The Overhead Bus Wires in your Photos
by Kakapo2
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Quite a while ago a VT member wrote in a tip about Wellington that “the cables” destroy everything.
I would not go that far – but those mysterious wires make you go to extra lenghts if you want to take perfect photos. And those, of course, do not include wires running across facades, through the centre of your photos, or as ugly black lines across a brilliant blue sky. We tend to make nature and even city scapes look more beautiful than they are – and power cables in the middle of a fantastic landscapes are pure horror, as they destroy the impression of an untouched world.
Those cables in Wellington make the electric trolley buses run in an environmentally friendly way. Last year 61 new and more reliable ones have been ordered to be added to the fleet over 2008 and 2009.
I think those overhead lines, mixed with power lines, are an eyesore if you want to take photos. If you just walk around they do not disturb your views, somehow you can blend them out. And if you think of the environmental profits those wires deliver you just have to accept and like them, as you can walk in the city centre without diesel clouds being blown right into your face and airways.
The problem is that the overhead lines can go down in heavy storms, and then a small chaos breaks out. However, the new buses carry a battery back-up, so break-downs resulting from power-outages will – hopefully – soon be a thing of the past.
Statistics show that about 8 million people used the trolley bus service per year, which is about 50 per cent of Wellington’s public transport volume. Those buses were introduced in 1924. The new ones are manufactured in Ashburton. Before the decision to modernise the fleet the service was under threat. There were big discussions about the funding, as trolley buses are more expensive to manufacture and to run because of the overhead electric system. Finally NZ Bus and the Greater Wellington Regional Council struck a deal to save the service.
More information:
http://www.wellington.gen.nz/tag/trolleybus
GST - Tax
by keeweechic
All goods and services purchased in new Zealand are subject to 12.5% Goods and Services tax. This is usually included in the price, although some hotels and restaurants may quote prices excluding GST.
Drive to Seatoun
by Kate-Me
We read in the Lord of the Rings location guide book in a shop that Seatoun, a little suburb of Wellington just around the harbour, was a place where many of the actors and actresses hung out at a cafe called the Chocolate Fish during filming, and decided to take a drive to see if we could find it....
well, we found the town (what there was of it - only one or 2 shops and some houses) but we didn't find any cafe, though we backtracked a few times. Eventually we just found the beach, took a look, and drove back along the harbour again.
It was a nice drive, and on the way back we passed many interesting architectural examples of all different styles, of houses all set right back against the hillside, many with unbelievably steep driveways, and perched seemingly quite precariously.
This house particularly took my fancy. If you blow it up, you will see that on the front are stencils of birds and fish.
Chocolate Heaven
by fishandchips about Schoc
Schoc doubles as a coffee house and is a small store on Tory Street. The chocolate part of the store is at the back and there are samples of all of the flavours - and there are lots and lots to choose from. The items are created up the coast in the Wairarapa. Have a look at their Choc Website for more info. Flavours range from single plantation, island named varieties to ones such as Earl Grey Tea and my favourite, Lime Chilli (the combination of citrus & hot has to be tried!!). It's not the cheapest place to buy your chocolate but the product is of a very high standard. At around $10 for a smallish bar you might think that this stuff is very expensive but on the other hand the number of brownie points one can build up is considerable!!
Cable Car
by Bernd_L
From downtown Wellington you can use the cable car to go up the hill to the Botanical Garden. On its way the cable car offers a splendid view over the city and the bay.
The cable car is not only a means of transportation but also a tourist attraction. You shouldn't miss a trip with it.
The downtown station is on Lambton Quai, Wellingtons main shopping street. The Cable Car is used by nearly a million people each year. In the mornings and evenings, it is used by commuters travelling between Kelburn and the city. At other times of the day, it is used by people travelling between the city and the Wellington Botanic Garden, or by students attending Victoria University.
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Beautiful red
Maori Carving
The famous Wellington tram
Mr. Bun in Cuba Street.
