Wellington Overview
By Roz Andrews
On the southern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Wellington, the country’s capital, is an ideal place to explore before taking the ferry over the Cook Strait to the South Island.
Bring a sweater with you, as Wellington’s location on the ‘roaring forties’ latitude means that winds sweep through the city, cooling the temperature.
The modern Beehive Parliament building is probably Wellington’s most well-known landmark. Take a free guided tour of the Beehive, the Edwardian Parliament House, and the Parliamentary Library to learn about their history and the political system of New Zealand.
With a variety of interactive exhibitions, the extensive Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which means ‘Our Place’ in the Maori language, is not to be missed. Encounter the culture of New Zealand’s first settlers by removing your shoes and stepping inside a traditional Maori meeting house. Walk through diverse New Zealand landscapes with a lagoon, a waterfall and volcanic features, and explore New Zealand’s natural world through a collection of native plants and animals.
For panoramic views of the city, take the Wellington Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden and the Carter Observatory.
After dark, Courtenay Place, in the waterfront area, is the city’s main evening entertainment hub, offering a variety of bars, restaurants, theaters and nightclubs. Go!
