Wellington City Guide
New Zealand>Wellington City
Situated by a harbor at the Southern tip of the North Island,
this capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is also well-known
for its liveliness in culture and arts festivals, best ethnic
restaurants and cafes as well as its beautiful landscapes.
Wellington, politically, culturally and geografically holds
something for everyone.
Wellington is the focus of the country's financial and
political power, it is the home to the Anzee's government.
Interesting architechtures includes the modernist Beehive
which is the executive wing of Parliament, the all-wooden
building Government Building and the Katherine Mansfield
Memorials.
The city has long been recognised as the cultural and arts
capital of New Zealand. It is home to the New Zealand Symphony
Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, opera companies,
theatre and a large number of art galleries, including the
National Museum of New Zealand "Te Papa Tongarewa".
Your keen on the historic building can be satisfied with
a visit to many of its historic sites and buildings. Among
these are Antrim House, the Colonial Cottage Museum, Old
St Paul's Cathedral, Katherine Mansfield's Birthplace, and
many city villas which cling precariously to the steep hillsides.
If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Wellington,
these spots are well worth a visit. Kapita Island, a bird
sanctuary home to some of the New Zealand's endangered species.
Or, Kapita Coast, with its magnificent sweeping beaches
popular with those wanting a nature escape.
Thrill and spill yourself, have a ride on the thrilling
Cable Car which particularly takes you from Lambton Quay
to Kelburn, the Botanic Gardens and superb harbour views.
That will surely top up the fun for your stay in the elegant
city.
Let's dine in and eat with all your heart, the cosmopolitan
nature of Wellington is reflected in the 350 restaurants
and cafes serving innovative New Zealand and ethnic cuisine;
also the international sumptuous taste of delicacy that
you cannot wait to taste it!
After filling up your stomach, it is time for you to saunter
around the shopping spots. Downtown Wellington on Lambton
Quay is popular with shoppers as it is one of the top spots
for enjoying your shopping, especially the fashion of boutiques
is famous here with many award winning designers.
For a taste of the nightlife, start with Courtenay Place.
Here, you'll find a concentrated strip of sophisticated
clubs, trendy eateries and professional theatres. Nearby
Cuba Street will keep you going into the small hours.
Getting There and Moving Around
By sea
The North and South Islands are linked by modern ferries
operating between Wellington and Picton, carrying passengers
and vehicles across Cook Strait. The Interislander makes
several daily crossings (journey time - 3 hours) with long-distance
train connections from Wellington and Picton railway stations.
The faster Lynx, a high-speed catamaran, takes 1 hour 45
minutes, but only operates during the summer months (December-April);
the Sea Cat operates between the northern Wellington suburb
of Mana and Picton.
By rail
Tranz Rail Ltd operates a reliable rail service on 4000km
of railway with many routes of great scenic attraction.
Trans Scenic (which is part The Overlander runs between
Auckland and Wellington (daytime and overnight) with good
views of forests, gorges and volcanic peaks. Also, there
are express services between Wellington and Napier.
By road
Good local bus services are provided in the main towns;
there are also trolley buses in Wellington. Both Auckland
and Wellington have zonal fares with pre-purchase tickets
and day passes.
There are also metered taxis operating throughout the country.
Car hire can be obtained from major international firms
and local firms where their offices are at airports and
most major cities and towns.
Moving Around
With the convenience of the transportation in Wellington,
you will surely have no problem of getting around in this
charming city.
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