Wellington’s premier shopping street is Lambton Quay.

The Lambton quarter is home to many of the city’s leading retailers and department stores, as well as specialty stores found nowhere else. Other concentrations of uniquely Wellington and New Zealand fashion boutiques can be found on or near Willis Street, Cuba Street and Courtenay Place.

Other popular shopping destinations include Tinakori Road in Thorndon (antiques and fine art) and Jackson Street in Petone (accessories, homeware and gifts).

Large malls with a variety of stores are located in Lower Hutt (Westfield Queensgate), Porirua (North City Plaza), Paraparaumu (Coastlands), Johnsonville and Tawa (Dressmart). The Warehouse and K-Mart offer discount shopping.

Generally shop opening hours are 9.00am to 5.30pm on weekdays, with late night shopping until 8.00pm on Fridays. Weekend shopping hours are generally 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Shopping - Wellington Tourism website

Supermarkets

The main supermarkets are: Countdown, Pak N Save, New World and Woolworths. Supermarkets are generally open from 7.00am until 11.00pm, or later, seven days a week.

Moore Wilson, which combines an extensive deli and fresh food supermarket with a general merchandise store, is a favourite among inner city Wellingtonians.

Weekend Markets

Many locals enjoy going to weekend markets where fresh fruit and vegetables and a range of goods are sold, often at very reasonable prices.

Wellington City Markets - Positively Wellington Tourism website

There are also markets on the river bank in Lower Hutt and in Porirua Shopping Centre.

Dairies

Dairies are small convenience stores usually located near where you're living. They sell a range of everyday items including newspapers, bread, milk, fruit and toiletries. They do not usually sell meat or fish and are slightly more expensive compared to supermarkets. Opening hours vary but will usually be from 7.00am to 7.00pm seven days a week. In the central city there are also 24-hour convenience stores.