Wellington Travel Risk — Low Risk (14/100)
Is Wellington safe to visit?
Low risk. Yes, Wellington is generally safe for travelers. Standard precautions cover most situations.
Disease & health (score 10)
Natural disasters (score 25)
September 21, 2026
65%
Wellington, New Zealand has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 14 out of 100 (low risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is natural disasters at 25/100; the lowest-rated category is disease & health at 10/100; last updated September 21, 2026. This page is a baseline travel safety overview for Wellington, New Zealand, covering crime, health, government travel advisory, political stability, natural disasters, transport, environmental quality, digital security, and money safety. Real-time conditions — including today's weather, official US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines — are shown in the Live conditions section below and refreshed multiple times per day.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Wellington to visit in 2026?
Wellington currently sits at 14/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the low-risk tier. Most travelers report routine, uneventful trips and the page below covers the few category-specific things to stay alert for. The highest-rated risk category for Wellington is natural disasters (25/100), and the lowest is disease & health (10/100). This page was last updated on September 21, 2026; the baseline category scores are editorial estimates, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Sep 16, 2026
Wellington, New Zealand maintains a low risk safety profile with a baseline composite score of 14 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level of 1. Travelers should also note a Level 1 global Dengue health notice issued by the CDC. Recent headlines highlight tourism growth as Marriott expands its presence with new rooms in the city.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Sep 21, 2026 02:29 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Natural disasters (score 25/100): Check seasonal hazard (hurricane, monsoon, earthquake) for your dates. Identify hotel evacuation routes on arrival.
- Environmental quality (score 15/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Safety by traveler type in Wellington
Computed from the category scores on this page plus general best practice — not personalized advice. For guidance tuned to your exact dates, transport, and profile, run a personalized assessment.
Solo travelers
Crime risk is low, so solo travel is straightforward — keep standard awareness in crowds and on transit.
Women traveling solo
General crime risk is low. Apply the usual precautions; trust your instincts and keep someone informed of your plans. We don't hold gender-specific incident data for Wellington, so also check the live official advisory above and local women-traveler communities.
Families with children
Health/disaster risk is moderate. Check required vaccinations, note the nearest hospital on arrival, and review any seasonal hazard for your dates.
Senior travelers
Health and transport risk are low. Carry medication in original packaging and keep a copy of prescriptions.
Business travelers
Digital and money risk are low. Standard precautions on public Wi-Fi and card use are enough.
LGBTQ+ travelers
Local laws and social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ travelers vary widely by country and are not captured in our category scores. The official advisory and political indicators for Wellington are currently low — still, check country-specific legal guidance before you travel.
Baseline scores
Source: AI-enriched 2026-08-24 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) · Confidence: 65
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 21, 2026 |
Live conditions in Wellington
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Official travel advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
New Zealand - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Disaster alerts
No active GDACS disaster alerts matched New Zealand as of the last successful refresh.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-09-03
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-03-09
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-09-20 16:08:04 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent news headlines were returned for Wellington. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Wellington
The most weather-stable two-month window for Wellington is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 15°C to 18°C and monthly rain averages 53 mm.
No threshold-level heat, cold, wind, or cyclone flag appears in the stored normals; June is the wettest typical month at about 90 mm.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 24, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Wellington
Wellington has 5 hospitals, 5 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Accident and Urgent Medical Centre
- Hospital: Bowen Hospital
- Hospital: Southern Cross Wellington Hospital
- Hospital: Wakefield Hospital
- Hospital: Wellington Regional Hospital
- Police: Airport Police Station
- Police: Kilbirne Police Station
- Police: New Zealand Police Dog Section - Wellington
- Police: New Zealand Police Wellington Maritime Unit
- Police: Wellington Central Police Station
- Embassy: Embassy of Chile
- Embassy: Embassy of Ireland
- Embassy: Embassy of Japan
- Embassy: Embassy of Peru
- Embassy: Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
- Pharmacy: Alexander Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Bargain Chemist
- Pharmacy: Chemist Warehouse
- Pharmacy: Kelburn Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Terrace Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Unichem
- Pharmacy: Unichem
- Pharmacy: Unichem
- Pharmacy: Unichem
- Pharmacy: Well Works Pharmacy
- Fire station: Brooklyn Fire Station
- Fire station: Karori Fire Station
- Fire station: Newtown Fire Station
- Fire station: Thorndon Fire Station
- Fire station: Wellington City Fire Station
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (New Zealand)
| Police | 111 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 111 |
| Fire | 111 |
| General | 111 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | high |
| Emergency response | high |
| English-speaking care | high |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
Wellington features excellent healthcare infrastructure with reliable emergency services and widely available medical care. Travelers can access standard health facilities easily, though comprehensive travel insurance is always recommended for covering any unexpected medical treatment or loss of items.
Common scam patterns
- Online Accommodation Fraud. Travelers may encounter fake listings, bait-and-switch hotels, ghost rentals, and check-in fraud. These online accommodation scams tend to surface during major events, the Wellington Sevens rugby tournament, New Year's Eve, and the summer festival season. Tip: Always book accommodations through verified, reputable platforms and double-check listings before making payments.
- Fake Event Tickets and Overpriced Transport. Visitors should watch out for fake event tickets sold online and overpriced tourist transport services. There have also been instances of extreme overcharging by rogue taxi operators in the deregulated transport sector. Tip: Purchase tickets strictly through official venues and verify taxi fare structures or use vetted transport apps.
Area notes
- Te Aro & Waterfront. This cultural heart of Wellington features the Te Papa museum, cafes, and shopping, remaining very safe during the day and evening with good lighting and regular foot traffic.
- Cuba Street & CBD. A vibrant arts district with excellent walkability that is generally very safe, though visitors should avoid the upper end of Cuba Mall late at night due to occasional antisocial behavior.
- Thorndon & Kelburn. These are upscale residential areas located near Parliament that offer very high safety levels for travelers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wellington safe to visit right now?
Yes, Wellington is generally safe for travelers. Standard precautions cover most situations. Composite score: 14/100 (Low risk). Crime category sits at 15/100; pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas is the most common issue, but violent crime against tourists is uncommon. Last refreshed September 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Wellington, New Zealand?
The current US State Department advisory level for New Zealand is shown in the Live conditions section above. Always cross-check your home country's foreign-ministry advisory — for many countries the tier differs from the US assessment. Real-time advisory text is fetched every 6 hours from the US State Department RSS feed.
How safe is Wellington for tourists?
Yes, Wellington is generally safe for travelers. Standard precautions cover most situations. The biggest risk factor right now is Natural disasters (25/100). Even the highest category here is moderate, so a generally manageable risk profile with normal precautions.
What is the biggest risk in Wellington?
The highest-scoring risk category is Natural disasters (score 25/100). Even the highest category here is moderate, suggesting a generally manageable risk profile. Full 9-category breakdown is in the Scores section of this page.
Is it safe to visit Wellington in September 2026?
For September 2026, the composite risk for Wellington is 14/100 (Low risk). Live weather, disaster alerts, and news shown in the Live conditions section above are refreshed every 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the source. For an AI-synthesized briefing for your specific trip dates and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked at the top of this page.
How are these travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 based on government travel advisories (US State Dept), crime indices (Numbeo), Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (weather, advisories, news) is layered on top of every assessment.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated daily: live weather, official advisories, disaster alerts, health notices and news refresh automatically multiple times per day, and an AI safety snapshot is regenerated on the first visit each day. The baseline category scores are editorial estimates reviewed periodically (see the Transparency & Sources section below).
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Wellington?
January–February is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Wellington is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 15°C to 18°C and monthly rain averages 53 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Wellington?
The stored 1991-2020 normals do not cross this site's seasonal hazard thresholds; check a short-range forecast before departure.
Run a personalized assessment for Wellington
Get a tailored briefing in ~15 seconds, with live weather, advisories, and recent news.
Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Auto-enrichment from Ollama-grounded AI (https://kakapo.travel/blog/city/is-wellington-new-zealand-safe | https://www.isitsafetovisit.com/cities/wellington | https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-community/keeping-sa) AI-enriched 2026-08-24 (Ollama-grounded + Jina full text, cited; pending editorial verification) |
50% |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 18 | low | initial snapshot Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (round 2: Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + GPI + EPI references) |
65% |
Every editorial change to Wellington's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
Transparency & Sources
We try to be honest about what we know, what we estimated, and what we don't have. Below is the audit trail for this page.
Review status
verified
Last reviewed
2026-08-24 02:35:36
Data confidence
65%
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Wellington
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
What is estimated
- Composite tier and category scores are an editorial baseline estimate, not a real-time measurement.
What is unavailable
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Data review process · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.