From Cave to coast highlights tour of Wellington

S

Swantje V.

November 19, 2025

I was a bit disappointed with the 90minute tour. You go through some different rooms (I believe it was 6 in total). You get to hear some of the history and how the founders grew up, met and started their business, which was interesting. In the first room you can see for what movies they’ve made props for and then there’s some different props from different movies to have a look at, but you’re not allowed to touch them or take pictures (cause of copyright). In the next room you get to watch a short movie about how masks are made, which was my fav part of the tour. After that you get in another room where you get to touch some materials and look at more props from more movies, plus you get to see/watch some people work on swords/with a 3D printer. After that you get in a room, where you finally are allowed to take pictures and can almost touch everything (except for some ongoing art projects) and there’s one artist painting some little figurines, who you can chat with if you want. Of course they also have some stuff on display you could buy in the shop later ;). After that you get to meet lovely Kim Beaton who invites you to do some tinfoil art. She brings some energy into the whole thing and you can read about some employees on posters on the wall. After that you have one more room when you can take pictures with some props (which you can purchase later) and play with some machinery on the wall. After that the tour is done and you can stroll some more through the shop, which you can also do without purchasing tickets for the tour. The guides were really nice and friendly and tried to answer all the questions. All in all I was a bit disappointed, becaude you pay a lot of money just to look at different movie props (which are quite cool, no doubt) without having a central theme and you’re not allowed to touch them or have a closer look at things that are mounted on the wall above your head. Maybe you have to be a total movie nerd to enjoy it more. For me it would’ve been enough to stroll through the shop and enjoy the sculptures outside.

L

Lucky M.

November 08, 2025

​Hey Weta Workshop Team, ​We just wanted to send a quick message because we had an absolutely brilliant tour today, a huge thank you to the entire team! ​Special props go to our guide, Flynn. What an attentive and talented guy! He guided us through the spaces perfectly and had an amazing sense for checking in at just the right moment, asking how we were feeling or if we had any questions. Finding that perfect balance between being direct and still being super charming is a real challenge, and Flynn absolutely nailed it. ​You could feel his passion for the job every single second. It was awesome! Even when the conversation drifted to "Time Bandits" he didn't blink and immediately showed us some exhibits related to it. Incredible! ​A big shout-out as well to the lovely artists who took the time to give us some extra insights into their work. It was fantastic to see it all up close. ​We traveled all the way from Germany for this, and this tour with all of you made the entire trip worthwhile. ​So, massive props to Flynn. Today, you were definitely no "Taylor" 🤣 and of course, to the whole team making the magic happen! ​Thanks for an unforgettable experience! Best regards

F

francesandfrancis

November 05, 2025

If you’re a fan of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, this is an absolute must-visit in Wellington! The place has an impressive collection of movie memorabilia that brings Middle-earth to life. They also offer a ticketed tour of the Wētā Workshop, where you can see firsthand how the props, costumes, and effects were created. It’s a fantastic experience for movie lovers and a great addition to your Wellington itinerary. Highly recommend visiting — you’ll leave with a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship behind these iconic films!