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WellingtonWellington'''Wellington''' is the capital city of New Zealand. It's a harbor city nicknamed the ''Windy City''. It advertises itself as "Absolutely Positively Wellington". Motto "Suprema a situ", which claims site supremacy with some justification. image:WellingtonPanorama.jpg|frame|Panorama of Wellington ==Greater Wellington region== The '''Greater Wellington region''' is far bigger than just '''Wellington City'''. The old '''Wellington Province''' used to cover much of the southern half of the North Island, including the Horowhenua, Manawatu, and Wanganui regions. Now the region commonly (and officially, in Local Government Act terms) called ''Wellington'' includes: *Porirua *Hutt Valley *Kapiti Coast *Wairarapa ===Adjoining cities=== There are 3 other cities that are so close to Wellington that they effectively form a single large urban area; in population order they are: *Hutt City (commonly called "Lower Hutt") *Porirua *Upper Hutt ==Understand== Wellington is not the largest city in New Zealand but is, for its inhabitants, undisputedly the best. While there is some friendly rivalry between the major cities, it is arguably recognised that Wellington has a more interesting CBD and is not as spread out as Auckland. If you want to hear what's happening in Wellington then student radio is good to listen to. [http://www.radioactive.co.nz/ Active 89FM] ===Politics=== Because it's the capital city, the New Zealand Parliament and the head offices of many Government Departments and large businesses occupy central Wellington. ===Geology=== Much of the central city is built on reclaimed land that was raised up after a major earthquake in 1855. More land has been reclaimed since then. The original shoreline, as it was in 1840, is commemorated by plaques in the footpaths on Lambton Quay (hence the street name). There are several Quays which are now nowhere near the harbour. ''Earthquakes'' have played a major part in forming the whole Wellington region - the exposed face of the Wellington fault being prominent as the line of hills adjacent to the harbour between Thorndon and Petone. There are several major earthquake faults in the region, some of which slip a metre or more in one jump every few centuries. Building regulations have meant that most of the older city buildings have been either demolished or strengthened in the last 20 years or so. Small and moderate earthquakes occasionally rock Wellington; so if the earth seems to move for you, it may not be just your imagination: stay indoors unless a "warden" or similar authority advises evacuation, and take shelter against potentially falling objects wherever you are. Afterwards, you can check the epicentre of latest quake with http://www.geonet.org.nz/ Geonet. ===Climate=== Wellington is known as the ''Windy City''. Since records began, the longest period without significant wind is less than 3 days. The prevailing wind is from the northwest but the strongest winds are southerly, which are generally accompanied by driving rain. The wind speed and direction can be told by the flag being flown from ''the Beehive''. A large flag is flown only on calm days, a small flag is flown when windy days are expected, while a tiny flag is flown when storms are forecast. The temperature in Wellington rarely drops below 0 degrees Celsius, even on a cold winter's night, while daytime winter temperatures are rarely lower than 8 degrees Celsius. During summer, the daytime maximum temperature rarely gets above 23 degrees Celsius. Away from the seaside, in inland valley, frosts of up to -10 degrees Celsius have been recorded and snow has been known to fall and settle on the hilltops for a few days after a particularly nasty southerly storm. ==Get in== ===By air=== '''Wellington International Airport''' is located at ''Rongotai'', about 5km from the central city. It sits on an isthmus between the Miramar peninsula and Mount Victoria. The southerly approach is over Cook Strait, while the northerly approach is over the harbour. Wellington airport is a major transit point for domestic travellers. There are frequent flights to Auckland, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Hamilton (New Zealand)|Hamilton, Nelson, Blenheim and many other destinations. International flights from Australia arrive about twice daily, though the evening flight arrives after midnight when most facilities are closed. Landing at Wellington Airport in a strong cross-wind can be an adventure, and most pilots adopt a powered approach for landing. This tends to create a rollercoaster ride, so make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened. There is a regular Airport Bus known as the ''Flyer'' that departs from the south end of the domestic terminal. Taxis and covered carparking are directly outside the domestic terminal. ===By boat=== There are regular ferries between Wellington and Picton (New Zealand)|Picton connecting with buses and the train to Christchurch. Cruise ships from overseas often stop in Wellington. ===By road=== There are only two major roads into Wellington, but they are the top two: State Highways 1 & 2. ===By train=== There is a daily train service between Wellington and Auckland. There are daily commuter services from Palmerston North and Masterton and a generally half-hourly suburban commuter service to Johnsonville, the Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti coast. ==Get around== Getting around the central city is easy on foot. The city is very compact and fairly pedestrian-friendly. There are also plenty of buses some of which are electric trolley buses. You can buy an all day central city bus pass for $1. If you take a bus trip into the city suburbs, it will cost you about two or three dollars. The train is the best form of public transport to use between the city and the Hutt Valley or the city and Porirua. The easiest way to travel between the Hutt Valley and Porirua is usually to go by train via Wellington (and you don't save money by getting off at Kaiwharawhara). If you are driving into Wellington on the weekend, the Lombard Parking and the James Smith parking buildings are very central and free on the weekends. Taxis cost $2 for flagfall plus $1.70 per kilometre. Executive Taxis has professional service and a larger cab at $1.80 per kilometre. There are sometimes budget taxis for cheaper rates. The taxi companies in Wellington aren't as useless as they are in other countries and they do tend to arrive more or less when expected. ==See== *'''Mount Victoria'''. The best view of Wellington. It takes about an hour to walk up from Courtenay Place. Many tourist buses go there but also a lot of the locals. *'''Wrights Hill'''. More views, and WWII underground tunnels which are open to the public on public holidays for a small fee. *'''Brooklyn Hill Windmill'''. Another great place to go to get an excellent view of the city, the harbour, and Cook Strait. *'''Massey Memorial''' An interesting place to go if you want to see a large memorial in the middle of nowhere. *'''Frank Kitts Park'''. A great place to wander around, with walls to climb, inline skates, and jet ski rental. *'''Botanical Gardens''' are a nice place to go for a picnic. You can take the cable car from Lambton Quay; but the cable car is not the world's most exciting despite being photogenic. The Caltex Towers building is next to the cable car and you can take its lift (or one of several others) up to The Terrace and walk the rest of the way if you're feeling energetic and want to go to the Carter Observatory and other features at the top of the Botanical Gardens. Karori cemetery (a.k.a. the dead centre of town) is also a great picnic spot. *'''Oriental Parade'''. A new beach. However if you're not from somewhere really cold it's unlikely that it'll be hot enough for you to be in desperate need for a swim. There is a spa pool (jacuzzi) in Freyberg Swimming pool (on Oriental Parade) which is inexpensive if you enjoy "people soup". *'''Te Papa'''. The national museum. It's worth a look if you're a museum kind of person. Free (except for the occasional special presentation). http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/ *'''Karori Wildlife Sanctuary '''. A fully fenced wildlife park that used to be a water reservoir. It can be seen from Wrights Hill above. *'''Plimmer's Ark'''. Under and in the ''Old Bank Arcade'' on the corner of Lambton Quay and Willis Street - near Plimmer's Steps. A hundred years ago a Bank was built on top of a wrecked ship that had been used as a market. When they renovated the building they discovered the ship's timbers and preserved the remains in the building! Just take the escalator down through the bank vault doors. *'''Parliament Buildings''', the '''Beehive''' (or ''Executive Wing''), and the '''Parliamentary Library'''. The '''Grounds''' of Parliament are open to the public. Known as the ''hill'', parliament grounds are at the foot of Molesworth and Bowen streets, where they meet the start of Lambton Quay. National Library is nearby. *'''Turnbull House''' on Bowen Street, just across the road from Parliament Buildings, this imposing brick mansion now seems small and out of place amongst the surrounding high-rises. *Image:Govt_buildings_wellington.jpg|thumb|The Government Buildings, with the cenotaph in the foreground and NZ Post headquarters behind.'''Government Buildings''' opposite Parliament at 15 Lambton Quay. This is the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere and the second-largest wooden building in the world. This restored wooden building is now the home to a University Law School. *'''Old Saint Paul's''', one block east of Parliament, was the Anglican centre for decades. Superseded by the new cathedral north of Parliament, the old one is popular for weddings and funerals. *'''Statues''' and '''Sculptures''' appear in some intriguing places around town. Famous prime ministers, memorials, and works of art have all been erected in the streets of Wellington, including: **Memorial statues to two prime ministers in the grounds of Parliament as well as a bicentennial memorial to Captain Cook's 1769 discovery of New Zealand. **The '''Cenotaph''' on the corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street, just outside the Parliament Grounds, is where a Dawn Memorial Service is held every ANZAC Day (25 April). **Behind Parliament, on the corner of Museum and Bowen Streets, is a small park with 3 sculptures in block. **On the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street, the '''fallen column''' has not come off the nearby building but is a ''Work of Art''. **On Lambton Quay, opposite Cable Car Lane, the two '''stainless steel monoliths''' with pimples are actually a poem in braille! **Where Lambton Quay meets Featherston Street there is a '''wind mobile'''. **The '''Bucket Fountain''' in Cuba Mall - a real splash, for many years. ==Do== *'''Circa Theatre'''. http://www.circa.co.nz/ *'''Bats Theatre'''. http://www.bats.co.nz/ *'''Downstage Theatre'''. http://www.downstage.co.nz/ *'''Beck's Incredible Film Festival'''. Incredibly strange, exploitation cinema and extra low budget movies. *'''Festival of the Arts'''. February/March every two years. Next festival is 2006 *'''Comedy Festival'''. *'''Fringe Festival'''. *'''Lesbian and Gay Film Festival'''. *'''Dance Music'''. http://obscure.co.nz/ ==Eat== Wellington has a lot of restaurants and cafes. Malaysian food is surprisingly popular and available in most areas. You can also get good Lebanese kebabs anywhere in the city. Fish and chips is the best value food but you usually get better quality in the suburbs. More or less traditional: * The Backbencher - opposite Parliament on Molesworth Street. Dine with the political figures of the day, who have a menu to match their misfortunes. Malaysian: * Cinta Malaysian Kitchen; 41 Courtenay Pl Wellington - try the chicken sambal or the beef rendang. * Satay Village 58 Ghuznee St Wellington - these guys do a good curry laksa. * Roti Chenai Cafe; Shop 5 120 Victoria St Wellington - very good Indian and Malaysian cuisine. * Kopi Malaysian Espresso Cafe 103 Willis Street Wellington - superb Malaysian cuisine. Cafes: * Midnight Espresso - always open, and always has good coffee. * Fidel's cafe - a popular destination for a dessert and a coffee. * Expressoholic - centrally located but tends to have a lot of drunk people in the late evenings. * Ministry of Food - just up the road from parliament, what else can you call the place where the civil servants go to eat. Lebanese kebabs: * Kebabaholic - Manners Mall Multicultural variety: * BNZ Centre Foodcourt - Go underground. There is a food court in the basement of the big black square tower on the corners of Willis, Willeston and Victoria Streets. There is Sushi, Indian, Greek, Turkish stalls, amongst others. Dine there or take away. Fish and chips: Every suburb in Wellington has a good fish and chip shop. You just have to know which ones are the best. * Northland Fish & Chip Shop; 57 Northland Rd, Northland * Dennis Fish Supply; 103 Randwick Rd, Moera, Lower Hutt * Calypso Fish & Chips; 5 Waiwhetu Rd, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt * Plimmerton; Beach Road, Plimmerton, Porirua ===Events=== ==Sleep== ==Get out== The nearby Hutt Valley and Porirua have a number of interesting sights and beaches. Plimmerton, for example, has seen future world windsurfing champions training, and Edmund Hillary practised rock-climbing at Titahi Bay before conquering Everest. Further afield, the South Wairarapa has become one of New Zealand's wine growing regions. ==External links== * [http://www.wcc.govt.nz Wellington City Council] * [http://whatson.wellington.net.nz What's On In Wellington] WikiPedia:Wellington Dmoz:Oceania/New Zealand/Wellington/Wellington City {{stub}} First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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