Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand

The capital city of New Zealand rests between rolling hills and a rugged coastline on the southern tip of the North Island. As well as offering some of the best urban views in the country, the city is popular for its arts and culture. Wellington is home to the National Museum (Te Papa), the national opera and ballet companies, and is the heart of the nation’s film and fashion scenes. With more restaurants and cafés per head than New York, Wellington also offers a unique gastronomic experience.

Population:

412,500

Currency:

New Zealand Dollar, $1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

111 (Ambulance, Fire and Police)

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open from 9am to 5.30pm. All stores close on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and until 1pm on Anzac Day (25th April)

Newspapers:

The Dominion Post (regional), New Zealand Herald (national)

The City

Wellington is a compact and walkable city. With a downtown area only 2 km across, most of the major attractions are within easy walking distance from the hotels, cafés, restaurants, bars and shops. The city, originally founded by English settlers in the 1840s, is split into four quarters – Lambton Quay, the best place for shopping; the business area Courtenay Place; the entertainment district Cuba Street, full of cafés and vintage clothing stores that give the neighbourhood a bohemian, alternative vibe; and Waterfront Quarter, which takes in Frank Kitts Park, Waitangi Park, Queens Wharf, and Te Papa.

As well as the historic and cultural attractions, Wellington also offers a little bit of Hollywood glamour – the majority of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was filmed in and around the city, and visitors can now follow in the footsteps of Hollywood stars. Wellington is also the ideal launching pad for other great parts of New Zealand, including the wine region of Wairarapa, the coastal destination of Kapiti Coast and Kapiti Island – one of New Zealand’s premier nature and marine reserves. Wellington is also the gateway to New Zealand’s South Island, with two regular ferry services taking visitors across the Cook Strait to Picton.

Do & See

Most of the major attractions are within easy walking distance from the hotels, restaurants and bars. There are plenty of historical and cultural sights to choose from, like the National Museum (Te Papa) and the City Gallery Wellington.

If you are a "Lord of the Rings" fan then you should definitely take the tour around the location where the movie was filmed.

There are also many great excursions to choose from such as a trip to the Somes-Maitu Island or exploring the wildlife at Karori.

Dining

With over 350 eateries, it’s no wonder Wellington lays claim to being New Zealand’s gastronomic capital. The city’s coastal location means fresh seafood is a highlight on many menus, with local delicacies including crayfish, salmon and paua – a New Zealand shellfish. Sushi restaurants are also common.

Wellington restaurants source many of their ingredients from the nearby Wairarapa region – look out for the region’s award winning Pinot Noir wines, gourmet ice cream and Aorangi and Gouda cheeses.

Cafes

Coffee is serious business in Wellington. You can’t leave the city until you've immersed yourself into the local café culture. The city offers a wide selection of lovely cafés around the city, all you need to do is pick a favorite.