Wellington, the modest capital of New Zealand has the claim to fame of being the southernmost capital city in the world. Named after a visit in 1839 by Britain’s Duke of Wellington, the city is compact, well-laid out and easy to get around. Wellington is also a reassuringly safe place to visit –according to a recent survey, more inhabitants feel safe in their homes here, than in any other large city.
Wellington, in its lovely setting has been favorably compared to Hong Kong. The city is set alongside a natural curving bay, with buildings rising up steep hillsides behind, and a cluster of tall skyscrapers alongside the waterfront. Much of the land down by the waterfront is on land reclaimed from the sea – several downtown streets are called ‘quays’ and at one time were by the water; now they are several hundred yards from the sea.
The natural pulse of the city can be found around the waterfront, as well as most of the major sights, and this is a good place to begin any visit. Cafes and bars line the waterfront area around Queen’s Wharf and Oriental Parade, while nearby Civic Square is home to most of the government buildings including the City Library and Town Hall. If you take to the water, there are great views of the city and surrounding hills to be had from one of the several harbor cruises that are offered.
One of the most picturesque suburbs of Wellington is Thorndon, which also claims to be the oldest neighborhood in the country. Thorndon offers many beautiful restored Victorian homes, small restaurants and several bed and breakfasts, all within walking distance of downtown.
A short distance from Thorndon is the Botanic Garden, established in 1868 and covering over 62 acres. The gardens have displays of exotic plants, as well as plants native to New Zealand. At the top end of the gardens is the New Zealand Astronomy Center, which offers interactive exhibits, and a planetarium as well as a chance to really see the stars of the Southern Hemisphere clearly.
The biggest attraction in the city is the National Museum of New Zealand, known as Te Papa Tongarewa, and one of the largest national museums in the world. The museum tells the story of the country’s history, geography and culture with a combination of displays and technologically advanced interactive exhibits. Among the highlights of the museum is its stunning collection of Maori art and treasures. One of the more light-hearted exhibits explores the role of sheep in New Zealand life and culture – after all, the country is well known for having far more sheep than people. The museum offers guided tours as well as several restaurants and an excellent gift shop.
There are some other notable buildings in downtown Wellington. One of the most unusual buildings in the city is a strikingly modern circular building known as ‘The beehive’ because of its unusual shape, and housing the offices of the New Zealand parliament. Nearby, in complete contrast is the Old Government Building, which is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Seemingly transplanted from England, one of the city’s loveliest buildings, Old St Paul’s church dates from 1866 and was constructed entirely from local wood and other natural materials.
An easy day trip from Wellington is to New Zealand’s wine country, located in a region called Wairarapa, and about an hour’s drive from the city. This area is home to some of the best small vineyards in the world, as well as accommodation ranging from quaint bed and breakfast inns to luxury country hotels. Antique shops and art and craft stalls can be found in many of the small towns. The main town in the region is Martinborough, which in addition to the 20 vineyards scattered around the town, hosts a craft fair and food and wine festival every year.
Further afield, the city is within easy reach of some of New Zealand’s most beautiful and spectacular scenery – scenery that may look familiar from the recent ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies that were filmed here. The films have helped put Wellington and New Zealand on the tourist map in recent years, and the country had over 2 million visitors in a single year for the first time in 2003. Many establishments in and around Wellington were used by the movie production crew and there are various ‘Lord of The Rings’ self-guided tours you can take. For many of us, the movies are the next best thing to actually visiting this distant land.
