Te Papa Museum
Te Papa is Wellington's leading attraction and one of
the world's largest national museums. It is a tribute to all that
is New Zealand; its people and history, natural environment, arts,
and culture. Interactive technology and superb displays bring the
story to life, with visitors able to experience the explosive
creation of pre-historic New Zealand, go on a virtual bungee jump,
experience the effects of a volcanic eruption, and much more. Other
attractions include a range of magnificent exhibitions featuring
some of the country's most important Maori treasures, a modern
'marae' or Maori meeting house, and an informative display on the
Treaty of Waitangi.
Address:
Cable Street, Waterfront
Te Papa Exhibit
Michael Coghlan
Wellington Cable Car
The cable car is one of the most popular tourist attractions in
Wellington. It takes people to the lookout at Kelburn, where there
is a beautiful view over the city and across the harbour. Visitors
can either take a return journey or walk back down through the
beautifully landscaped Botanic Gardens. At the top terminus there
is the small Cable Car Museum explaining its history.
Address:
Cable Car Lane, 280 Lambton Quay
Wellington Cable Car
Phil Whitehouse
Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria, locally abbreviated to Mt Vic, is a
prominent hill to the east of the centre of Wellington, linked to
Mount Albert by a ridge. The suburb of Mount Victoria is a mixture
of residential and commercial activity on the western flank of the
ridge above the southern end of the Wellington CBD. Mt Vic boasts
beautiful views of the city and the suburb is well populated by
artisanal cafes and eateries that add to the local feel of the
walk. This was also the location where numerous scenes of
was shot.
Address:
Lookout Road, Wellington
Mount Victoria Park
Jeff Hitchcock
Wellington's climate is mild, with plenty of wind. Summers are
mild and sunny and winters are wet and mild. The average
temperature in January and February (the two hottest months) is
61°F (16°C) and in July, the coldest month, the average temperature
is 47°F (8°C).
Wellington International Airport
Location: The airport is situated five miles (8km) east of
Wellington.
Time: Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last
Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).
Transfer Between Terminals:
There is only one terminal. Arrivals is located on the lower
level while departures is on the upper level.
Getting to the city:
The Stagecoach Flyer bus services tourists between the airport
and the city. Shuttle services and taxis all go to the city
centre.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and
Thrifty.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis can be hailed outside the baggage claims area.
Facilities:
Facilities at the airport include left luggage, bureaux de
change, ATMs, bars, shops and restaurants, a parent's room, post
office and a tourist information and hotel reservations desk.
Disabled facilities are good and those with special needs are
advised to inform their airline or travel agent in advance.
Parking
Parking at Wellington International Airport ranges from about
NZD 5 per half hour up to about NZD 40 per day for Premium parking,
which is close to the terminal. Long-term parking is around NZD 27
for the first day and NZD 12 per day thereafter. The long-term
parking lot is situated off Freight Drive and regularly serviced by
a free airport shuttle.
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.
There is plenty to do and see in 'the windy city', starting in
the city centre with the Parliamentary District. Here you'll find
the architectural masterpieces 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. Te Papa museum is also one of the city's main attractions
with a large variety of exhibitions for all ages to enjoy.
Venturing further to the edges of the city, 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
Mount Victoria, offering sweeping panoramic views of the city and
its suburbs, the surrounding hills and bays, and the harbour.