Wellington

From Wikitravel

Jump to: navigation, search

Wellington [1] is the capital city of New Zealand. It is a harbour city nicknamed Windy Wellington and promotes itself as "Absolutely Positively Wellington". Its motto "Suprema a situ", which claims site supremacy - with some justification.

Panorama of Wellington
Panorama of Wellington

[edit] Greater Wellington region

The Greater Wellington region is far bigger than just Wellington City. The old Wellington Province used to cover much of the southern half of the North Island, including the Horowhenua, Manawatu, and Wanganui regions. The region commonly (and officially, in Local Government Act terms) called Wellington includes:

[edit] Adjoining cities

There are three other cities that are so close to Wellington that they effectively form a single large urban area; in population order they are:

[edit] Understand

Wellington, known as New Zealand’s arts and culture capital, offers an unmatched blend of culture, heritage, fine food, and lively arts and entertainment.

Surrounded by hills and a rugged coastline, the city boasts a stunning harbour. Wellington’s charm is that it serves up a vibrant inner city experience with a slice of New Zealand scenery. And because of its compact nature, you can sample it all - boutique shopping, art galleries, trendy cafes and restaurants. Right on its doorstep is a network of walking and biking trails with beautiful wineries and vineyards just a few hours away.

Wellington is a city that brims with energy and vitality, it offers an almost overwhelming array of theatre, music, dance, fine arts and galleries and museums. It also home to one of the nation’s key attractions, the museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which is recognised as a world leader of interactive and innovative museum experiences.

Wellington offers a unique mix of experiences few cities could lay claim to. With so many options at your fingertips, you’ll need at least three days to slip into the groove of this amazing place.

[edit] Politics

Because it is the capital city, the New Zealand Parliament and the head offices of many Government Departments and large businesses occupy central Wellington.

[edit] Geology

Much of the central city is built on reclaimed land that was raised up after a major earthquake in 1855. More land has been reclaimed since then. The shoreline as it was in 1840 is marked by plaques in the footpaths on Lambton Quay (hence the street name). There are several Quays which are now nowhere near the harbour. The harbour's former name was 'Port Nicholson' and the smaller bay surrounded by the city is called 'Wellington' or 'Lambton Harbour'.

Earthquakes have played a major part in forming the whole Wellington region - the exposed face of the Wellington fault being prominent as the line of hills adjacent to the harbor between Thorndon and Petone. There are several major earthquake faults in the region, some of which slip a meter or more in one jump every few centuries. Building regulations have meant that most of the older city buildings have been either demolished or strengthened in the last 20 years or so. Small and moderate earthquakes occasionally rock Wellington; so if the earth seems to move for you, it may not be just your imagination: stay indoors unless a "warden" or similar authority advises evacuation, and take shelter against potentially falling objects wherever you are.

[edit] Climate

Wellington is known as the Windy City. The prevailing wind is from the northwest but the strongest winds are southerly. The wind speed and direction can be seen by the flag being flown from the Beehive. A large flag is flown only on calm days, a small flag is flown when windy days are expected.

The temperature in Wellington rarely drops below 0 degrees Celsius, even on a cold winter's night, while daytime winter temperatures are rarely lower than 8 degrees Celsius. During summer, the daytime maximum temperature rarely gets above 23 degrees Celsius. Away from the seaside, in inland valleys, frosts of up to -10 degrees Celsius have been recorded and snow has been known to fall and settle on the nearby mountain ranges for a few days after particularly nasty southerly storms.

[edit] Geography

Wellington sits at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island. The city core lies along the western shore of highly-protected Wellington Harbor, with the city's suburbs spreading out in all directions. The city's primary urban core consists of the CBD and the adjoining 'city suburb' of Te Aro, to the south and east. A fairly dense zone continues south from Te Aro into the adjoining suburbs of Mt. Cook and Newtown, as well as Kilbirnie on the other side of the parklands of Mt. Victoria.

East from Te Aro, north-south-running ridgelines form Mt. Victoria and, further east yet, the Miramar Peninsula, which forms the western side of the mouth to Wellington Harbor. These hills—and the isthmus between—are home to a number of suburban areas as well as parkland and beaches.

Several kilometres south of central Wellington is the rugged and stunning South Coast of the island, consisting of a string of small (and some large) bays, many with rocky beaches and interesting tide pools.

To the west, suburbs spread into the hillsides and then give way to open rural areas, with various parks and hiking trails.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

Wellington International Airport [2] is in Rongotai, about 5 km from the central city. It sits on an isthmus between the Miramar peninsula and Mount Victoria. The southerly approach is over Cook Strait, while the northerly approach is over the harbor.

Wellington airport is a major transit point for domestic travellers. There are frequent flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton, Nelson, Blenheim and many other destinations. International flights from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) arrive about twice daily - the evening flights arrive after midnight when most facilities are closed.

Landing at Wellington Airport in a strong cross-wind can be an adventure, and most pilots adopt a powered approach for approach, followed by a full reverse thrust and hard braked landing due to the shortness of the runway. This tends to create a rollercoaster ride, so make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened.

There is a regular airport bus known as the Flyer that departs from the south end of the domestic terminal until 9pm. Shuttle van services, taxis and covered carparking are directly outside the terminal.

[edit] By boat

There are regular ferries between Wellington and Picton, connecting with buses and the train to Christchurch. Cruise ships from overseas often stop in Wellington.

[edit] By road

There are only two major roads into Wellington, but they are the top two: State Highways 1 & 2. State Highway One follows the western coast to the north, and State Highway two heads north-east through the Hutt Valley, over the Rimutaka Ranges to the Wairarapa. Both roads are initially a motorway, but after approx 20kms turn into single lane highway as they negotiate difficult terrain. While local authorities are working on improvements, serious and fatal crashes are common on these roads - remember to keep left, keep to a reasonable speed, and to use the passing bays to overtake slower traffic.

Drivers using the Rimutaka Hill road must be alert to extreme wind and weather, especially in winter. The road can close several times a year due to snowfall near the summit. Also drive carefully when descending as crashes have occured where vehicles brakes have overheated and drivers have been unable to slow for sharp corners.

Hitchhiking from central Wellington is difficult as most traffic stays within the metropolitan area, and it is illegal to hitchhike on the Motorway until the Hutt Valley (about 15km north-east of Wellington) or Paremata (about 20km north). If intending on hitching, you are best to catch a train to Paraparaumu or Upper Hutt then walking to the main highways to catch a lift from there. Using a sign will help in matching a willing driver and destination.

Be aware that a number of Hitchhikers have been attacked or murdered in New Zealand, including tourists. While in the large majority of instances no problems occur, always be aware, and try to travel in pairs to reduce your risk.

[edit] By train

There is a train service between Wellington and Auckland. There are daily commuter services from Palmerston North and Masterton and a generally half-hourly suburban commuter service to Johnsonville, the Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti coast.

[edit] Get around

It is easy to get around the central city on foot, as is very compact and pedestrian-friendly. In addition, New Zealand's best public transit network—in the form of buses, commuter trains, and suburban ferries—is available to take you further afield, or if you just don't feel like hoofing it.

[edit] Walking

The core of Wellington is notably compact and vibrant, and is well-suited to exploration by walking. As dictated by geography, the core of the city is quite linear, with the classic commercial backbone known as the Golden Mile making for a diverting and pleasant walking route. This route runs from the Railway Station down Lambton Quay to its southern end at Willis Street. It then runs down lower Willis Street to Manners Street and the pedestrianized Manners Mall, and continues straight onto Courtenay Place. On the Manners Mall section, the route crosses Wellington's bohemian heartland of Cuba Street, which heads south into the core of Te Aro. While these streets mark the traditional core of the commercial city, the surrounding blocks also have plenty to be seen.

Another enjoyable and popular place to amble in the city core is the Waterfront, from the currently-being-revitalized Kumutoto area in the north, past Queen's Wharf to Frank Kitts Park, and then through the Lagoon and City-to-Sea Bridge areas and on to the Te Papa museum and the newly-created Waitangi Park. From here the waterfront curves northeastward along lovely Oriental Bay with its beach and promenade.

[edit] Buses

Wellington has an extensive network of buses, including a significant number of lines served by electric trolleybuses. Full information about routes and fares can be found on the Metlink Website.

[edit] Fares

Bus fares use a zone structure. While the metropolitan area includes many zones, nearly the entire city of Wellington (extending to the water's edge in the south, east, and west, and as far north as Johnsonville) exists within three zones. In addition, the core of the network between the Railway Station and Courtenay Place serves as a special fare zone. Fares are as follows:

Number of Zones Fare
City Core (Railway Station to Courtenay Place) $1.00
1 Zone $1.50
2 Zones $2.50
3 Zones $3.50

If you plan to use the bus extensively, you can also buy an all-day central Wellington Daytripper bus pass for $5 ($12 for up to 4 people). This pass allows unlimited trips (not before 9:00 am on weekdays) within zones 1 through 3. In addition, 10-trip fare cards are available from convenience stores, etc., which provide approximately a 20% discount off the prices listed above.

[edit] Network Overview

Excellent and free network maps and route timetables and maps are available from locations throughout town, including the main visitor centre in Civic Square, the Central Library, and many StarMart convenience stores. While these maps can be quite useful if you desire to travel into the suburbs, they aren't generally necessary if you simply want to travel across the central city. Being a rather linear city, the heart of Wellington is heavily served by the central bus corridor between the Railway Station and Courtenay Place. Nearly all lines run along this section, so you rarely have to wait more than a minute to catch a ride. The route is approximately as follows:

[edit] Southbound
  • Out of the Railway Station bus terminal onto Lambton Quay.
  • Lambton Quay to Willis Street.
  • Willis Street to Mercer Street, where the route zig-zags by Civic Square and onto Cuba Street.
  • Cuba Street to Manners Street, continuing straight to Courtenay Place.
[edit] Northbound
  • From Courtenay Place straight onto Dixon Street
  • From Dixon Street zig-zags to Manners Street
  • Manners Street to Willis Street
  • Willis Street to Lambton Quay to the Railway Station.

[edit] Trains

The train is the best form of public transport between the city and the Hutt Valley or Porirua. The easiest way to travel between the Hutt Valley and Porirua is by train via Wellington (it is no cheaper to change at Kaiwharawhara). Trains run every half hour on the Hutt Valley and Porirua lines, and more frequently during peak hour. Services are generally every hour on sundays.

If departing from Wellington station the platforms are clearly marked and announcements are made a few minutes before each train is due to depart. Tickets can be bought either at the station or from the conductor on the train once the train is moving. Most smaller stations do not have ticket offices, so just buy your tickets after you board.

A 'day rover pass' can be brought for $10 per person, which allows you unlimited trips on any of the four commuter lines on the same day (between 9am and 3pm weekdays and all day saturday and sunday). This can often work out cheaper than buying seperate tickets if you need to make two or more journeys.

[edit] Taxis

Taxis cost approximately $2 for flagfall plus $1.70 per kilometre. Executive Taxis has professional service and a larger cab at $1.80 per kilometre. There are sometimes budget taxis for cheaper rates. The taxi companies in Wellington are not as useless as they are in other countries and they do tend to arrive more or less when expected. Wellington Combined taxis are arguably the most popular with locals, and certainly the easiest to spot with their distinctive blue roof-mounted signs.

[edit] Driving

As noted above, driving in the core of Wellington is generally not necessary or as convenient as walking. However, it is not particularly difficult once you learn the one-way system, nor is traffic a big worry outside of normal rush-hour periods.

Street and garage/surface lot parking is not particularly difficult for a city of Wellington's density, but as with any city you may have to search a bit for a street spot. Street parking is generally metered in the centre at a rate of $4/hour, often with a one or two hour time limit. Parking garages tend to be similarly priced, but you can generally stay for longer periods.

A bit out of the centre, coupon parking zones exist. In these zones, two hours of parking are free. Beyond that you must display a coupon to allow you to park for the entire day. These are available at convenience stores for $5 each. Enforcement of these zones stops at 6 pm.

On the weekend, metered car parking is free, with a two-hour time limit on Saturdays and no limits on Sundays.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Wellington Visitor Information Centre (iSITE), Civic Square, Corner Victoria and Wakefield Streets, Wellington, ☎ +64 4 802 4860 or 0800 933 53 63, [3]. A good place to begin your Wellington visit - they're able to book accommodation, activities and provide useful information about Wellington and surrounding areas. Their website contains the same information and is worth checking out prior to your visit. They are a member of the national i-SITE visitor information centre network (i-SITE [4]). edit
  • Te Papa. The national museum. It's worth a look if you're a museum kind of person. Free (except for the occasional special presentation). Particularly good if you have children to entertain on a rainy day. http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/
  • The Wellington Cable Car, from Lambton Quay (next to the McDonald's), 04 472 2199, [5]. Open 7 days until 10pm. The easiest way to get a nice view of the city and harbor, the Cable Car runs on rails from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Garden in Kelburn every ten minutes. $2.50 one way, $4.50 return (Concession prices are available for children, students and senior citizens over 65)
  • Frank Kitts Park. A great place to wander around, with walls to climb, inline skates, and jet ski rental.
  • Lookout points - Wellington City is surrounded by hills, so there are a number of good vantage points:
    • Mount Victoria. (196 metres) The best lookout in Wellington. The full 360-degree view is a great place to see the the airport, the harbor, the CBD and the Town Belt with just a turn of the head. It takes about an hour to walk up from Courtenay Place. Many tourist buses go there but also a lot of the locals.
    • Mount Kaukau. (445 metres) Another great lookout point, not as close to the city as Mt Victoria [6].
    • Wrights Hill. More views, and WWII underground tunnels which are open to the public on public holidays for a small fee.
    • Brooklyn Windmill. Another great place to go to get an excellent view of the city, the harbour, and Cook Strait.
    • Massey Memorial An interesting place to go if you want to see a large memorial in the middle of nowhere, with a good view of the surrounding harbour.
  • Karori Cemetery is also an interesting picnic spot.
  • Elmscourt an historic art deco apartment block on the corner of The Terrace and Abel Smith Street.
  • Oriental Parade. A new beach. However if you are not from somewhere really cold it is unlikely that it will be hot enough for you to be in desperate need for a swim. There is a spa pool (jacuzzi) in Freyberg Swimming pool (on Oriental Parade) which is inexpensive if you enjoy "people soup".
  • Karori Wildlife Sanctuary . A predator proof fence encloses an old water catchment area, forming a mainland island that provides a natural haven for endangered native birds, tuatara, wētā, and other indigenous flora & fauna, safe from introduced predators. It can be seen from Wrights Hill above. http://www.sanctuary.org.nz/
  • Plimmer's Ark. Under and in the Old Bank Arcade on the corner of Lambton Quay and Customhouse Quay - near Plimmer's Steps. A hundred years ago a Bank was built on top of a wrecked ship that had been used as a market. When they renovated the building they discovered the ship's timbers and preserved the remains in the building! Just take the escalator down through the bank vault doors.
  • Parliament Buildings, the Beehive (or Executive Wing), and the Parliamentary Library. The grounds of Parliament are open to the public. Known as the hill, Parliament grounds are at the foot of Molesworth and Bowen Streets, where they meet Lambton Quay.
  • National Library of New Zealand is on the corner of Aitken and Molesworth Streets. Across the road from the Cathedral and Parliament. The library regularly holds exhibitions. http://www.natlib.govt.nz/
  • Turnbull House on Bowen Street, just across the road from Parliament Buildings: this imposing brick mansion now seems small and out of place amongst the surrounding high-rises.
  • The Old Government Buildings, with the cenotaph in the foreground and NZ Post headquarters behind.
    The Old Government Buildings, with the cenotaph in the foreground and NZ Post headquarters behind.
    Old Government Buildings opposite Parliament at 15 Lambton Quay. This is the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere and the second-largest wooden building in the world. This restored wooden building is now the home to Victoria University Law School.
  • Old St Paul's, one block east of Parliament, was the Anglican center for decades. Superseded by the new cathedral north of Parliament, the old one is popular for weddings and funerals.
  • Statues and sculptures appear in some intriguing places around town. Famous prime ministers, memorials, and works of art have all been erected in the streets of Wellington, including:
    • Memorial statues to two prime ministers in the grounds of Parliament as well as a bicentennial memorial to Captain Cook's 1769 discovery of New Zealand.
    • The Cenotaph on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, just outside the Parliament Grounds, is where a Dawn Memorial Service is held every ANZAC Day (25 April).
    • Behind Parliament, on the corner of Museum and Bowen Streets, is a small park with 3 sculptures in block.
    • On the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street, the fallen column has not come off the nearby building but is a work of art.
    • On Lambton Quay, opposite Cable Car Lane, the two stainless steel monoliths with pimples are actually a poem in braille!
    • Where Lambton Quay meets Featherston Street there is a wind mobile.
    • The Bucket Fountain [7] in Cuba Mall - a real splash, for many years.
    • The Wellington City Council website provides a guide to its public art: Wellington City Council Public Art Guide.
  • Wellington Central Library [8] - If you are at all interested in books, you should not miss the city library. Entry is free and it's huge with great places to just sit and read or if you bring your laptop to connect home via one of the city's paid-for wi-fi networks. The library can be found in the city square, next to the information centre.

[edit][add listing] Do

  • The City Gallery in Civic Square lacks a permanent collection but runs a consistently avant-garde set of exhibits. It also has the excellent cafe Nikau attached to it.
  • The Botanic Garden is a nice place to go for a picnic, or just an afternoon walk. You can take the Cable Car from Lambton Quay for a quick 5-minute trip to the top; but it is not designed to be exciting, despite being photogenic. If you're keen on walking up, take the lifts in the The James Cook Arcade (or one of several others along Lambton Quay) up to The Terrace, head south uphill until you reach Salamanca Rd. Head uphill up Salamanca Rd until you reach Victoria University. A set of stairs on the opposite side of the road to the Hunter Lawn goes uphill right to the top of the Gardens. If you already shelled out for a Daytripper ticket, just catch the Mairangi bus, get off at the stop after the University, and walk back along Upland Rd until you reach the Cable Car Museum. At the top of the Gardens, there are several attractions:
    • The Cable Car Museum has two of the old cars in semi-restored and fully-restored condition and some of the original Cable Car machinery from the system that was replaced in 1978.
    • The Lookout has a great view day or night, and the large map next to the round tree usually has a few pamphlets with maps of the Gardens.
    • The Carter Observatory is a stones throw from here. This is the perfect place to explore the Garden from, or wander back to the city.
  • Bolton Street Memorial Park. Watch out for the friendly black cat who haunts this hillside cemetery. If you're returning from the Botanic Gardens by foot, this is great place to meander through and check out the epitaphs of early pioneers and historical figures. Bolton Cemetery.
  • Red Rocks/ Seal Colony. This is an interesting walk named for its distinctive red rocks (probably Jasper). From Island Bay travel west till you run out of road. Here you will find a disused quarry. The walk along this beach is pleasant but rocky and often very windy, so dress accordingly. If one walks for about 30 min you will come across a distinctive pass though the rock face. Just on the other side of this is a seal colony that is worth the walk. Please bear in mind that these are wild animals and so require a certain level of respect, so keep your distance and do not get between them and the sea, especially if you value your health! Continuing on from here, you will eventually arrive at Makara (but this is a long distance, and the seal colony is a recommended turn-around point).
  • Circa Theatre. [9].
  • Bats Theatre. [10].
  • Downstage Theatre. [11].
  • The Embassy Theatre. [12].
  • Beck's Incredible Film Festival. Incredibly strange, exploitation cinema and extra low budget movies.
  • Festival of the Arts. February/March every two years. Next festival is 2008. Festival of the Arts (NZ).
  • Comedy Festival.
  • Fringe Festival. [13].
  • Out in the Square [14]]. Annual gay and lesbian carnival held in 'Civic Square' on the first Saturday of March.
  • Proud [15]]. Annual gay pride festival, Proud '08 is due in September 2008.
  • Dance Music. [16].
  • Dive the frigate Wellington (F69). Probably the world's most accessible dive wreck. Just a few kilometres around the coast from Wellington International Airport. Sunk on 13 November 2005 in 23 to 26 metres of water off Island Bay on Wellington's south coast. The wreck lies about 600 metres southeast of Taputeranga Island (the island of Island Bay) at 41° 21'.270 S., 174° 46'.770 E.
  • Cuba Street Carnival. Wellington's largest free street festival is held biennially in late February. [17].

[edit][add listing] Eat

Wellington has a lot of restaurants and cafes, in fact more cafes bars and restaurants per head than New York City. Malaysian food is surprisingly popular and available in most areas. You can also get good Lebanese kebabs anywhere in the city. Fish and chips is the best value food but you usually get better quality in the suburbs.

[edit] More or less traditional:

  • The Backbencher - opposite Parliament on Molesworth Street. Dine with the political figures of the day, who have a menu to match their misfortunes.
  • The Green Parrot, 16 Taranaki St, (04) 384 6080, [18] - Opened in the 1920's and offers a very interesting atmosphere. Great food, large portions, open late, and the only place I have been in Wellington that serves free bread with every meal. The Fillet Mignon is great! $10-$30.

[edit] Maori:

[edit] Malaysian:

  • Satay Palace, Cuba St (between Floridita's and Aunt Men's. Don't let the run down decor fool you, ultra-cheap, excellent food and service.
  • Roti; 149 Willis St - excellent Malaysian cuisine with a twist. The owner is fiercely proud of his cafe's individual approach to each dish.
  • Satay Village; 58 Ghuznee St - these guys do a good curry laksa.
  • Roti Chenai Cafe; Shop 5 120 Victoria St - very good Indian and Malaysian cuisine.
  • Satay Kingdom; Left-Bank (Off Cuba Mall)- this is the student Malaysian restaurant, on most evenings you will find it overflowing with people coming in for its cheap and hearty food. But don't be put off by the large numbers, the service is incredibly fast with food often arriving at your table before you if you're not quick!

[edit] Indian:

  • Great India - very well-known restaurant. Has won the Wine & Food challenge for several years running.
  • Tulsi; 135 Cuba St or takeaway in the BNZ food court - their butter chicken was voted best in Wellington.
  • Little India - this small chain has two Wellington locations, 18 Blair Street off Courtenay and 115 Cuba Mall. You can also order for delivery at Little India.

[edit] Cafes:

Wellington is home to a range of insanely good coffee roasteries, which help the city's cafes produce, arguably, some of the best coffees in the world (consistently higher in quality than European cafes...).

Local roasters include Cafe Laffare (recently sold for $25 million to an overseas company), Coffee Supreme, Havana, Mojo, and People's Coffee.

Below is a very small range from the extensive list of the Wellington Cafe scene:

  • Cafe Laffare - with its own roastery that supplies New Zealand coffee to cafes and supermarkets across the country. Popular cafe, always busy.
  • Nikau at the Art Gallery (Civic Square) - startlingly good food - at a price - with a surprising dedication to service Nikau Gallery Cafe.
  • Midnight Espresso - always open, and always blasting out tunes. Unique selection of (mostly) vegetarian counter food.
  • Fidel's cafe - an unfailingly popular 'alternative' destination, it is one of Wellington's best-known cafes.
  • Butlers Chocolate Café - Willis Street - Chocolates, Coffee and decadent Hot Chocolate, great staff and love the free chocolate.
  • Espressoholic - centrally located but tends to have a lot of drunk people in the late evenings.
  • Ministry of Food - just up the road from parliament, what else can you call the place where the civil servants go to eat.
  • Maranui - in the surf life-saving club buildings at Lyall Bay (near the airport). Relax in front of a panorama of the beach and the Cook Strait. www.maranui.co.nz/cafe
  • Simply Paris - new to Wellington, but with a growing reputation (especially in the local French community) for its extraordinarily tasty range of sweets and pastries.
  • Ernesto - This is a Cuban-themed cafe in mid-Cuba Street allied with Fidels. Good place to watch the world go by.
  • Olive Cafe - a long-established cafe on Cuba Street, this place combines a good cup of coffee with an often frosty reception.
  • Gasoline - between Woodward Street and The Terrace in Wellington's business district, Gasoline caters to a largely corporate clientele. Owner/operator Leon learns regulars' orders within days.
  • Clarks Cafe - located in the Wellington Central Library, Clarks is one of the few places where you still put your own food on the tray - and then wait for your coffee at the counter.
  • Deluxe - nestled beside the Embassy Theatre, Deluxe is the ideal pre-movie meeting place.
  • Aro Cafe - Aro Street's finest, always busy with a delicious range of vegan and gluten-free food.
  • Plum - located on Cuba Street and recently given a refit. Great coffee and food selection.
  • Kelburn Cafe - Located on Upland road amongst the Kelburn shops, awesome coffee and menu.

[edit] Turkish kebabs:

  • AbraKebabra - a great place to eat quite cheaply ($7-8) and has very good kebabs and lots of other things like lasagne or just vegetables. You can find it in Manners Mall.
  • Habebie - not Turkish, but Lebanese kebabs. These are more expensive ($9-10) but well worth the extra price -- this place shines with quality of ingredients and preparation. It's on Dixon Street, just south of Cuba St.

[edit] Multicultural variety:

  • BNZ Centre Food Court - For those who cannot agree on what to have for lunch, there is a food court in the basement of the big black square tower on the corners of Willis, Willeston and Victoria Streets. Be warned, this food court is both old and run-down. It has been neglected for many years and might not be the most pleasant place to dine, even if the stalls food is good. It is mostly frequented by the many office workers in the area looking for a place where all co-workers can dine together happily. There is Sushi, Indian, Greek, Turkish stalls, amongst others. There are few seats not taken at lunchtime, so you may want to just get take-away (take-out). Most of the stalls are closed by 2.30pm.

[edit] Fish and chips:

Every suburb in Wellington has a good fish and chip shop. You just have to know which ones are the best.

  • Aro Street Fish and Chips; Aro Street - this has the be the best in the city. They still chop their own chips from real potatoes!
  • Northland Fish & Chip Shop; 57 Northland Rd, Northland
  • Starfish, Molesworth Street - slightly more pricey than most (only by a few cents!) but so worth it.
  • Supremo Takeouts, 2a Moxham Ave., Hataitai
  • Dennis Fish Supply; 103 Randwick Rd, Moera, Lower Hutt
  • Calypso Fish & Chips; 5 Waiwhetu Rd, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt
  • Plimmerton; Beach Road, Plimmerton, Porirua
  • Athena Fish and Chips, Onepu Road, Lyall Bay
  • Wadestown Takeaways, 102C Wadestown Rd, Wadestown - this place has the best little old Chinese lady in Wellington, if not the country. Ask her for sweet and sour pork on rice (or no rice), to see what this signifies.

[edit] Japanese:

  • Kazu Yakitori & Sake Bar, Level 1, 43 Courtenay Place (Upstairs), [19]. 5 pm til late. The perfect after work spot: Japanese-style barbeque, fresh sushi, great selection of beer and sake. Try the tuna roll with wasabi sauce. Nice patio for smoking and watching Courtenay Place. edit
  • Hede, 1st Floor, 43 Cuba Street, ☎ 04 472 5249 (fax: 04 472 5249), [20]. Lunch Monday-Saturday, 11.30am-2.30pm. Dinner Sunday-Wednesday, 5pm-10pm, Thursday-Saturday, 5pm-11pm.. Crowded, loud, fun and delicious. BYO. edit

[edit] Fine Dining:

And one mustn't forget the range of high class eateries that can rival anywhere in the world (especially given the abundance of fresh ingredients).

  • The White House, 232 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, ☎ 04 385 8555 (), [21]. Lunch Fri (more frequent in Nov/Dec), Dinner 6pm onwards every night. Winner of numerous awards, specialising in seafood, NZ meats and organic veges. edit
  • Citron, 270 Willis St, ☎ 04 801 6263 (), [22]. Dinner Tue-Sat. Chef Rex Morgan has been rated as one of NZ's top chefs. Try the 9-course degustation menu to taste the true wonders of this place. edit
  • Martin Bosley's Yacht Club Restaurant, 103 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, ☎ 04 920 8302 (), [23]. Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Tue-Sat (book at least 2 days in advance).  edit
  • Logan Brown, 192 Cuba Street (corner of Cuba and Vivian streets), ☎ 04 801 5114, [24]. In the former banking chamber of an historic banking building. edit
  • Francois, 10A Murphy Street, Thorndon, ☎ 04 499 5252, [25]. Lunch Tue-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat (can bring own wine on Mondays). exquisite French dining (and service). edit
  • Boulcott Street Bistro, 99 Boulcott Street, ☎ 04 499 4199 (, fax: 04 499 3879), [26]. Bistro Lunch: Monday to Friday from noon, Bistro Dinner: Monday to Saturday from 6pm, Wine bar: All day Monday to Friday, reservations accepted for lunch only. Private room available for groups of 10-16. Modern bistro. Classic combinations, fresh ingredients, attentive service. Starters: $14-21, Mains: $29-35.  edit

[edit] Food Tours:

  • Zest Food Tours, ☎ 0800-937 886 or 04 801 9198 (), [27]. Zest operate a number of food, coffee and chocolate walking tours around Wellington. edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Wellington has a bustling nightlife, concentrated along Courtenay Place, one of the major streets running from the CBD. It runs through Te Aro and ends in Mt Victoria. The nightlife along this strip causes this street to have the highest population density in all of New Zealand on Friday and Saturday nights. In most establishments, drinks are remarkably affordable (~NZ$6), and cover charges are either nonexistent or minimal. In some of the better clubs reasonable dress standards apply, however in the day the mood is usually extremely causal, with even bare feet occasionally accepted (a common Kiwi choice on hotter days). Cuba Mall also features some cool and more alternative bars.

Away from Courtenay Place in the CBD district (Lambton Quay) there are many after work bars frequented by office workers, however this area becomes deserted in the later hours, and thus these establishments usually do not provide all night partying.

  • Mighty Mighty, Level 1, 104 Cuba Street. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm. This is probably one of the most popular places in town at the moment. Also one of the few places that still holds limbo competitions on a regular basis. edit
  • Kitty O'Shea's, Courtenay Place. A popular Irish haunt with regular live Irish music. edit
  • Good Luck, Cuba Mall. "Hidden away down underneath Cuba mall in the basement of a building. Good luck can be difficult to spot. with a low roof and dim lighting it is a cozy place for a winter drink. Also good in summer, it can be a little dark and hot in the warmer summer months. edit
  • The Matterhorn, Cuba Mall. The Matterhorn has been a popular Wellington Bar for many years. Several years ago with the influx of cheap poorly soundproofed apartments, The Matterhorn was forced to close and refurbish as the garden bar had created noise issues with the new residents. Now in it's new skin, The Matterhorn continues to be a popular haunt for Wellington's hipsters. edit
  • Havana Bar, 32a Wigan st, ☎ 04 384 7041, [31]. Havana Bar is the Bar attached to the popular Havana coffee works in Wellington. Near the top of Cuba st in an old Wellington character house, It is a nice place to listen to some jazz or just relax out in the outside courtyard bar. edit
  • Chow, Chow Cabaret, Motel, 45 Tory St, ☎ 04 382 8585 (), [32]. Three separate bars in one connected unit. Chow is a restaurant/Bar serving Asian fusion food and good cocktails and Sake (Watch out for the 2for1 cocktail night on Tuesdays). Chow Cabaret serves the same food and similar drinks to Chow. Motel is behind Chow, and can be accessed through Chow or through it's original "secret" entrance in the alley behind Courtney place Burger King. Motel is a chic lounge bar with low lighting and a huge range of spirits and fine cocktails. Perfect for that end of night drink with a date. edit
  • Hummingbird, 22 Courtenay Place, ☎ 04 801 6336 (, fax: 04 801 6339), [33]. 9am through 3am 7 Days. Live music, and "one of the many Courtenay Place hospitality houses to offer scrumptious suppers, delectable desserts and supreme coffees, cocktails and banger beverages." Try the duck liver parfait. edit
  • Imerst, 13 Dixon St, Courtenay Place, ☎ +64 4 384 8229, [34]. NZ's largest gay/lesbian venue, split over three floors - Closed until August 2008 edit
  • S&M's Cocktail lounge, Cuba Street. Wellington's only gay bar currently operating is small but packed on weekends especially. Two floors with the botom floor being a sweaty dance floor. edit
  • Bluenote Bar, 191 Cuba Street, ☎ +64 21 251 0589, [35]. open until 6am weekdays, 8.30am weekends. Gay friendly, live entertainment, karaoke, all night bar edit
  • Valve, 154 Vivian Street. The home of New Zealand's underground and emerging artists. It is a good place to be if you are interested in New Zealand's underground music scene. edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Nomads Capital Backpackers 118-120 Wakefield Street. Freephone 0508 666237. Dorm beds available from $21. Doubles from $79. http://www.nomadscapital.com/
  • Downtown Backpackers - Hotel Waterloo Opposite the Railway station. 1 Bunny St. (Cnr Bunny St. & Waterloo Quay.)
  • Museum Hotel - Hotel de Wheels Opposite Te Papa - Museum of New Zealand at 90 Cable Street. Freephone: 0800 994 335 [36] This hotel was moved to make way for the national museum, rather than being demolished.
  • Novotel Capital
  • Portland Hotel of Thorndon
  • YHA Backpackers 292 Wakefield St. (Cnr Cambridge Tce & Wakefield St. - Opposite the Fire Station.) Bookings: 0800 600 100 [37]
  • Villa Melina Boutique B&B 89 Ludlam Street, Seatoun. 7 minutes from Airport, Interislander, Te Papa and CBD. Bookings: 0800 MELINA http://www.villamelina.travel/
  • Beethoven Backpackers, Brougham Street, if you like the smell of pot (dagga) and are tolerant to a lack of hygiene, broken showers and toilets, this place is a bit cheaper than others ($23).

[edit] Stay safe

Typical in most New Zealand cities, Wellington is reasonably safe at night, however common sense should prevail. This is especially relevant on Friday and Saturday nights, as in any city.

Occasionally, tourists relax security in New Zealand thinking that it is a crime-free paradise. While violent crime against tourists is very rare (and usually followed up public outrage against the offenders) opportunistic petty crime can occur. Taking simple steps like locking valuables away and keeping to well lit areas at night usually prevent problems.

Vehicle break-ins are common, especially in shopping mall and 'park and ride' type car parks. Thieves generally target older vehicles with less complicated locks. Removing all valuables and leaving the glovebox open (to show no valuables are hidden) will usually act as a deterence. Police will normally give you a copy of their report for insurance purposes, but it is very unusual for any stolen property to be recovered and returned to it's owner.

The only other small worry is some ares of town during the very late hours of night/early hours of morning. Particularly Cuba St, although a very interesting and great street for shopping during the day, it is also a local hangout for punks, homeless and general weirdos.

[edit] Get out

The nearby Hutt Valley and Porirua have a number of interesting sights and beaches. Plimmerton, for example, has seen future world windsurfing champions training, and Edmund Hillary practised rock-climbing at Titahi Bay before conquering Everest.

The suburbs of Eastbourne[38] and Days Bay are on the Eastern side of Wellington Harbour. They can be reach by car, bus or ferry. There are a number of enjoyable hill walks in both Days Bay [39] and Eastbourne [40]. The East By West ferry service [41] departs from Queens Wharf (Wellington) and travels to Days Bay Wharf, some services will stop on request at Somes Island[42] (in the middle of the harbour), see route map [43]. On weekends and public holidays the ferry also operates a harbour tour service which stops at Petone Wharf and Seatoun.

Further afield, the south Wairarapa has become one of New Zealand's wine growing regions. Tranzit run a train/bus wine tasting tour[44] that leaves from Wellington Railway station each morning and visits four vineyards in the Wairarapa town of Martinborough, priced NZ$115.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Wellington"