Fun things to do in Wellington Region

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This is located not that far from Wellington at Paraparaumu on Highway 1, north of Porirua city.
The Southward Car Museum has a collection of over 350 vehicles, as well as three aircraft, motorcycles, bicycles, fire engine etc. There is also a display of other Heritage items and Traction Engines.

The car museum's collection includes Marlene Dietrich's 1934 Cadillac Town Cabriolet, a 1915 Stutz Indianapolis race car, gull-winged Mercedes-Benz, a 1950 Cadillac "gangster special" that belonged to gansgter Mickey Cohen, and an 1895 Benz Velo, imported to New Zealand in 1900.

Sir Len Southward and his wife, Lady Vera Southward began collecting cars in 1956. Buying and restoring old cars to add to his collection, he opened the Southward Car Museum in 1979.

The private collection of vintage cars (approx 350) about half are on display at a time is one of the best we have seen. It traces motoring history from the early days. .
My husband loved this place, and I enjoyed it as well. We spent quite a bit of time here on a another wet day.

Admission 2008 $12 well worth it.

OPEN 9 - 4.30pm daily

Let me put it this way: My US collegue who joined me for the trip thought that American Football was the best game in the world. But after attending a Rugby game in Wellington, he had problems going home to the US. He felt a little ashamed, because he realized that American Football was for wusses, and once he was past that feeling - where would he be able to go to a Rugby game in the US??!?
I personally think American Football is relatively boring (and impossible to follow). Soccer is a little better, but it still bores me. But a rugby game??!? Just let me know where and when, and I'll be happy to join.

For those who have not yet experienced a rugby game in real life, I'd like to add that the crowd is more brutal than in soccer games as well. When a player was injured and the team doctor was looking at him, the audience started booing and telling the player that "you mom ain't here to hold your hands now!"

I was told that a local player had become quite the hero when he, during the game, got his gentials half way torn off. During the break, he got the stuff sewn back on and then returned to finish the game. OUCH!

Wellington Zoo is small but has a good collection of animals to see and interact with, from lions to tigers to giraffes. There are also chimpanzees, lemurs, bears, meercats and of course, kiwis. But it's tricky seeing the kiwis, even in their new Nocturnal House, because it's a bit dark!
Photo of the lions by Anne from Norway, one of the 42 exchange students I accompanied on a 12 day tour of the North Island in April 2004.

New Zealand's Te Papa Mueseum opened on the 14 February 1998. The Museum is located in Wellington the capital city. With waterfront views and a unique architectural design, Te Papa is one of the city's most visted attractions. Te Papa challenges the concept of what museums should be. Many of the exhibits celebrate & educate what it means to be a New Zealander. But what makes this Museum stand out from the rest are the exhibits themselves. Many of these exhibits are interactive and make you feel like you are virtually there

Free tours of Parliament Buildings operate every day, on the hour. Tour duration is 1hr. Weekdays commencing 10am, last tour 4pm; Saturdays and most public holidays commencing 10am, last tour 3pm; Sundays 12noon, last tour 3pm. Contact the tour desk, ground floor, Parliament House.

This interactive museum tells the stories of New Zealand's past, present and future. Discover our unique natural environment, explore the diverse history and experience the warmth and vitality of Maori culture. Try a virtual bungy jump, or experience New Zealand's past and future in the Time Warp. This is serious fun! Free entry. Audio guides available in English, German, Japanese and Maori ($5 per person). Open 10am–6pm every day (late to 9pm Thursday).

One of Wellington's most popular tourist attractions. The journey begins at Lambton Quay, in the heart of the city. The cable car runs past the university and Kelburn Park to the top of the Botanic Gardens where the Cable Car Museum, Carter Observatory and the Planetarium are to be found. The views span out over the harbour from the Hutt Valley to Mount Victoria. Take a return trip or take a walk through the gardens and the historic suburb of Thorndon.

Visit Te Papa, the national museum. If the Wellington weather is at it's notorious worst, Te Papa is a great place to spend a couple of hours.
Here the story of New Zealand unfolds from beginning to today.Lots of interesting exhibits makes this a worthwhile visit.