WELLINGTON
Being a Capital City, Wellington hosts a number of national headquarters. Some examples are; The National Museum - Te Papa, The National Art Gallery, National Archives, National Library, Government Buildings, Most Government Departments, The Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, National Cricket Museum, New Zealand School of Dance, and The New Zealand Cartoon Archives.
Civic Square is Wellington’s new physical heart. It is architecturally stunning, tastefully combining historic and new buildings with an unusually designed bridge linking the city to the sea and Frank Kitts Park. The square also includes the Wellington Festival and Convention Centre, the City Gallery, the Wellington Public Library, Capital Discovery Place (a children’s science and technology museum), three excellent cafes and modern council administration buildings. Perhaps the best way to truly discover the essence of Wellington is on foot. There are also a number of tours around the main highlights of the region, or alternatively it is easy to get around with a car and a map.
Cafe culture and nightlife is thriving, shopping is superb and for scenic beauty alone it would be hard to find a harbour anywhere in the world as beautiful as Wellington on a sunny day.
The central city, with hundreds of houses clinging aesthetically to the hills, is famous for its cable cars. There are approximately 50 private cable cars, (the only access these residents have to their homes), and one public cable car. It runs from the centre of the commercial area in Lambton Quay, past Victoria University and up to the top of The Botanic Garden where there is a stunning view looking out over the city. Also at the top is The NZ Astronomy Centre, and a myriad of delightful walkways through 26 hectares of trees, bush and beautiful flowers.
There are dozens of delightful and thought provoking art & craft works to view in galleries dotted around the city. They feature local and visiting collections of traditional and modern works. Wellington is also home to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, the Wellington City Opera, the NZ Drama School and four professional theatres. Needless to say there is always a rich array of top class entertainment to enjoy. There is never any need to be bored for choice with places to eat in Wellington.
Wellington actually has more eating places per head of population then New York! You can dine at a different place every day for over a year. There are dozens of intimate and kerbside cafes on offer, and any number of delicious dishes to choose from made by chefs from around the world - from Mexican to Mongolian, Thai to Lebanese, Japanese to Greek.
Another short drive out of Wellington will take you to the neighbouring cities of Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt. Just beyond Upper Hutt over the breathtaking beauty of the mountainous Rimutakas is Wairarapa, known as the ‘Capital’s Country Escape’. Here you can soak up farm life, staying at either upmarket country lodges or simple, but adequate farm cottages. There are a number of antique galleries and boutique vineyards to visit, and a very unusual limestone rock formation called the Pinnacles.
New Zealand’s capital region is such a rich tapestry of enjoyable, educational and enriching things to see and do. It’s cosmopolitan, sophisticated and fun.
