Wellington

Wellington - New Zealand’s capital city and home of the Government since 1865.

Perched on the edge of a spectacular harbour, encircled by green, towering hills, Wellington is a stunning and compact city. Vibrant, exciting and cultured, the nation’s capital combines the stimulation and sophistication of a big city with the quirkiness of a charming village. Extending just two kilometres in diameter, Wellington is a truly 'walking city’. Here you’ll find a unique blend of national treasures, arts and culture, gastronomic delights, shopping sensations and scenic beauty, making Wellington the ultimate urban destination in New Zealand.

The city is known as the windy city (even has a radio station known as Radio Windy) due to the high winds flowing across Cook Strait. Being built on a fault line and the ever-popular cable car, it stands to reason that Wellington’s sister city is San Francisco. Scores of walking and mountain-biking tracks around the city give a 360-degree perspective on this sparkling waterway and a view of the original colonial villas that fringe the city’s edge. For those wanting a more rugged perspective, there are four-wheel drive or horseback tours at the head of the Harbour, overlooking Cook Strait.

Wellington has a feast of cultural attractions and its crowning glory is Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand. Situated on Wellington’s magnificent waterfront, this internationally acclaimed museum combines leading edge technology with traditional exhibits to tell the stories of New Zealand’s land and people.

At night there are over 300 café’s, restaurants and bars to try. The Courtney Place precinct is the place to be with its many nearby hostels being the ideal place to base yourself for a few days to be close to the action.