Wellington New Zealand - A Snapshot

Wellington, located in the southern part of the Northern Island, is the proud capital city of New Zealand and the heart of its political activities. The city has the Parliament and the head offices of the different government ministries and foreign embassies; the suburb of Thorndon, New Zealand's oldest, is where you can find the grand Parliament buildings, the Beehive, and inspiring Old St Paul’s Cathedral. These iconic structures, plus historical wooden cottages dotted around the city are integral to the heritage and feel of Wellington.

The nation’s thriving theatre and film industry is also based here, where film industry professionals congregate, share and build on their creative ideas. The eastern suburbs of the city are known for its world class filming infrastructure. Wellington hosts the popular biennial New Zealand International Arts Festival, as well as other cultural gems like the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the International Jazz Festival, National Opera Exhibits and New Zealand Affordable Art Show.

Other local attractions in Wellington include the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Museum, the Colonial Cottage, the Cricket Museum and the Cable Car Museum. The city boasts of housing the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere – the Law School building.

Visitors can also expect a healthy dose of cosmopolitan living, including a great café culture and thrilling nightlife of bars, restaurants and clubs. Ample malls and retail stores of all kinds cater to all your shopping needs. The city of Wellington has a number of great hotel accommodation options for travellers of all budgets, including inner city hotels with modest to luxurious amenities and services.

Dining options in Wellington abound; visitors can explore quality Asian and Pacific cuisine establishments alongside New Zealand and international fare. And for the truly passionate, there is the Wellington Capital Food Tour, which is led by knowledgeable food guides keen to navigate you around the city’s best gourmet spots, allowing you to sample and purchase local finds. You will experience boutique coffee roaster and café firsthand and unique tastings at three of the city’s favourite specialist gourmet food destinations.

As with the rest of the country, Wellington’s appeal is closely linked to the landscape; even the drive from the airport is scenic, and, most unique, is only minutes from the city (residential) centre! If you look above there are people sky diving; in the waters, rafting and river rappelling; and in the hills and rugged terrain, hiking and mountaineering.

Those interested in learning more about New Zealand’s native heritage can explore options like Maori Treasures Tour, which takes visitors to various sites to experience and often participate in the art and cultural customs of Maori people. Then there’s the Middle Earth Tour of Filming Locations which, as the name suggests, is a great way for fans to experience the actual film locations of the hit Lord of the Rings series. However, with small personalised groups and expert tour guide present, these half or full day tours will appeal to anyone keen on taking in the amazing breadth of the New Zealand landscape.

Wellington is an inviting and interesting city that is sure to be a highlight of your visit to New Zealand. Come for leisure or relaxation, adventure or history, fine foods and wines or wildlife – in fact, why not do it all? It is available at your fingertips so put Wellington on your to-do list now!