During your stay in Wellington, I recommend getting on the red cable car in the city centre and ride up the hill to Kelburn. You reach the top station after a few minutes, and you get a great view over Wellington city and the harbour. It is one of the best spots for photos, especially on a clear day or at sunset.

At the top station there is also a small museum where you can see how the old cable cars used to work. From there you can walk into the Wellington Botanic Garden, which is just next to the station.

You can buy your ticket at the station or online, and the cable car runs often so you never wait long. If you plan to go back down, I recommend taking the cable car again for the view, but you can also walk down through the gardens if you feel like it.