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Volcanic
hills circumscribe its nearly circular harbor, protecting Wellington from
the stormy currents of the Cook
Strait that marks the southern terminus of the North
Island. At the base of the hills glass and steel
high-rises form
the curtain wall
of New Zealand's modern capital. Further uphill and away from the harbor
apex
are tight rows of
classic wooden Wellington townhouses colorful and prim
in bright pastels and gleaming alabaster.
The business of
government has not hi-jacked this very residential city,
but reinforces its place as a cultural center
with some of
New Zealand's most important museums and theaters with a
lifestyle of casual elegance reflected in its affinity
for ocean sailing, clubby golf, fashionable shops, excellent
regional wines, fine dining, and smart open-air cafés.
PHOTOS © HOME AT FIRST,
EXCEPT "ORIENTAL BAY TOWNHOUSES" (WellingtonNZ.com),
"TASTING ROOM OUTDOOR CAFE" (Nick Servian, NZ Tourism), and "CITY AT
NIGHT FROM MT. VICTORIA" (WellingtonNZ.com).
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Wellington and its
region offer great museums, a magnificent harbor,
miles of empty beaches,
world class golf, trendy boutique wineries, an
important off-shore wildlife preserve, and connections to the South
Island.
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Wellington - city &
harbor view at dusk from Mt. Victoria.
Photo credit: Ian
Trafford - Tourism New Zealand |
Attractions in Wellington
city:
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Wellington's
harbor district is now
the city's central attraction, offering
several fine museums,
restaurants, a
broad bathing beach, kayaking in the
harbor, and strolling along the
harbor's
long promenade.
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New Zealand's parliament building,
known as the Beehive for it unusual
architecture may be visited.
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SHOPPING & DINING:
center city
Wellington offers many stores,
galleries, restaurants, and open-air
cafés.
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THE BOTANIC GARDENS:
take Wellington's famous cable car up Kelburn Hill to
explore the city's famous hilltop Botanic Gardens.
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MT. VICTORIA:
A high point (literally) for many visitors is the winding drive up Mt.
Victoria to the park at the top. Park the car. Enjoy a walk with an
unforgettable view of Wellington, its harbor, and the nearly surrounding
barrier mountains.
Wellington: cable car on Kelburn Hill by
Botanic Gardens. |
Photo credit: Ian
Trafford - Tourism New Zealand
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Kapiti Island gives its
name to the west coast of the
North Island of New Zealand north of Wellington.
The island is a nature reserve & bird
sanctuary.
Photo © Home
At First |
Attractions Outside of
Wellington City:
Broad,
empty beaches, windswept dunes, links golf courses, and a noted wildlife
sanctuary are found along the Kapiti Coast of the Tasman Sea north of
Wellington.
The valleys east of Wellington offer
outdoor activities and a small but notable wine producing region at
Martinborough.
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GOLF ON THE KAPITI COAST: The west coast
north of Wellington offers three excellent
golf courses:
Paraparaumu Beach,
Levin
Championship Links, and
Waikanae G.C.
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• KAPITI ISLAND
NATURE RESERVE: The important
offshore Kapiti Island
nature preserve
and bird sanctuary
offers only 50 visitors each day the opportunity to see many of
New Zealand's unusual birds in pristine habitat.
A visitor's permit must be secured
before making boat reservations to the island.
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North and east of
Wellington are scenic parklands for
hiking and picnicking in the hills
of the Upper Hutt Valley, and the small but
well-respected regional
Wineries clustered
in the town
of Martinborough. |
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Lodgings: Top quality bed and breakfast lodgings in and near the
lively center of
Wellington and in leafy suburban beach towns along the Kapiti
Coast within an hour's drive of downtown
Wellington. All
HOME AT FIRST Wellington
lodgings are in locations ideal for exploring
Wellington city and the region.
Regardless of location, all
HOME AT FIRST
lodgings provide quality accommodations (as a minimum: comfortable
bedroom with private bathroom), a scrumptious breakfast daily, and
gracious hosts eager to help their guests enjoy a successful visit to
the Wellington region.
See Sample Lodging. |
Classic central
Wellington town house
Bed & Breakfast lodging.
Photo © Home
At First
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Boarding Air New
Zealand's domestic shuttle
at Wellington Airport. The scenic flight to
Nelson on the South Island takes just 35
minutes and is rarely affected by weather.
Flying does cost more (NZ$20-NZ$70 more
per person), but the convenience, comfort,
and reliability make flying the better choice.
Photo © Home
At First |
Getting to/from the Wellington region:
HOME
AT FIRST guests will travel by rental car, normally coming
from Rotorua/Taupo or from
Hawke's Bay. Expect a
scenic 5-8 hour drive from
these points, depending upon route taken, origination point, and destination. Most guests
will depart Wellington by air for the
South Island
of New Zealand, after dropping their rental cars at the Wellington airport.
Alternatively, ferry services depart Wellington harbor for Picton on the
South Island several times each day. Ferries, however, require 3-3½
hours for the crossing, which can be uncomfortable (or even cancelled)
by conditions on the notorious Cook Strait. From Picton the drive to
Nelson takes at least 2 hours; to Christchurch at least 5 hours.
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Getting around Wellington & the region:
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GUESTS STAYING IN
Wellington can use
rental car or park the car and use local
buses for in-town transport. Area roads
are
well-maintained and well-signed, but
—especially during
the commuter rush —
heavily traveled.
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guests staying along the kapiti coast
need their rental cars for
exploring the
region, but can take public transporta-
tion (bus & train)
into central Wellington
to avoid parking and traffic congestion.
Trains
operate frequently (usually hourly)
and are fed by local buses on
coordina-
ted schedules. Fares are reasonable. |
Colorful houses line
Wellington's Oriental Parade.
The winding, harborside boulevard is heavily
traveled. Wellington, like San Francisco, is crowded
among several steep hills that line a great harbor.
In town, expect hilly driving, a warren of one-
way streets, limited parking, and lots of traffic.
Photo © Home
At First |
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New
Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is
located along the harbor promenade on the Wellington waterfront. In good
weather a
visit to Te Papa is easily combined with
a stroll along the waterfront and visits
to other museums and restaurants.
Photo © Home
At First
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Rainy Day Activities: Wellington's
climate is normally friendly, but on the odd rainy days the city has
plenty to offer, especially:
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TE PAPA: New Zealand's national
museum is a
treasure house of all things Kiwi, including a
wealth of native Maori history and culture.
Plan to give the 5-story museum at least 2-4
hours. Open daily. Admission is free, but
parking is not.
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THE BEEHIVE: New Zealand's
parliament building
offers free hour-long guided tours, plus the
chance to observe the House of Representa-
tives in action. Admission is free, but parking
is not. Open daily, except holidays, but best
to visit on weekdays, when the House may be
in session. |
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HOME AT FIRST IS
A DESIGNATED "KIWI SPECIALIST"
TOUR OPERATOR BY THE NEW ZEALAND TOURISM
BOARD.
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