Wellington is @ the southern tip of the North Island & is NZ's capital city...
not Auckland. It is the world's most southern capital and the only capital in the "Roaring Forties" latitudes. Furthermore,
Wellington is the arts & culture capital of
New Zealand. The city has an international airport and is only 15 minutes drive from city centre. It is also the departure point for ferries to the South Island.
Wellington is a compact city as it is nestled between the magnificent harbour and the surrounding green hills. The central city is only 2km wide. You can easily explore the city on foot. Walking from from one side of the city to the other in under 30 minutes; if you're a fast walker, you can achieve this within 20 minutes...provided that you don't stop in between. Downtown Wellington is made up of 4 quarters (
Lambton,
Willis,
Cuba &
Courtenay), each with its own distinct mix of shopping, cafés, transport & accommodation.
Wild & untouched landscapes can be found within minutes from the city. The south coast is one of Wellington’s most beautiful places. You can just watch the waves, visit the NZ fur seal colony @
Red Rocks, surfing @ Lyall Bay...
Transportations...Getting around this compact city is easy... In the downtown area, you won't need a car. Walking is one of the best ways to discover
Wellington. There is also a good public transport system, with regular buses and trains linking the city to suburbs & outer regions. Harbour ferries provide a link between the city and the seaside village of
Eastbourne. You can explore the
Wairarapa wine country, the beautiful
Kapiti Coast, Porirua and the
Hutt Valley with
Tranz Metro.
Attractions...A visit to the Capital City would not be complete without a visit to NZ's beautifully refurbished
Parliament Buildings, located in the historic suburb of Thorndon. The complex is made up of 3 architecturally distinctive buildings: the Edwardian neo-classical
Parliament House, the Victorian Gothic Parliamentary Library and the unique 1970’s style
Beehive building (all
free entry). See
Things to Do.
Thorndon is NZ’s oldest suburb & is best known for being home of the world renowned author
Katherine Mansfield’s Birthplace. Here, you'll also find the oldest hotel in NZ, now renovated as The Shepherd’s Arms - a restaurant / bar.
Some of the "~est" attractions you'll find here:
• Southern hemisphere largest wooden buildings -
The Old Government Buildings• Southern hemisphere largest museum -
Te Papa Tongarewa• NZ oldest department store - Kirkcaldie and Stains
• NZ oldest zoo -
Wellington ZooShopping...• The Golden Mile (local nickname for the main downtown shopping area of Lambton Quay)
• Cuba Mall
• James Smiths Market (55 Cuba Street) - retail outlets, foodhall & market offering everything from jewellery, gifts, souvenirs to designer clothing... more than 80 traders and open daily.
• The Wellington Market (corner Wakefield & taranaki Streets) - NZ crafts & souvenirs with ethnic food shops. Only opens Thursdays to Sundays & public holidays.
• Courtenay Place
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