Walking Wellington

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The C.O. Is not happy with the fitness level of the squad so she has ordered a walking tour of Wellington. After an early breakfast we mustered at the Tourist Information Centre at 9.45 and met our tour guide (Tina). We set of on the tour mainly marching in single file. Tina was knowledgable and thorough and we saw many impressive buildings and places that we would not have realised the significance. Tina's special interest was sculpture and pointed out and explained many examples on our route. Not sure the C.O. was totally impressed. There were constant reminders that Wellington was in the middle of an active earthquake zone. As Wellington is the capital of N.Z., many of the impressive buildings were owned by the government. The politicians have decreed a new, enhanced specification for earthquake protection that applies to government buildings presumably because they may be there. The cost of making the buildings earthquake ready is huge but the government appear to believe that it is a price worth paying even if some buildings have to remain unused whilst they are being refurbished. The harbour was relocated as a result of a previous earthquake where the land was raised 1.7 metres and a new waterfront area was fashioned out of reclaimed land.

The latest earthquake protection for buildings is called a base isolator that places huge shock absorbing technology that allows buildings to move slightly but absorbs to shock waves up to 9.1 quake.

The tour finished 1 hour late at 13:00 hours. The weather is hot it not windy. The locals are still throwing themselves into the harbour.





The C.O. approved a relaxing short cruise on a ferry that plies across the huge Wellington Harbour. The ferry is mainly used by commuters who avoid a long road trip. We landed at a place called Days Bay which appeared to have a wooden wharf, a sandy beach, a couple of shops and loads of children. The kids were obviously paying attention in the Lemmins lessons as a great many of them were crowding onto the wharf and hurling themselves off. Obviously quick learners.





last day in Wellington - off to Melbourne tomorrow.

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Photos

Wellington Walk
Original N.Z. Bank building. Now a shopping arcade. C.O. believes this to be vast improvement.

Wellington Walk
Building made entirely of wood but looks very much like stone. Now used as Law College.

Wellington Walk
Parliament building locally known as “the beehive”

Wellington Walk
Original wooden cathedral preserved by government and now used for a variety of functions ( including weddings)

Ferry to Days Bay
Wellington centre viewedfrom ferry.