despite the various land and transport regulations that were imposing barriers in St Joseph’s construction.

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