Welcome to Wellington
Wellington City
New Zealand's capital city sits in the perfect location - between beautiful rolling green hills and gardens and a wide harbour that welcomes visitors arriving via Cook Strait with open arms. Any high vantage point among the sprawling Wellington suburbs will give you a view of a skyline that is unbeaten anywhere else in New Zealand-take a ride on the cable car to see the city at its best. Indoor and outdoor theatrical and musical events are well catered for by the many wharf spaces just two minutes walk from the main street, and old boatsheds converted to cafes and restaurants complete this space that is the pride and joy of the city.
Wellington is home to a wide variety of arts, cultural and heritage attractions including the national museum, Te Papa. This huge building is located in the southern waterfront area, a pleasant walk across the overbridge and through open paved picnic spaces from the central shopping area. But Te Papa is more than just a museum-it uses cutting-edge technology to create interactive experiences and innovative ways to explore Maori and colonial history and learn about New Zealand's natural environment. Walk through living native bush, be shaken in the Earthquake House, try a virtual bungy jump or travel into the past or the future. Children will be entertained for hours in the hands-on children's Discovery Centres, while you can relax and enjoy lunch and a coffee at one of the museum cafes. Te Papa houses many art displays and exhibitions, both modern and historic, permanent and visiting.
Wellington is a popular destination for those with an interest in art and fashion. Every year in spring the city is gripped by what has become a New Zealand icon, the World of Wearable Arts. New Zealander designers display creations that bridge fashion and art, and, sometimes, the real and the surreal. The works are modelled and judged in a week-long event then paraded through the streets. Many visitors, international and domestic, come to shop and marvel at the variety of fashions stores and unique creations available. See at the unique bohemian and retro items available at the boutique stores along Cuba St, or the elegant, sophisticated fashion shops on Tinakori Rd.
A shopping area with a difference is the Old Bank Shopping Arcade. One of the city's most attractive heritage buildings has been restored and converted to a premier shopping precinct, giving you the opportunity to experience a world of history and style. Twenty-eight top retailers are based in the old bank building, including some of New Zealand's brightest new stars in the world of fashion. But look under your feet and see a piece of true Wellington history. Located on what was the shoreline in the mid 1800s, the foundations of the building are set among the ruins of the Inconstant, a ship sailed from England in 1849 which was bought by one of the city's pioneers, John Plimmer, when it came aground on rocks. Parts of the ship are visible through glass panels set into the building's floor, and its owner can be seen depicted in bronze, with his dog, at the foot of Plimmer's Steps just a few metres further along Lambton Quay.
While shopping, take advantage of the wonderful cafes and delicatessens you will find tucked away along every street - the city's downtown area matches New York with the number of cafes and restaurants per head. It should hardly come as a surprise, then, that Wellington is also well-known for its nightlife. Visit the bars and clubs on Courtenay Place and the music venues around town for some of the best live acts you will see anywhere in New Zealand.
Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast, 45 minutes drive north along the coast from Wellington, is home to wild beaches, gourmet food experiences and some of the country's most spectacular golf courses. In just one afternoon of scenic drives you can truly experience the diverse and relaxed spirit of the greater Wellington region.
Wellington's Iconic Cable Car