Wellington City, named for the English Duke and victor at the famous Battle of Waterloo, is also known as ‘Whanganui-a-tara’ (The great harbour of Tara) and ‘Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui’ (The head of the fish of Maui), both prominent explorers of Maori folklore.
Located at the southern-most tip of the North Island on the edge of Cook Strait, this compact, modern city is the proud capital of the country and a much loved centre for performing arts, cafe & food culture and night life. With a prominent waterfront fringed by forested mountains, the city is truly beautiful by day and enchanting by night. An abundance of parks, appealing eateries, galleries, national museums, beaches and a youthful, friendly populace ensure Wellington is a vibrant and fun place to explore.
Sam Hunt, New Zealand’s preeminent poet and somewhat of a national legend put it beautifully when he described Wellington as one of the small handful of city’s in the world with a true heart. And many a well travelled local will tell you that its simply the Best little city in the World!
As a starter… be sure to explore the city on foot, to visit the National Museum on the waterfront, ‘Te Papa’, take a drive around the many spectacular Eastern lying bays, ride the Cable car from Lambton Quay to the Botanical Gardens and return to the city on foot, head up to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.
