Post by: Andy Hayes, PlanetEye Traveler

Maybe you’ve heard of Wellington, maybe you haven’t.  If you ask someone the capital of New Zealand, they’ll mostly tell you Auckland.  I’m not sure if that’s because it’s the largest city or because they have that fireworks bonanza every New Year’s Eve which gets everyone’s attention.  But Wellington is indeed the capital.  It is located in the southern portion of the North Island, and from here you can catch the ferry down to the South Island if you aren’t flying.

Wellington is a great “big city” in New Zealand.  It has the cosmopolitan hustle-bustle but also a very friendly personality that you don’t always get in a city.  It typically tops the lists of “best places to live.”  And being the capital of an island nation, Wellington has long been associated with the maritime.  Here are a few of the water-related features that make the city such a fantastic place to visit.

Wellington Harbour

 

This gorgeous, almost perfect circle of a harbor really does define Wellington as a city.  It’s no doubt why Maori settlers chose this place to plant roots, and European settlers that came behind them no doubt saw the safe haven as just the perfect thing after braving the rough Pacific.

 

The harbor didn’t always look like this; much of the land nearby is reclaimed, resulting in a very different view today.

There’s so much going on down by the harbor – it’s a social hub and event center.  Some of the highlights (besides the view):

  • Outdoor art: there are several sculptures, water features, and statues.  See how many you can spot.
  • Restaurants: dining with a view is hard to argue with.  It’s a few blocks from the shore, but I love The General Practitioner, a gastro-pub.
  • Art/Culture:  there are art galleries and a couple of museums

Just this month, the first section of the Great Harbour Way opened.  The intention is to have a walk/bike/run trail around the entire harbor, which would make for a terrific afternoon I think (interspersed by coffee and ice cream breaks, naturally).

Matiu/Somes Island

Off the harbor of Wellington is a a small island called Matiu/Somes.  Matiu is the old Maori name, and Somes is the name of a European explorer who had renamed the island, but today both names are used jointly to recognize both cultures.   The island was once a place of secrets; while it was easy to find because it was home to the harbor’s first lighthouse, the close yet hard to reach spot was perfect for a quarantine station (first humans, then animals), a prison camp, and a military defence outpost.  As the purposes suggest, this wasn’t a public space, but back in 1995 the island was turned into a public park run by the Department of Conservation, like much of New Zealand’s open space.

You can tour the lighthouse today, but you will not meet any caretakers – it’s been automated since 1924.  But the view is spectacular.  As well, a hike around the island will reveal traces of all those former institutions that made Matiu/Somes home – keep an eye out.  The DOC website has a useful “what you can see today” guide with pictures you can check out before you go.

Before heading over – make sure that you check out our Wellington accommodations! We have great hosts who are happy to share their space.

Getting Here:  East by West has regular ferry service – just be sure to ask the staff if your boat definitely is stopping on the island as it isn’t a main stop.

Getting a View

Wow, there are some spectacular views in Wellington.  It’s one of those places where a jaw-dropping scene just appears from around the corner.  The weather can be somewhat dire and obscure the view, but on a clear day it will be one of your most memorable stops.  Here are a few recommended points:

  • Wellington Cable Car:  Ok, this is somewhat touristy, but you can’t argue the view from the top (pictured above) is excellent.  It’s also a quick way to get up this hill to check out the gardens and other parks up in this part of the city.
  • Mount Victoria:  This spot is really special because it’s just so high – it reminds me a lot of the mountainous views of Hong Kong.  From here you can see all of the harbor, as well as watch places coming into the airport.
  • Brooklyn Wind Turbine:  Bring a jacket, because it’s usually windy here – that’s why there is a wind turbine!  Some say it’s another one of the city’s outdoor sculptures, but your view depends on whether you like wind turbines or not.  But the view of the sea is certainly well worth the trip.

A lot of people zoom by Wellington in their rush to hit New Zealand’s more famous outdoor attractions.  But it’s encouraged that you to stop and relax in Wellington’s mix of maritime and cosmopolitan.  It’s just superb.

Photo Credit: glutnix