Wellington, New Zealand

A capital place for culture

Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, is imaginatively positioned between a picturesque harbour and forested green hills. The city is home to memorable arts, cultural and heritage attractions including the national museum, Te Papa. Natural attractions, such as the wild south coast, are within easy reach of the city centre.

Sophisticated yet friendly, Wellington has great shopping and nightlife. The downtown area can match New York with the number of cafes and restaurants per head.

Just north of Wellington city is the Hutt Valley, an area that offers a variety of outdoor and adventure experiences, including bush walks, fishing and thrilling mountain bike tracks.

Porirua, towards the west coast, has a reputation for energy, creativity and talent – it is a significant Pacific Island and Maori art and culture centre.

The Kapiti Coast, less than an hour's drive from Wellington, is where you will discover world-class wild life sanctuaries, fantastic golf and gourmet food experiences.

“Ferns” is the grandest performance yet by sculptural conjuror Neil Dawson. Installed in 1998, it shimmers above the middle of Civic Square in Wellington, a sphere of silvered leaves that represents the dream of a perfect ecology. The square is also home to a number of other spectacular local artworks. Photo by Bruce Foster (brucefoster@paradise.net.nz) Click on the image for larger version

Key Features

Between harbour and hills. Wellington's geography has created a compact city. The central city, only 2 kilometres wide, is nestled between the harbour and the hills. Wild, untouched landscapes can be found within minutes of your city hotel.

The home of heritage. Wellington is home to many of New Zealand's most significant heritage attractions. Among these are the national museum Te Papa, Parliament and the National Archives, which displays the original Treaty of Waitangi.

A city with four flavours. Downtown Wellington is divided into four distinct quarters, making it easy for visitors to experience the different personalities of the city. The fashions, food styles and faces change with every quarter.