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Travel guide – wellington

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Overview

The capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is located at the southern tip of the North Island. It is situated on a splendid harbour and hemmed in by steep hills, creating a compact inner city centre with a mix of historic and modern buildings. It is the second largest city in the country, the energetic centre for culture and arts, and is the entertainment, commercial and political capital of New Zealand, with an air of pronounced sophistication and vibrancy. Apart from its importance as the capital, it is the main departure point for the South Island.

Also called ‘Windy Wellington’, it lives up to its name especially in winter when the lashing winds from the Cook Strait whistle through the wind funnels created by the high-rise buildings of the central business district. The bustling, pretty waterfront area is a sheltered refuge with a graceful promenade, featuring shops, restaurants and various leisure activities. Brightly coloured sails scud across the harbour, the reliable wind providing excellent sailing and windsurfing opportunities. The ferry to the picturesque Days Bay, one of Wellington's best swimming beaches, affords excellent views of the city from the water. Dominating the waterfront is the Te Papa Museum, the pride and joy of the nation that embodies the quintessence of New Zealand and its people.

In the city centre the Parliamentary District is the architectural masterpiece of Wellington, including the Old Government Building, the second largest wooden building in the world; the unmistakable modernist Beehive, the executive offices of Parliament; Parliament House and the Victorian Gothic National Library.

The cable car takes people up to the Botanic Gardens for vistas of the city centre and across the harbour to the Hutt Valley, one of the scenic locations used in the filming of ‘Lord of the Rings’. Another film site is Mt Victoria, offering sweeping panoramic views of the city and its suburbs, the surrounding hills and bays, and the harbour.

Climate

The weather is changeable throughout the year. The North Island has mild winters and warm and humid summers, the South Island has lower temperatures with cold winters and extensive snowfields and glaciers. Snow falls on all the mountains in winter. The west coast receives the most rain. Summer months are from November to April.

Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to New Zealand. A reciprocal health agreement exists with the UK, which entitles nationals, with proof of residence, to free emergency hospital treatment, but health insurance is recommended to cover any additional charges and for those not entitled to free emergency treatment. Those intending to participate in adventure activities, such as bungee jumping, white water rafting, etc should ensure that their travel insurance covers these types of activities.

The basics

Getting Around

Wellington is very compact and it is easy to explore on foot, but the public transport option is a good one, for the city has an excellent system. Stagecoach is the name of the local bus service, which operates between 7am and 11.30pm each day, offering a Daytripper pass. The pass is also valid on the City Circular service, a hop-on-hop-off bus, which does the round of the top ten sightseeing spots every ten minutes. Taxis are another option, plentiful and convenient. A cable car connects downtown Wellington to the Botanic Gardens on the hilltop. Ferries ply between Wellington harbour and the village of Eastbourne. Those wishing to explore the outlying regions like the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa wine country, or Kapiti Coast can make use of the Tranz Metro train service.

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Travel Guide by www.wordtravels.com
Disclaimer: By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Winter Sunshine Holidays & Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.