Yes, Wellington Airport (WLG) has two designated outdoor smoking areas just outside its single terminal, one on the departures level and one on arrivals.
Smoking Areas at Wellington Airport
Wellington Airport (“Wellywood”) runs a single compact terminal that handles both domestic and international flights from the same building. New Zealand’s Smoke-Free Environments Act bans smoking and vaping inside all enclosed terminal areas, so both designated areas sit outdoors on the ground-level curbside, set away from the main doors.
Designated Outdoor Areas:
- Departures Level — Outside Door 5: Near Check-in Zone C. This spot is roofed, giving some cover from Wellington’s famously windy, wet weather — the more sheltered of the two in a southerly.
- Arrivals Level — Outside Door 11: Near McDonald’s and the rental car desks. This area is uncovered, open-air with no shelter.
Vaping: E-cigarettes and heat-not-burn devices follow the same rule as cigarettes, so use the Door 5 or Door 11 areas; vaping inside the terminal is not permitted.
Before Security Only:
There is no airside (post-security) smoking area at Wellington Airport. Both areas are outside the terminal, before you pass through security — so smoke before you head to your gate. Once airside, you cannot smoke until you land at your destination; on a connecting flight you would clear back out to the curbside area and re-screen for your onward departure.
For New Zealand airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and cigarette prices, see our New Zealand smoking guide.