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WELLINGTON

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. -

Wellington - city & harbor view at dusk from Mt. Victoria.
Photo credit: Ian Trafford - Tourism New Zealand

Attractions in Wellington city:
• 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
 

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.
• 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.
 
• 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.

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 Lodgings:
           IN WELLINGTON CITY        ON THE KAPITI COAST

Classic central Wellington town house
Bed & Breakfast lodging.
Photo © Home At First
 

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: • 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.
 
• 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

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
 

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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