Wellington

With its bay, steep hillsides and cable cars, Wellington may remind you of San Fransciso. Wander through the Alexander Turnbull Library; shop at Lambton Quay; or tour the National Museum and Art Gallery.

Activities

• Te Papa is New Zealand's bold, innovative national museum set on Wellington's waterfront. Visitors can get a unique insight into New Zealand and learn about the land and its people


• Tours of New Zealand's Parliament Buildings provide an insight into New Zealand's political heritage


• The Museum of Wellington City and Sea presents stories of Wellington in an interactive and entertaining way


• Visit Katherine Mansfield's Birthplace - the childhood home of the famous writer. Intricately restored to match the descriptions of the house in her stories


• Old St. Paul's Cathedral is a magnificent gothic style church built from New Zealand native timbers


• Take a cable car ride from downtown Wellington up to the Botanic Gardens for sweeping views of the city and harbour


• Enjoy animal antics at Wellington Zoo


• Boats take visitors to Somes/Matiu Island Reserve in Wellington Harbour, a former quarantine and prisoner of war island


• Visit Southwards Car Museum, for a large collection of antique and unusual cars

Adventures

• Stroll from the city to Oriental Bay. The energetic can continue up through the green belt to the summit of Mount Victoria for a 360-degree panorama of Wellington. There's also a bus that goes to the summit


• It's fun to hire a sea kayak and paddle around the picturesque bays of Wellington Harbour


• Go higher with Fly by Wire - another kiwi-invented adrenaline rush. This adventure ride offers full pilot control of a high speed tethered plane at Paekakariki

Shopping

Downtown Wellington is divided into four quarters, all within walking distance of each other. Wind your way through the city starting in the Lambton Quarter, where you'll find Wellington's grand old department store Kirkcaldie and Stains. Explore the range of local and international fashion stores in the Lambton and Willis Quarters. Also found within the Lambton and Willis Quarters are high quality art, crafts and souvenir stores.

Food

Wellington is famous for its cafe culture. In fact, coffee is probably the only obsession that eclipses politics in this city! There are several local roasting companies and more than 300 cafes and restaurants, so you can easily find a latte and an ambience that matches your idea of wonderful.

Currency

New Zealand's unit of currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$). Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, some hotels and Bureau de Change kiosks, which are found at international airports and most city centres. All major credit cards can be used in New Zealand. Travellers Cheques are accepted at hotels, banks and some stores.

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