How to make the most of your trip to Wellington, NZ - come rain, hail or shine

Average temperature: 9 / 17 degrees

WHY: The liveliest of all four seasons in Wellington, spring brings a fresh energy to New Zealand's capital as the harbour city shucks off winter and leans into warmer days. Plan for leisurely waterfront and city strolls but don't forget the merino layers. Wellington's famous southerly wind has a bite, even when the sun is shining.

HOW: Artists come to Wellington from around the world to showcase their catwalk creations at the annual World of WearableArt (WOW) show. Fashionista or not, you'll want to make WOW a starting point for any late September, early October visit. Across from TSB Arena, home of WOW, is Wellington's cable car, a funicular railway that stops at the Botanic Garden. Hop off at Kelburn and head to the Thorndon gateway via the seasonal tulips on show for the Festival of Flowers. Reach deep into the country's political past on the Ara Tapuwae o te Paremata (Trodden Pathway of Parliament) walking tour of Parliament. The free 90-minute history tour takes you to the one-of-a-kind Maori affairs select committee room, complete with century-old decor. Bellamys restaurant, on the ground floor of the Beehive (the popular name for the parliament's executive wing), is open for lunch and dinner. Across the road is heritage-cool bistropub, the Thistle Inn, operating since 1840. Stylish stays in the city centre range from the bougie Intrepid Hotel on Ghuznee Street, the Tryp Hotel by Wyndham on Tory Street and the art-packed QT Wellington on Cable Street.

Average temperature: 14 / 21 degrees

WHY: Summer's jangling blue skies and long days draw city-siders into waterfront cafes, al fresco bars and sunny urban parks. It's the season to adventure beyond the city limits to Wellington's coastal suburbs and over the Remutaka ranges to Wairarapa.

HOW: With Insta-worthy Oriental Bay and regional parks galore, Wellington is an outdoor lover's playground. Travel on foot or by car or bike to explore Mount Victoria and enjoy 360-degree views of the city from its peak. Venture further afield to Scorching Bay on Miramar Peninsula for a dip in the sea. Take an East by West ferry to Matiu/Somes Island to hike its trails. Join the roaring crowds at Wellington Cricket Stadium for an international one-day match and to exercise the lungs in a different way - yelling for your favourite team. Martinborough, about 80 kilometres out of town, for midmorning wine tasting (the wine-growing region is known most of all for its pinot noir) and a long lunch is doable by train or make a weekend of it and overnight at the Martinborough Hotel in Wairarapa's main wine village. Head back to the city for summer eats at dining institutions like Charley Noble on Post Office Square or Koji on Majoribanks Street. Veges can celebrate: Hillside on Tinakori Road delivers the very best of plant-based fine dining in a hip cottage setting. Enjoy a nightcap in Lola Rouge at Naumi Studio Wellington on Cuba Street, the city's cultural heart, before retiring to one of the hotel's zestily decorated executive suites.

Average temperature: 8 / 17 degrees

WHY: The most settled of the seasons, autumn arrives with warmth in the air and daylight on the clock. Long-standing annual festivals bring people together to kick up their heels and there's still opportunity to explore the harbour before winter sets in.

HOW: The city that brought you The Lord of the Rings has broadened its film cred. On Wellington's Kapiti Coast, north of the city, the township of Otaki welcomes movie buffs to the five-day Maoriland Film Festival, the Southern Hemisphere's largest indigenous film event held in March. Get there and back by train, bus or hire car. Watch premier screenings. Stay for workshops, music and a community vibe. Back in the city, the Newtown Festival brings live performance to an entire suburb on the first Sunday in March, while at month's end CubaDupa transforms the Cuba Quarter into a weekend street party. Yet autumn in the city extends well beyond the arts. Sign up for guided waka ama (Kiwi for outrigger canoeing) on Wellington harbour at Te Wharewaka o Poneke on the water's edge. Fergs, on Queens Wharf, runs a twilight kayaking tour - a treat on a crisp autumn night. Dockside Restaurant and Bar, Shed 5 and the Crab Shack are popular eateries on Queens Wharf, while Karaka Cafe and St Johns, also handy to the harbour, offer views of Whairepo Lagoon, named for the eagle rays that frequent the waterfront. Stay in 4.5-star comfort at the InterContinental Wellington and ask for a suite with an ocean view to eyeball the action.

Average temperature: 7 / 13 degrees

WHY: Winter's chill needn't dull the holiday vibe. From a national celebration to international rugby matches and a month-long food festival, there's a lot to warrant a cold-weather trip to the country's capital. Just be sure to pack your woollies.

HOW: New Zealand's newest public holiday, Matariki, combines remembrance and planning for the future with winter stargazing and feasting - all in homage to the Maori New Year. Head to the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, on Wellington's waterfront to get acquainted with its traditions and see the long-running Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition about World War I. Go to Sky Stadium to see the All Blacks in action and for international football. Stay handy at the Quest Apartment Hotels on Lambton Quay - it's less than a kilometre's walk to the stadium. In August, watch Sky Stadium transform into Beervana, a buzzy craft beer festival. If food, glorious food (and drink) is what you travel for, then visit the Wellington on a Plate website early to book Beervana tickets and your pick of the August festival's 100-plus events. A drag cabaret and a finger-lickingly delish four-course meal at Floriditas on Cuba Street are just for starters. Stay at Ohtel for easy access to the food offerings at Wellington's Harbourside Market, the city's oldest, held every Sunday. The four-storey boutique hotel looks out to Oriental Parade and is curated for those with finer tastes. Think: mid-century furniture and stunning New Zealand artwork throughout.