Wellington New Zealand
Wellington capital of New Zealand is largely situated
on the sloping curve of a natural harbour, with some of the flatter
downtown area actually on reclaimed land that was once submerged.
A good number of historic commercial buildings and classic
villa style homes give the city a feeling of substance and longevity
in a country where European settlement is a recent event by world
standards.
The city is home to government buildings old and new. The old government
building on Lambton Quay is a four storey structure built in 1876,
the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere. In contrast
to this is the contemporary ‘Beehive’ building, the executive wing
of the adjacent Parliament House. The beehive shaped building is a
10 storey building that houses Cabinet Offices, the Prime Ministers
office, various ministerial offices and function rooms.
The National Museum ‘Te Papa’, opened in 1998, is located on the waterfront
and is a 'modern day museum' that not only displays historical artifacts
but also has displays relevant to cultural evolution in New Zealand
right up to the present day. Some of these are educational and interactive
including a virtual bungy jump where you can experience the exhilaration
of the bungy fall without actually throwing yourself from a great
height!
The Wellington Cable Car started servicing passengers in 1902 and
is a great way to travel effortlessly up to the Botanic Gardens and
enjoy panoramic views of the city. Return via the Cable Car or walk
back down to the city through the gardens and historic Bolton Street
cemetery. It is popular with commuters and University students during
rush hour, but a great sightseeing experience during the rest of the
day.
North of Wellington you will find the Kapiti Coast to the west and
Wairarapa region to the east. The Kapiti coast is well populated with
a number of good sized coastal towns along the state highway. 5 kilometres
offshore is Kapiti Island, home to a renowned nature reserve for birds.
Only 50 people a day may visit the island for which a permit is required,
and there are only a couple of operators registered to take passengers
there. The Wairarapa Region is less populated and access is by crossing
the Rimutaka Hill. The Wairarapa is predominantly farmland but has
a wine growing area whose hub is the village of Martinborough. Greytown
is known for its virtually fully intact streetscape of original wooden
buildings. At the coast you will find mainly cliffs rather than sloping
beaches with a few exceptions. Cape Palliser at the southernmost tip
has some interesting features including a breeding colony of fur seals,
an historic lighthouse and the Putangirua Pinnacles one of the best
examples in New Zealand of badlands erosion and earth pillar (organ
pipe) formation.
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