Xmas survival guide: What’s open when everything closes?
Wednesday, 24 December 2025
We can all agree Christmas Day is spiritually uplifting - but if eating too much and then collapsing into a post-feast snore-coma isn’t really your style, what else is there to do in Wellington when almost everything is closed?
If you like burgers and golf, you’re luck. You’ve had slices of ham, turkey smothered in gravy, and maybe even a cheeky figgy pudding - but if you’re still peckish, McDonald’s has you covered
“They’re all open, normal hours,” says a spokesperson from the fast-food giant.
But maybe you want to burn off Christmas lunch instead. Tee it up, there are golf slots aplenty.
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Among courses taking online Yuletide bookings are Shandon, Titahi, Karori, Waikanae, Martinborough, Ōtaki, Manawatu, Riversdale, Pahiatua, Feilding, Rangitikei and Marton.
Walking 18 holes carrying your clubs takes off 1000-1500 calories, pretty helpful when a slice of Christmas cake settles in at 250-400, a mince pie 300 and a roast turkey sandwich 350.
And unlike the rest of New Zealand, lower North Islanders look to be getting golf-style or beach bashing nicer weather, MetService meteorologist John Law says.
“Much of the weather stays either side of Wellington giving us a dry and sunny looking day,” he says before turning a wee bit Christmas Grinch-like.
“However, it wouldn’t quite be Wellington without some winds and as we head though Christmas Day we will be seeing the northwesterlies strengthening,” he says.
“Those northwesterly winds will also be bringing cloudier skies for the western facing coasts for Porirua up to the Kāpiti Coast and a few showers for the end of the day.”
Boxing Day will be wet and windy, before getting better later on. At least The Post comes out that day, unlike on Christmas Day.
Temperatures in the capital are set to reach 20°C on Christmas Day, just a little above average for the time of year (19C), while Masterton will hit 23°C.
Back to food. KFC has its Kent Terrace, Lower Hutt and Porirua branches open.
As a restricted trading day, most people get Christmas Day off work to spend with their loved ones.
Only businesses offering essential services are able to trade - so dairies, petrol stations, pharmacies, cafés, and restaurants.
The Post was unable to find a Pizza Hut or Hell Pizza open in Wellington, though Hell Pizza Palmerston North will be, from 4pm to 9pm.
If you are looking for a Christmas lunch or dinner, you still have a chance (but you’ve left it a bit late and very few seats are available at the likely suspects)
Oak & Vine Restaurant manager Amit Kumar says he is putting on a Christmas buffet: “We are sold out for lunch, dinner is busy but at this stage we could get three or four more in”.
Frankie's Bar + Eatery at Wellington Quarter Hotel does lunch and dinner, but it would pay to call, and try to grab a reservation.
On Lambton Quay, The Old Bailey has two sessions (11.30 and 2.30 prebooked and prepaid) of a Christmas Day special lunch.
It offers a full buffet, ham, turkey, king salmon, roast beef and beetroot Wellington for vegetarians.
Unlike the likes of Christchurch, where Hoyts movie theatres are open on Christmas Day, in Wellington no theatres are. Avatar: Fire and Ash will have to wait.
If dining out isn’t your thing—or you’ve already overdone it - Wellington’s outdoors offer plenty of free goodies, and a heady on-tap supply of oxygen.
Ride your new trail bike up Mount Victoria dressed in your lycra, scoot along the waterfront, wander the Botanic Garden, or savour a stroll along Oriental Bay.
Or, let’s be honest … flop on the sofa and embrace the holiday coma.
No judgment here.