Plan your trip to Wellington for Open Day
Whether you’re coming from out of town or just across the harbour, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of Open Day weekend.
Open Day dates and details
Open Day is happening on Friday 21 August 2026.
We also have tours of our halls of residences running from Thursday 20 August to Saturday 22 August so you can make the most of your trip.
Getting to Wellington
By plane
We provide a limited number of free buses to the University from Wellington Airport on the morning of Open Day. Our staff will be waiting by the baggage-claim area with signs and information on where to go. Buses will be leaving for the University every 15 minutes between 7.45 am and 10 am. Allow extra travel time in your schedule, as traffic may interfere with arrival times. Seats on the buses will be limited.
Alternatively, you can grab a taxi or book a rideshare from the airport if you prefer to make your own arrangements.
By car
Due to the lack of parking spaces around the University and heavy traffic on the day, we recommend you don’t bring a car—however, if you do need to drive, there is limited parking two-hour and pay-and-display parking on Kelburn Parade and Salamanca Road, as well as pay-and-display parking at the end of Waiteata Road.
By cable car
It’s a five-minute walk from the cable car’s Salamanca (University) stop to the Gate 3 entrance of the Kelburn campus. See Wellington Cable Car for timetables and fares.
By rail
Regular rail services run to the Wellington Railway Station from across the greater Wellington region. From the railway station, it is a short walk or bus ride to all three of our campuses. You find out about rail routes on Metlink’s journey planner.
Getting between campuses and halls
To help you get between all our campuses and halls of residence, we’ll be running specially marked free looping buses between 8.45 am and 3 pm on Open Day.
We will have two different loops running on the day, so be sure to look for buses with the appropriate signage:
- Bus loop 1—Kelburn Parade (Gate 3) to Pipitea Campus (also Wellington Railway Station stop) via Joan Stevens Hall
- Bus loop 2—Kelburn Parade (Gate 3) to Te Aro campus via Victoria House and Cumberland House.
Allow plenty of time in your schedule as the bus timetable is traffic dependent.
Where to stay
Wellington has a variety of accommodation options, from hotels to hostels to Airbnbs. Register now to receive an exclusive discount for booking your stay across many of the Wellington hotels over Open Day weekend.
What to do on the day
- Register online (if you haven’t already).
- Pick up your welcome pack at the info desk in the Hub at Kelburn campus.
- Collect your free wristband to unlock exclusive discounts and deals across the city.
- Plan what sessions you want to check out with your timetable.
- Watch our student performances in the Hub.
- Grab some lunch at our range of food trucks.
- Hop on the free looping bus to visit our Pipitea and Te Aro campuses.
- Explore the expo and chat to our staff and students.
Make a weekend of it
Wellington is more than just where you’ll study—it’s the place you’ll call home for this next chapter of your life. If you’re staying for the weekend, here are a few local favourites to help you get a taste of Welly as a Vic Uni student.
Nature and views
- Zealandia—see the native wildlife
- Mt Vic—best views of the whole city
- Cable car and Botanic Gardens—iconic
- Oriental Bay—seaside stroll in the middle of the city? Say less.
Fun and unique experiences
- Te Papa—our national museum (it’s free for NZ residents)
- Cuba St—buzzing with vintage shops, cafés, and street performers
- Markets—Sunday mornings on the waterfront
- Wellington Zoo—go wild
- Wētā Workshop—go behind the scenes of movie magic
- Croc bikes—cruise along the waterfront.