If you're looking to find a weekend escape with spectacular mountainous views, friendly locals and without hordes of tourists cramming the streets then it's well worth taking advantage of the current dirt-cheap trans-Tasman fares and booking yourself a few days in Wellington, New Zealand.

It's hard to describe exactly what makes this city so appealing but once you're there, you become immersed in its welcoming population, arty vibe and rich Maori history.

Wellington isn't a typical capital city filled with busy streets where people rush about with no time for anything or anyone else. There is no pretention here; the people are so friendly that it's more like a home away from home then a foreign holiday destination.

There's also plenty to do and see. Wellington has beautiful scenery, great restaurants and funky bars and cafes. Here are some ideas on how to spend your Wellington weekend.

Lord of the Rings tours

If you just can't get enough of Middle-earth, there are several tours you can go on to relive the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Flat Earth New Zealand experiences will show you the trilogy's filming locations, including Rivendell, the Gardens of Isengard, Helms Deep and Anduin River. Discover your inner hobbit by hiding under a tree in Buckland Forest and pretending you're being chased by Nazguls. Weta Cave and Rings Tour can take you right into the heart of the movie set with a mini-museum featuring the characters, props and displays that were actually used in the trilogy, including a screening of an exclusive behind-the-scenes film.

For more information, visit Flat Earth.

Te Papa Museum

It would be a shame to visit Wellington and not learn more about the city's history and Maori culture. Te Papa is an innovative and interactive national museum that features some of the most fascinating stories behind the nation. Cower in a replica house to experience the effect of a 7.5 Richter-scale earthquake or get up-close to the only 495kg squid on display in the world. The museum occasionally offers special international exhibitions from Egyptian mummies to art exhibitions from the likes of Monet and the Impressionists.

For more information, visit Te Papa.

Explore the harbour front

Wellington is blessed with one of the most beautiful harbours in New Zealand, with silhouettes of mountains stretching behind it as far as the eye can see. Take in the view with a coffee or lunch at the various cafes dotted along the foreshore, or take a leisurely stroll along the harbour and stop at Oriental Bay Beach for some fun in the sand. The Writers Walk takes you around the city's historic artistic monuments, or if you're willing to brave the waves, you can take a kayak out on the harbour. It's so full of wildlife that it's quite possible to have penguins actually jump over the bows of your kayak while you're out on the water.

For more information, visit Fergs Kayaks.

Cuba Street

Cuba Street is one of the most prominent streets in the city, featuring some of the city's best eclectic shopping, boutiques, bars, clubs, cafes and funky restaurants. Art galleries dotted along the street hold rolling art exhibitions, and various local fairs and city celebrations are also held here. If you are in town at the right time, it's worth checking out the Cuba Street Carnival and the Rugby Sevens (both held in February), and the Wearable Arts Festival (September). The festivals can draw crowds of up to 150,000 people all dressed up in costumes and ready for some copious partying on the streets.

For more information, visit Wellington Event Calendar.

The Matterhorn and Mighty Mighty

Without the pretention of big city bars, the clubs and bars in Wellington are relaxed and friendly. There are plenty of music venues to take in some local performances, but a good place to start is The Matterhorn and its attached music venue, Mighty Mighty.

The Matterhorn is somewhat of an institution for Wellingtonians and plays host to everyone from local and international musicians to local DJs. New Zealand dub band, Fat Freddy's Drop, played their first Wellington gig here before they made it big on the international scene.

The Matterhorn is one of the most established bars in the city and boasts a guest list of passing A-listers who've dropped in during their time in Wellington, including Sir Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Gordon Ramsay, Adrian Brody, Naomi Watts and Liv Tyler.

For more information, visit The Matterhorn.

Shopping

The local fashion boutiques are perfect for picking up a few items from New Zealand designers like Karen Walker and Kate Sylvester. Many of the boutique and commercial chain stores are located in the compact downtown shopping district, and the best places to begin a shopping spree are Lambton Quay and Willis, Wakefield and Cuba streets.

For more information, visit Shopping in Wellington.

Mt Victoria Lookout

To get a bird's-eye view of the city, a trip to Mt Victoria lookout is well worth the trek and it won't cost you a cent. Along with the San Francisco-style themed houses and picturesque landscapes of surrounding mountains, you'll see the enormous Interislander ships that ferry everything from people to cargo to massive trains from Wellington to the top of South Island. If you are thinking of heading to the South Island, the journey takes three hours and lands you at Picton, the starting point of many New Zealand wine trails.

For more information, visit Mount Victoria Lookout and Interislander.

Have you tried any of the places on this itinerary? Got any ideas we haven't thought of? Have your say using the comments form below.