Waterfront, Wellington

The Waterfront path running from the warf area all of the way around to Mirimar is an ideal place to go for a run and see more of Wellington at the same time. The tricky bit for this is the wind which generally blows either from the north or south. With the curving nature of the run as you move around the bays the wind will appear to switch so you'll get a gusty head wind followed soon after by a nice tail wind!

A run from in front of the Museum hotel to the yachet club and back is approx 9km so short enough to get done inside 45 mins (even if you're slow!) and have time to go out for a nice meal nearby.

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The name is a little misleading – as this is no academy where you would study arts.

In fact, it is a gallery, combined with a place you can hire for exhibitions or business functions.

It is located in a beautifully restored heritage building at the entrance to Queen’s Wharf.
The Academy was founded in 1892, and had its exhibition halls in several buildings in the city, until in 1997 it moved to the ground floor of the historic Wharf Offices building.

Contact:

The Manager
New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
1 Queens Wharf
Wellington

Photo 2 shows a detail of this beautiful building.

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Wellington waterfront is the perfect place to relax at any time of the day.
A very comfortable path borders the city, and many people takes advantage of the nice view both on the Cook Strait and on the capital. It is the perfect place for people (and boat) watching!

Around by Te Papa is an inner city Wetlands area complete with ubiquitous flora and fauna one would expect of such a setting. It's an unusual sight for an inner city and one that adds to the quirky nature of Wellington. It's a great spot to bring the kiddies who can do a whole lot of bird spotting and getting muddy if they manage to slip away and go for a splash!

The waterfront walk is a great track to wander down before and after work and there are a multitude of people walking, cycling or skate boarding about. With its many different vistas, footpath materials and monuments the walk is a great way to relax in Wellington.

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Wellington is a harbour city so it has its obligatory waterfront walk. On a nice day Wellington is the best harbour city in the world - just ask one of the locals lol. You take go for a nice stroll from Waitangi Park at one end all the way around to the Ferry terminal though you'll want to stop at the TSB Arena area for a drink.

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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.

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There is nothing more pleasant than joining the locals in their passegiata along what used to be working wharves and is now the place to be. I have been here three or four times and it has never lacked for people.
Many of them being extremely vigorous on bikes or skates or skateboards or learner drivers in their hired pedal car thingos (my brother thinks they may be called crocodile bikes). So look out for yourself. If you are elderly and a bit shakey carry a walking stick and wave it vigorously at anyone who looks like speed demon.
You can hire kayaks, skates, crocodile bikes etc or climb a rock wall, attend a concert in the arena there, there are several art galleries and museums. Cafes and bars and restaurants galore. Playground for the kiddies with supersafe slides and things (this is 2008). And a view of the harbour and refreshing sea breezes. This is Wellington and it specialises in refreshing sea breezes.
Much much more - the more I go there the more I find out. More tips coming soon.
But the point and purpose of it is - I think - the stroll and the stopping and chatting and the taking of the air.
The true passegiata.
It's long, would take maybe an hour from end to end, - and then if you are really in the mood - continue your stroll around Oriental Bay.

This is the centre of the Waterfront, not only thanks to its central location. It also is the busiest part of the Waterfront, with plenty of places to hang out, meet friends, have fun and action. There is even an office of the Wellington Waterfront management with an information centre, next to the Chicago Sports Bar & Café, if you are into details. And there are shops, galleries, and museums.

The shortest way from the CBD is from Lambton Quay via Grey Street.
You enter the central paved square of the precint past two beautifully restored buildings from 1892, housing the Museum of Wellington City & Sea (in the so-called Bond Store), and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts.

You have a good choice of restaurants and cafés, some of them very expensive, and some with great views, and some with both. They are located in restored old sheds of the early days:

Latitude 41
Dockside
Shed 5
Green Room
Chicago Sports Bar & Café

If you look towards the harbour, to your left are more restaurants and bars just some steps away:

The Loaded Hog
The Red Dog
Hugo’s

A major complex of Queen’s Wharf is the TSB Bank Arena which is the major city venue for indoor sports, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences. There is a Ticketek counter inside where you can get information and… tickets LOL (also for other venues)

Just around the corner is a place named Ferg’s Kayaks where you can rent kayaks, do inline skating and rock climbing (www.fergskayaks.co.nz).

Some steps further to the water is the Dominion Post Ferry that takes you to Matiu/Somes Island, Days Bay, and Petone.

In some other sheds are exhibition venues, heritage sites, like the NZ Academy of Fine Arts.