Wellington [1] is the capital city of New Zealand. It is a harbour city nicknamed Windy Wellington and promotes itself as "Absolutely Positively Wellington". Its motto "Suprema a situ" claims site supremacy - with some justification.

[Edit] About Welli

Wellington, known as New Zealand’s arts and culture capital, offers an unmatched blend of culture, heritage, fine food, and lively arts and entertainment.

Surrounded by hills and a rugged coastline, the city boasts a stunning harbour. Wellington’s charm is that it serves up a vibrant inner city experience with a slice of New Zealand scenery. And because of its compact nature, you can sample it all - boutique shopping, art galleries, trendy cafes and restaurants. Right on its doorstep is a network of walking and biking trails with beautiful wineries and vineyards just a few hours away.

Wellington is a city that brims with energy and vitality, it offers an almost overwhelming array of theatre, music, dance, fine arts and galleries and museums. It is also home to one of the nation’s key attractions, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which is recognised as a world leader of interactive and innovative museum experiences.

Wellington offers a unique mix of experiences few cities could lay claim to. With so many options at your fingertips, you’ll need at least three days to slip into the groove of this amazing place.

[Edit] How To Get in

[Edit] By air

Wellington International Airport [2] is in Rongotai, about 5 km from the central city. It sits on an isthmus between the Miramar peninsula and Mount Victoria. The southerly approach is over Cook Strait, while the northerly approach is over the harbor.

Wellington airport is a major transit point for domestic travellers. There are frequent flights to Auckland]], Christchurch, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton, Nelson, Blenheim and many other destinations. International flights from Australia Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, arrive about twice daily - the evening flights arrive after midnight when most facilities are closed.

Landing at Wellington Airport in a strong cross-wind can be an adventure, and most pilots adopt a powered approach for approach, followed by a full reverse thrust and hard braked landing due to the shortness of the runway. This tends to create a rollercoaster ride, so make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened.

There is a regular airport bus known as the Flyer that departs from the south end of the domestic terminal until 9pm. Shuttle van services, taxis and covered carparking are directly outside the terminal. When you get to the airport, call the Metlink hotline at 0800 801700. They answer very quickly and a friendly person will tell you what bus to take and even what special pass to buy (for example, if after the "Flyer" you are taking a train) if you let them know where you are going.

[Edit] By boat

There are regular ferries between Wellington and Picton, connecting with buses and the train to Christchurch. Cruise ships from overseas often stop in Wellington.

[Edit] By road

There are only two major roads into Wellington, but they are the top two: State Highways 1 & 2. State Highway One follows the western coast to the north, and State Highway two heads north-east through the Hutt Valley, over the Rimutaka Ranges to the Wairarapa. Both roads are initially a motorway, but after approx 20kms turn into single lane highway as they negotiate difficult terrain. While local authorities are working on improvements, serious and fatal crashes are common on these roads - remember to keep left, keep to a reasonable speed, and to use the passing bays to overtake slower traffic.

Drivers using the Rimutaka Hill road must be alert to extreme wind and weather, especially in winter. The road can close several times a year due to snowfall near the summit. Also drive carefully when descending as crashes have occured where vehicles brakes have overheated and drivers have been unable to slow for sharp corners.

Hitchhiking from central Wellington is difficult as most traffic stays within the metropolitan area, and it is illegal to hitchhike on the motorway until the Hutt Valley (about 15km north-east of Wellington) or Paremata (about 20km north). If intending to hitchhike, you are best to catch a train to Paraparaumu or Upper Hutt then walk to the main highways to catch a lift from there. Using a sign will help in matching a willing driver and destination.

Be aware that a few hitchhikers, including tourists, have been attacked or murdered in New Zealand. While usually no problems occur, always be aware, and try to travel in pairs to reduce your risk.

[Edit] By train

There is a train service between Wellington and Auckland. There are daily commuter services from Palmerston North and Masterton and a generally half-hourly suburban commuter service to Johnsonville, the Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti coast.

[Edit] How To Get around

It is easy to get around the central city on foot, as is very compact and pedestrian-friendly. In addition, New Zealand's best public transit network—in the form of buses, commuter trains, and suburban ferries—is available to take you further afield, or if you just don't feel like hoofing it.

[Edit] What To See

• Te Papa, [3]. The national museum. Particularly good if you have children to entertain on a rainy day. Free (except for the occasional special presentation).
• Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queens Wharf, [4]. 10am-5pm every day except 25 December. A well-presented museum of the history of Wellington, including its maritime history. Free.
• City Gallery, Civic Square. Lacks a permanent collection but runs a consistently avant-garde set of exhibits. It also has the excellent cafe Nikau attached to it.
• The Wellington Cable Car, from Lambton Quay (next to the McDonald's), 04 472 2199, [5]. Open 7 days until 10pm. The easiest way to get a nice view of the city and harbor, the Cable Car runs on rails from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Garden in Kelburn every ten minutes. $2.50 one way, $4.50 return (Concession prices are available for children, students and senior citizens over 65)
• Frank Kitts Park. A great place to wander around, with walls to climb, inline skates, and jet ski rental.
• Lookout points - Wellington City is surrounded by hills, so there are a number of good vantage points:
  • Mount Victoria. (196 metres) The best lookout in Wellington. The full 360-degree view is a great place to see the the airport, the harbor, the CBD and the Town Belt with just a turn of the head. It takes about an hour to walk up from Courtenay Place. Many tourist buses go there but also a lot of the locals.
  • Mount Kaukau. (445 metres) Another great lookout point, not as close to the city as Mt Victoria [6].
  • Wrights Hill. More views, and WWII underground tunnels which are open to the public on public holidays for a small fee.
  • Brooklyn Windmill. Another great place to go to get an excellent view of the city, the harbour, and Cook Strait.
  • Massey Memorial An interesting place to go if you want to see a large memorial in the middle of nowhere, with a good view of the surrounding harbour.
• Karori Cemetery is an interesting picnic spot.
• Elmscourt an historic art deco apartment block on the corner of The Terrace and Abel Smith Street.
• Oriental Parade. A new beach. However if you are not from somewhere really cold it is unlikely that it will be hot enough for you to be in desperate need for a swim. There is a spa pool (jacuzzi) in Freyberg Swimming pool (on Oriental Parade) which is inexpensive if you enjoy "people soup".
• Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, end of Waiapu Rd, (first left after the Karori Tunnel), [7]. 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm) every day except 25 December. A predator-proof fence encloses an old water catchment area, forming a mainland island that provides a natural haven for endangered native birds, tuatara, wētā, and other indigenous flora and fauna, safe from introduced predators. By far the most convenient place in the country to see rare New Zealand wildlife. Adult $12, child $5, more for guided tours.
• Plimmer's Ark. Under and in the Old Bank Arcade on the corner of Lambton Quay and Customhouse Quay - near Plimmer's Steps. A hundred years ago a Bank was built on top of a wrecked ship that had been used as a market. When they renovated the building they discovered the ship's timbers and preserved the remains in the building! Just take the escalator down through the bank vault doors.
• Parliament Buildings, the Beehive (or Executive Wing), and the Parliamentary Library. The grounds of Parliament are open to the public. Known as the hill, Parliament grounds are at the foot of Molesworth and Bowen Streets, where they meet Lambton Quay.
• National Library of New Zealand, corner of Aitken and Molesworth Streets (across the road from the Cathedral and Parliament), [8]. The library regularly holds exhibitions.
• Turnbull House, Bowen Street (just across the road from Parliament Buildings). This imposing brick mansion now seems small and out of place amongst the surrounding high-rises.
• Image:Govt buildings wellington.jpg

  The Old Government Buildings, with the cenotaph in the foreground and NZ Post headquarters behind.
  Old Government Buildings opposite Parliament at 15 Lambton Quay. This is the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere and the second-largest in the world. It is now the home of Victoria University Law School.
• Old St Paul's, (one block east of Parliament). This was the Anglican center for decades. Superseded by the new cathedral north of Parliament, this one is popular for weddings and funerals.
• Statues and sculptures appear in some intriguing places around town. Famous prime ministers, memorials, and works of art have all been erected in the streets of Wellington, including:
  • Memorial statues to two prime ministers in the grounds of Parliament as well as a bicentennial memorial to Captain Cook's 1769 discovery of New Zealand.
  • The Cenotaph on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, just outside the Parliament Grounds, is where a Dawn Memorial Service is held every ANZAC Day (25 April).
  • Behind Parliament, on the corner of Museum and Bowen Streets, is a small park with 3 sculptures in block.
  • On the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street, the fallen column has not come off the nearby building but is a work of art.
  • On Lambton Quay, opposite Cable Car Lane, the two stainless steel monoliths with pimples are actually a poem in braille!
  • Where Lambton Quay meets Featherston Street there is a wind mobile.
  • The Bucket Fountain [9] in Cuba Mall - a real splash, for many years.
  • The Wellington City Council website provides a guide to its public art: Wellington City Council Public Art Guide.

• Wellington Central Library, (in the city square, next to the information centre), [10]. It's huge with great places to sit and read or if you bring your laptop to connect home via one of the city's paid-for wi-fi networks. Entry is free.
• Sommes Island Out in the middle of the bay, this island has its share of history. It was once a quarantine station for immigrants, and later (and more extensively) for animals. It was also an internment camp for "dangerous" individuals during both World Wars. The ferry leaves from Queen's Warf and Day's Bay (on opposite sides of the harbour). Only at certain times will the ferry stop at the island and only upon request. The best choice is to leave Queen's warf at noon and return at 2:30 or 3:25. Cost is $18.50 adults

[Edit] What To Do

• The Botanic Garden is a nice place to go for a picnic, or just an afternoon walk. You can take the Cable Car from Lambton Quay for a quick 5-minute trip to the top; but it is not designed to be exciting, despite being photogenic. If you're keen on walking up, take the lifts in the The James Cook Arcade (or one of several others along Lambton Quay) up to The Terrace, head south uphill until you reach Salamanca Rd. Head uphill up Salamanca Rd until you reach Victoria University. A set of stairs on the opposite side of the road to the Hunter Lawn goes uphill right to the top of the Gardens. If you already shelled out for a Daytripper ticket, just catch the Mairangi bus, get off at the stop after the University, and walk back along Upland Rd until you reach the Cable Car Museum. At the top of the Gardens, there are several attractions:
  • The Cable Car Museum has two of the old cars in semi-restored and fully-restored condition and some of the original Cable Car machinery from the system that was replaced in 1978.
  • The Lookout has a great view day or night, and the large map next to the round tree usually has a few pamphlets with maps of the Gardens.
  • The Carter Observatory is a stones throw from here. This is the perfect place to explore the Garden from, or wander back to the city.
• Bolton Street Memorial Park. Watch out for the friendly black cat who haunts this hillside cemetery. If you're returning from the Botanic Gardens by foot, this is great place to meander through and check out the epitaphs of early pioneers and historical figures. Bolton Cemetery.
• Red Rocks/ Seal Colony. This is an interesting walk named for its distinctive red rocks (probably Jasper). Take the number 1 bus to the end (Island Bay). Walk across the park towards the ocean and hang a right. There is another bus, number 4, that goes to the end of the road, but only at certain times. Travel west (right side, if faceing the water) until you run out of road. Here you will find a disused quarry and a soon-to-open visitors center. The walk along this beach is pleasant but rocky and often very windy, so dress accordingly. If one walks for about 1 hour you will come across a distinctive pass though the rock face. Just on the other side of this is a seal colony that is worth the walk. Please bear in mind that these are wild animals and so require a certain level of respect, so keep your distance and do not get between them and the sea, especially if you value your health! Continuing on from here, you will eventually arrive at Makara (but this is a long distance, and the seal colony is a recommended turn-around point).
• Circa Theatre. [11].
• Bats Theatre. [12].
• Downstage Theatre. [13].
• The Embassy Theatre. [14].
• Beck's Incredible Film Festival. Incredibly strange, exploitation cinema and extra low budget movies.
• Festival of the Arts. February/March every two years. Next festival is 2008. Festival of the Arts (NZ).
• Comedy Festival.
• Fringe Festival. [15].
• Out in the Square [16]]. Annual gay and lesbian carnival held in 'Civic Square' on the first Saturday of March.
• Proud [17]]. Annual gay pride festival, Proud '08 is due in September 2008.
• Dance Music. [18].
• Dive the frigate Wellington (F69). Probably the world's most accessible dive wreck. Just a few kilometres around the coast from Wellington International Airport. Sunk on 13 November 2005 in 23 to 26 metres of water off Island Bay on Wellington's south coast. The wreck lies about 600 metres southeast of Taputeranga Island (the island of Island Bay) at 41° 21'.270 S., 174° 46'.770 E.
• Cuba Street Carnival. Wellington's largest free street festival is held biennially in late February. [19].
• Take a ferry accros the harbour. Go down to Queen's Warf and check out the destinations and times.