 | Wellington Things To Do | Tips 11 - 20 of 197 |  |
Wellington is a great place to explore on foot. We followed this wooden path in Oriental Bay from our B&B to the Oriental Parade.We also walked along the beach and around the downtown district exploring the many shops. Since we had a Kiwi friend to show us around we did not take a guided tour but there are many available. Leave a Comment
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Ride the Cable car from Lambton Quay, downtown Wellington, up the hill. There you will find lovely views back over the city and harbour. Also the Botanical Gardens, Carter Observatory and the Cable Car Museum. And yes, there is a coffee shop for refreshments. The small compact shop has very nice coffee at a reasonable rate of $2-80.
Living in Wellington is a matter of getting used to the steep hills and pockets of houses between them. The Cable Car has been used for many years to get up just one of these hills.
It's very cheap and worth the trip up even just for the views.
Mon - Fri: 7am - 10pm
Sat: 8.30am - 10pm
Sun & holidays: 9am - 10pm
Adults: $1.80 (return $3.60)NZDollars
Child & students: $1 (return $2) Leave a Comment Address: 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington.Phone: 04 - 472 2199Directions: Lambton Quay, next to McDonalds.Other Contact: email: cablecar@xtra.co.nz
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For a great view of the city, ride the Wellington Cable Car from the Botanic Gardens down to the city. The car leaves every 10 minutes and provides some of the most amazing postcard views of the capital city.
You will be able to wait and watch the capital on the loading dock of the car or you can visit the Cable Car Museum that is just steps from the car itself. Or, if these are in your liking, walk just a bit away and get some different views from the other viewing platforms.
The ride will only cost you $1.80 for an adult, $1.00 for a child or $10.00 for a family return. You can pay at the ticket office on Lambton Quay or if coming from the top, you can pay the assistant on the train.
This train was very near my apartment in Kelburn and though we never took it down, many people did. Students frequent the train as it is the most practical way for them to get up the hill.
Built by Upland Estate Real Estate company as a means of transport to the farm land in Kelburn, which upon completion of the Cable car system in 1902 was developed into the suburb it is today.
You might even find yourself on a postcard one day if you ride the train enough. It is possibly the most famous photograph of the city, or atleast the most common one. Leave a Comment Address: Lambton Quay or Botanic GardensPhone: 04 472 2199Directions: Lambton Quay in the Central Buisness District or Near the Botanic Gardens in Kelburn.Website: http://www.wellingtonnz.com/CableCar Other Contact: Cablecar@xtra.co.nz
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Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand, means Our Place and rightfully so. Perhaps one of the most useful and interesting museums I've visted, Te Papa gives visitors a view of New Zealand's young history and the story of it's future.
As you enter the massively beautiful building, you view a large round globe suspended by pressured water. Perhaps it signifies the power of New Zealand and the effects the ocean has on the great country.
Continuing up the stairs you find areas of dinosaurs and geographical weather systems and how they shaped the country. Also present now in the museum is the Lord of the Rings, and there is a gift shop directly reflecting this.
Also in Te Papa is a powerful and large Maori culture area. You will find quite a bit of information regarding this side of history and will see some of the most beautiful works of art dealing with the people.
Te Papa is free to enter but donations are accepted. The gift shops are selling more than just junk and I recommend a ciew of these. Entertain yourself and your partners with a Maori gathering on certain days or just relax by yourself and peruse the exhibits in quiet. Leave a Comment
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It's not creepy - old cemeteries usually aren't - and it's free - and it is very close to the CBD.
I have got ancestors buried there so it is of particular interest to me. Some parts are wild and overgrown, some are quite sunny and well cared for.
Way back when a motorway was mooted there was much dissension - this place was so historic, and there was also the sticking point of exhuming graves.
But it was done. The car rules.
I seem to remember the exhuming happened at night - over 3000 people are now buried in a vault (including some of my ancestors) under the memorial lawn. Their names are listed in the chapel. And their headstones are grouped nearby.
I was interested to discover that this town cemetery - as opposed to church graveyards - was quite a new liberal free thinking idea when the Pakehas arrived to settle NZ. All denominations in together. But this grand concept did not last for long and various religious dignitaries lobbied for separation of religions - and succeeded. I was also interested to find out that Jewish settlers were allowed to own land.
Although everyone I know has always called this the Bolton St Cemetery it appears its correct name is the Bolton St Memorial Park. But it could take some time for that to catch on. If ever.
What is saddest is the headstones of whole families of little children wiped out in a scarlet fever epidemic. Leave a Comment
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Visiting Wellington?
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New Zealand's Parliament House is an interesting place to visit while in Wellington. You can get a free tour that lasts 1 hour. It is well worth your time.
You will see Parliament & Legislation chambers, the Grand Hall, the Maori Affairs Room, and more. The guides are great and tell some amazing stories of events that occurred here, as well as behind-the-scenes info that the public rarely hears. Another interesting fact you will learn about is the foundation of the building and its state-of-the-art earthquake shock absorbers, which are a New Zealand invention.
Tours run on the hour. Weekday hours are 10 AM to 4 PM, Saturdays 10 AM to 3 PM, and Sundays from 12 PM to 3 PM. Leave a Comment
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My mobility disadvantaged mother was a little worried when I suggested a stroll in the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and Begonia House so I nipped across the road and checked out availability of toilets, smoothness of paths etc. Check check check. Great.
PLUS - two free mobility devices!
I did laugh. I was going to talk her onto one of them - This is your future! - but when we got over there they were both taken. (Seems you have to ring up and book them.) And a son was trying to suggest to his mother that foot off the accelerator and a tiny bit of steering might help!
Ring - 499 4444. Leave a Comment
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I love this. It is like a treasure hunt. There are 15 carved quotations from NZ writers including some of my favourites - James K. Baxter, Katherine Mansfield, Denis Glover.
And they are scattered around in odd and unusual places. You have to stumble upon them. I mean, you can get a map showing where they all are, but I think it is more fun to stumble upon them.
Though it can be a bit chilling. I was going to Te Papa for an appointment and I suddenly realised I was walking on Bruce Mason. Now he was a guy I really liked - he is dead now alas - and it quite gave me gooseflesh. Leave a Comment
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I entered at the Founders' Gates in Tinakori Road and walked uphill to the cable car and descended to Lambton Quay. (One way $2-50)
Please do it the other way around unless you want a workout.
I have always enjoyed this place although we always called it the Botanical Gardens and I was surprised to find today what it is really called.
I noticed they have guided tours regularly with some expert discussing herbs or conifers or whatever. Free but a koha (donation) invited.
Kids' playground, great views from the top, cafe, (at least one cafe), and a cable car museum (free entry - gift shop) with one of the really old cars that I used to ride as a kid. Oooooh flashback. Proustian moment.
The paths are smooth and wide and wheelchair and baby vehicle friendly - but do expect steep. This is Wellington.
The cable car is also wheelchair friendly. We had a wheelie tucked in safely on our ride down into the CBD. Leave a Comment Address: Tinakori Road, Wellington.Phone: (04) 499 1400
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Mt Victoria summit is about 700ft above sea level, giving a panoramic view of Wellington, surrounding hills and looking out into the Cook Straight.
This is a great vantage point to take photos of Wellington if you can find your way around the twisting streets.
There is a monument on Mt Victoria called the Byrd Monument. This monument was built orginally in 1962 to honour arctic explorer Rear Admiral Richard Byrd. This has since been redesigned, it consists of over 2000 ceramic tiles depicting the Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights.
Definately worth a trip up here either in the day or at night, to gaze over the city of Wellington. Leave a Comment
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