DAY 29 WELLINGTON

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We ventured into the heart of NZ’s capital, Wellington, by bus. Also known as, '“Windy Welly” or “Wellywood”! The nickname Windy Welly comes very simply from Wellington being very windy. Today was not so. Wellington lies on a point of land sticking out into the Cook Strait. The Roaring 40’s, strong westerly winds found below 40 degrees latitude on the Southern Hemisphere, push through the Cook Strait even stronger, making Wellington extremely windy. The nickname Wellywood comes from the massive film production business that was established in Wellington by Peter Jackson for the Lord of the Rings. Our NZ friends had mentioned to us that Wellington is a buzzing city with lots to do and see, with great food culture, and generally just one of the nicest cities in NZ’s North Is.

As we don’t have numerous days to check out all the, ‘lots to do and see’, we settled on a simple itinerary of: catch a bus (we worked that out successfully), ride the cable car (very touristy activity) to the botanic gardens, take our time explore and enjoy the gardens (fabulously peaceful, lush, colourful and cool, consisting of native forest, conifers, plant collections and seasonal displays … even an Australian garden section), visit the Bolton St Cemetery (learning the history since 1840), take in Parliament House (and see the people of the city enjoy their lunch break on the lawns in front of “The House”), walk and observe Lambton Quay (clothing and food eateries), lunch on the waterfront wharf and promenade (and served throughout by a wonderful young Tahitian girl who had been encouraged by her parents to travel to NZ after completing her final year of studies), learning at the Portrait Gallery (history and culture) and by that time we would be pretty buggered (we were … fitness is okay).

We loved the city and are not surprised that it continually ranks as one of the most liveable cities in the world. It is also the least polluted city in the world which did not surprise us. Colourful timber houses overlook the city centre from the surrounding hills. The city has many green places for the people to lay out, sit with friends and colleagues during the lunchtime period. It was so obvious. It has a working harbour where large ferries load to transport people and their vehicles between the South and North Islands.

Tomorrow we’ll enter the city again.

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Photos

Inside the colourful cable car tunnel.

Overlooking part of the city.

Not satisfied with one trunk.

Mathematically perfect.