This is a list of ten great things to do while visiting Wellington, New Zealand. Included are parks, a zoo, gardens, and guided tours.
The beautiful city of Wellington is the capitol of New Zealand and has a population of 160,000 people. The city is surrounded by a scenic harbor, sandy beaches, and rolling hillsides. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was filmed near the city. Wellington has a mild and sunny climate and is great for surfing, swimming, and other outdoor activities. Within the city limits you will find unique shops, art galleries, and fine dining. If you are planning a trip to Wellington, here is a list of ten interesting things to do while you are there.
Museum of Wellington City and Sea: This museum focuses on the heritage of Wellington both land and sea. Some featured exhibits at this gallery include the Wellington Gallery, the By the Sea We Live Gallery, and the Wellington a Century Ago Gallery. One special feature of this museum is a tall viewing screen that displays short movies every 40 minutes. These movies are viewable no matter where you are in the museum. They also have a museum shop, many public special events, and group tours. The museum is located on Queen's Wharf in Wellington.
Lord of the Rings Site Seeing Tour: Many companies offer tours of the filming sites for the Lord of the Rings movies. One of these tours is the Rover Ring Tour. This tour will take you through places from the movie such as Outskirts of the Shire, Village of Bree, River Anduin, Helms Deep, and many more. These day tours are taken in small groups and include a stop at The Chocolate Fish Cafe and Miramar Peninsula. Then the tour continues on through Hutt River, Harcourt Park, and Kaitoke Regional Park. The mailing address for this company is P.O. Box 11-167, Wellington, New Zealand.
New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts: This museum features some of the best artworks in New Zealand. This gallery presented its first exhibit in 1892. Exhibits often feature paintings and photographs by native New Zealand artists. The museum is located at 1 Queens Wharf in Wellington.
Te Papa Tongarewa: Te Papa is the national museum of New Zealand. It offers a comprehensive view of the history and lifestyle that defines New Zealand. Some exciting exhibits featured here are Mana Whenua, The Marae, Golden Days, and Mountains to Sea. Blastback is a motion simulation ride that takes you through a visual recreation of how New Zealand was formed. The children's area has four different areas for interactive learning, story telling, and many special activities. They offer guided tours, a cafe, coffee bar, and many short-term exhibits. The Te Papa is located on Cable Street in Wellington.
Wellington Zoo: This zoo is home to over 400 animals. Some of the featured animals at this zoo are otters, tigers, monkeys, pelicans, lemurs, camels, lions, giraffes, cheetahs, and baboons. They offer close encounters with some of their animals guided by one of the zookeepers. They also offer sleepovers and a kid's center. They have a food kiosk, vending machines, Zoolittle shop, and picnic areas available. The Wellington Zoo is located on Daniell Street in Newtown, Wellington.
Stagland Wildlife Preserve: This preserve was founded in 1972. Some of the natural habitats protected here are the Forest Wetlands, Kea Gully, the Trout Pool, Riverbank Retreat, and the Whio Waterfalls. They have a deer park, stables, the Secret Garden, Stagland's Lookout, and the Old Bush Settlement. The Country Cafe offers food and drink for visitors along with a BBQ for picnics. The Stagland Preserve is located in Akatarawa Valley north of Wellington.
The Cricket Museum of New Zealand: The museum is located at New Zealand's oldest cricket grounds in Wellington. The history of cricket is laid out in a comprehensive exhibit. The nature of the game and the impact it has had on New Zealand are evident from the memorabilia displayed here. They also have an extensive collection of books about cricket. The museum is open daily from the months of November through April. From May to October, it is open on weekends only. The address for the museum is Old Grandstand, Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary: Here you will find many species of native New Zealand birds, plants, and insects in a protected environment. Endangered species are released into the preserve to help them rebuild their numbers. The Karori Sanctuary is entered through the Visitor Centre. Here guides will greet you and tell you what you will find as you explore the area. You can walk through on your own, or take a guided tour. You can also return for a nighttime tour. The sanctuary is located at the end of Waiapu Road in Karori, two kilometers from downtown Wellington.
Otari-Wilton's Bush: The gardens are solely dedicated to native New Zealand plants and flowers. This park consists of over 100 hectares of natural forest and five hectares of flower and plant gardens. You can view rimu trees that are over 400 years old. Dogs are welcome and guided tours are available. Otari-Wilton's Bush is located about five kilometers from the center of Wellington on Wilton Road.
Khandallah Park: This scenic park is great for a relaxing day outside. They have a swimming pool, playground for the children, and a picnic area. The also have a cafe for meals or snacks. While you are here you can take hike up scenic Mt. Kaukau for a breathtaking view of Wellington. This park can be found on Woodmancote Road in Wellington.
