The capital of New Zealand is located on the slopes of the mountains, descending to the sea, along the shores of picturesque bays. The most beautiful panorama opens from Mount Victoria and the hills of the suburb of Kelburn, which can be reached by funicular. A wonderful Botanical Garden is laid out at the top. Also, the exotic flora and fauna of the region can be observed on the territory of several reserves and about a hundred parks within the city and its environs.
Among the interesting architectural structures of Wellington - the old Church of St. Paul, the memorial complex in honor of the polar explorer Byrd, the parliamentary building "Beehive", the world's largest wooden building resembling an Italian palace. City museums introduce the culture and life of the indigenous Maori people. Film fans will love a tour of the filming locations of the famous "The Lord of the Rings" movie.
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What to see and where to go in Wellington?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Hive
The original form of the building in the style of modernism really resembles an English thatched bee hive. The building has 4 underground and 10 aboveground floors, height - 72 meters. The official opening took place in 1977. Currently, the "Uley" is part of the parliamentary complex of buildings, it houses the country's ministries, the office of the prime minister. Considered one of the most iconic structures in the capital, it can be seen on the New Zealand $ 20 bill.
Wellington cable car
Date of foundation - 1902. Connects the embankment of the capital with the central suburb of Kelburn, located on a hill. The length of the route is 612 meters. The maximum height is 120 meters. Travel time is about 5 minutes. In the 70s, the old booths were replaced. Currently, there are two red carriages with large windows and wooden seats. The maximum capacity of each is 100 people. At the top stop there is a museum of the history of the cable car.
Mount Victoria
Located to the east of the center of the capital, it has a height of 196 meters. The best 360 ° observation deck in the city. Below is a memorial to the American pilot R. Byrd, who made the first flight across the South Pole from a base in New Zealand. You can climb the mountain using several hiking trails or by bus. There are benches throughout. It is always very windy at the summit, even on warm days, so warm clothing is recommended.
Cuba Street
Wellington's most famous street. After the tram rails were removed from it in 1969, it turned into the main pedestrian artery of the capital. Since 1995 it has been recognized as an object of historical value. Today the street is filled with boutiques, bars, cafes, art galleries. Its northern part is given to commercial organizations. It is considered the center of the arts; street artists, musicians and photographers demonstrate their talents here. The venue for the annual carnival.
Te Ngakau Town Square
Wellington's cultural center is concentrated around this square. There is a magnificent building of the town hall, where not only government meetings are held, but also concerts, charity evenings, etc., the city library, art gallery, national museum, M. Fowler's concert hall. The square was created in 1991 and was called Civic. It was renamed Te Ngakau in 2018, which means "heart" in the Maori language.
Te-Papa-Tongareva
The museum, whose name translates as “the collection of the riches of this land,” was created in the 90s with the aim of preserving the heritage of New Zealand. The thematic variety of exhibits spread over 6 floors is impressive. Here is an archaeological collection of fossils, a collection of marine and terrestrial fauna, a herbarium of 250 thousand dried plants. And also exhibitions dedicated to the life and culture of the Maori, the history of the development of the country, the filming of the painting "The Lord of the Rings".
The weta cave
An entertaining museum of the Weta Workshop company, which has been creating makeup and costumes since 1987, and since 1993 - special effects for various films and television. The company gained worldwide fame after the release of The Lord of the Rings by P. Jackson. Costumes, armor, weapons, creatures, special effects are the result of the work of Weta Workshop. Other famous films include Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, The Hobbit, Van Helsing, I, Robot and others.
Wellington City Gallery
It was established in 1980. Since 1993 it has been housed in an art deco building in the Chivik Suar park. It does not have its own permanent exhibition. It hosts exhibitions of paintings united by the same theme, as well as solo exhibitions of New Zealand and foreign artists. Following renovations in 2009, the museum opened a new hall to showcase Maori indigenous art, as well as an auditorium for lectures and seminars.
Wellington museum
It was founded in 1972 as a maritime museum. Over time, the theme has expanded, and today part of the expositions is devoted to maritime history, and the other part - to the history and culture of the city and country. Thematic exhibitions are arranged in multimedia galleries. They tell about the Maori inhabitants and the first European settlers, the Anglo-Boer War, Wellington life 100 years ago, navigators and their discoveries, the Wahine ferry wreck at the entrance to the city harbor in 1968, etc.
Government house
The historic two-story building is located in the Wellington suburb of Newtown. It was built at the beginning of the last century. Residence of the Governor-General of the country. Occupies an area of 4200 m2... The interiors are decorated with marble fireplaces, oak panels, bronze lamps, carpets, parquet floors, a collection of New Zealand art. Some of the rooms are intended for ceremonial official events and government receptions. The residence is open to tourists.
National war memorial
It is a high obelisk with three-dimensional sculptures, the top of which is crowned with a bronze horseman. His figure with a raised hand symbolizes the willingness of New Zealanders to defend their homeland. The monument is dedicated to the soldiers who died during the two world wars of the 20th century and in local military conflicts. It was installed in 1931, and at the end of the 40s it was supplemented with figures of lions and bas-reliefs on a military theme. Every year on April 25, the memorial hosts events dedicated to the Memorial Day.
Theater Saint James
The theater building is of historical value. It was erected in 1912 by G. White, the famous architect of his time. St. James was the first theater to be built of reinforced concrete on a steel frame. The interior decoration impressed with its luxury - marble chips, colored stained glass windows, cypress and eucalyptus floors, cherubs on the ceiling. In the 90s, a large-scale reconstruction of the building was carried out. Today, concerts, exhibitions, performances, and festive events are held here.
Old St. Paul's Cathedral
One of the main historical sites in New Zealand, a clear example of neo-Gothic architecture. It was erected from wood, without the use of nails, in 1866. Painted white on the outside. The interior decoration is distinguished by solemnity and interesting play of light thanks to stained-glass windows on the windows. The former seat of the Bishop of the Wellington Church District. Since 1964, the diocese has moved to a new cathedral, and the old one was bought by the government, restored and turned into a museum.
Bridge "From the city to the sea"
Known for his whimsical wood sculptures depicting mythical creatures, whales, dolphins and birds. The decoration of the bridge also contains stars, different phases of the moon and other Maori symbols. It was built in 1994 according to the project of the sculptor P. Matchitt. In this way, the artist decided to acquaint local residents and tourists with the history and cultural traditions of the Maori people. The pedestrian bridge connects the central city square with the harbor.
Wellington Regional Stadium
Wellington's premier sports facility that meets international standards. The opening took place in 1999. Area - 48000 m2... Designed for 34,500 spectators. Located near the center and the railway station. It is mainly used for sporting events. It regularly hosts rugby, cricket and football matches, including international matches. It is also a popular venue for concerts, festivals, exhibitions, large-scale cultural events.
Carter Observatory
Located on the territory of the botanical garden. The opening took place in 1941. In 2010 it was modernized. It is small in size, but equipped with the most modern technology. Interactive galleries, multimedia exhibitions, the giant Thomas Cook telescope, and a full-dome digital planetarium tell about planets, stars, galaxies and New Zealand's contribution to the development of space science. Special educational programs have been developed for schoolchildren.
Wellington botanical garden
Located on the top of a hill, where a cable car leads from the city center. It was created in 1868. The area of 25 hectares includes a rose garden, the House of Tropical Plants with the world's largest water lily and a collection of orchids, the House of begonias, a rock garden, a luxurious conservatory in Victorian style, and a Tea House. Several dozen interesting sculptures serve as an additional decoration. There is a small artificial pond with ducks. There is a play area with swings for children.
Wellington zoo
It was founded in 1906. It occupies a small area - 13 hectares, but all animals are kept in ideal conditions close to wild nature. The pride of the zoo is representatives of endangered species, which thrive in captivity and bring offspring. Among them are the red panda, the Asiatic otter, and the Malay bear. In the exhibition pavilions you can admire ostriches, giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys, reptiles, and the New Zealand kiwi bird.
Reserve "Zealand"
On an area of 225 hectares, the unique wildlife of New Zealand has been restored, which was disturbed by the arrival of man. The ecosystem is isolated from the outside world. A special fence is installed along the perimeter to protect the inhabitants of the park from hares, cats, mice, weasels and other predators. More than 40 bird species, dozens of reptile species, hundreds of plant species and thousands of invertebrate species have been registered. Many of them are on the verge of extinction or have died out altogether in other regions.
Ferry "Interislander"
Steamship company "Interislander" is engaged in the transport of passengers and vehicles through the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. The length of the route from Wellington to Picton Port is 92 km, the trip by ferry takes 3.5 hours. This time can be spent at the bar, watching movies or reading the press. Or you can just admire the scenery of the strait. Because of strong winds, currents and rocks, it is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, but at the same time one of the most picturesque.
