Explore Historic Thorndon In Wellington New Zealand

Thorndon, a suburb in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, is known for its historic charm, boasting beautiful heritage houses with weatherboard exteriors and decorative cast-iron balcony railings. There is, however, more to the area than just historic homes – here’s a list of the best things to do in this historic Wellington suburb.

See the original Treaty of Waitangi at the National Library

As one of the most important documents in New Zealand’s history, the Treaty of Waitangi can be viewed in its original form at the National Library of New Zealand on the corner of Molesworth and Aitken Streets. Signed in 1840 between European settlers and Māori chiefs, the treaty is considered to be New Zealand’s founding document. It is now preserved in a special temperature- and light-controlled chamber, as part of the permanent He Tohu exhibition at the library. Two other documents which can be viewed here include the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand signed in 1835, and the Women’s Suffrage Petition signed in 1893. This document led to New Zealand being the first self-governing country to give women the right to vote in 1893.

Wellington’s National Library holds the Treaty of Waitangi, which can be viewed in its original form

Learn more about New Zealand’s politics at the Parliament building

Free guided tours of the Parliament buildings are offered on an almost daily basis

Go shopping and dining on Tinakori Road

Along Thorndon’s Tinakori Road, visitors can shop for treasures from the past at one of the many antique stores. Secondo boutique sells designer second-hand clothing, where visitors can shop for vintage fashion items like sequinned jackets, silk shoes and pleated skirts. Vintage maps, old horse lithographs and Gothic-style church furniture can be found at The European, a store specialising in antiques and artefacts from Europe.

Tinakori Road is the perfect place to look for antiques

Intimate dining establishments are dotted along Tinakori Road, offering great options for foodies who want to try modern New Zealand cuisine. One such establishment is Tinakori Bistro, which offers a French-inspired two or three-course menu on Tuesday nights. Alternatively, try the Hillside Kitchen and Cellar for a menu that represents New Zealand’s diversity. Try a four-course surprise tasting menu during the day, or their seven-course night menu that includes the intriguingly named “summertime fruit and a seaweed mistake” palate cleanser.

Visit the historic home of queer modernist writer Katherine Mansfield

From the restaurants and antique stores walk along until you reach number 25 Tinakori Road, the early childhood home of Katherine Mansfield. The poet and author of short stories, letters and reviews was born in Wellington in 1888. She lived an inspired life that was filled with trauma, having experienced miscarriage, rejection from her mother, venereal disease and eventually tuberculosis, which took her life at the age of 34. Her legacy pops up through the city in the form of sculptures and art projects, the latest one being a compilation album of songs with lyrics inspired by Mansfield’s poetry. A tour of the house gives visitors an opportunity to explore each room and read quotes from the work of this artist who continues to inspire New Zealanders today.

Explore queer modernist writer Katherine Mansfield’s birth home

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.