NEWS
EVENTS
5 Reasons to go to Wellington
Thursday 18th October 2012 | Thomas
New Zealand’s capital boats a meagre population of around 400,000. Yet this compact city is far from empty and can keep you hooked for the best part of a week if you are committed to making the most out of this little gem.
Westpac Stadium
When your city’s stadium can hold nine per cent of its residents at full capacity, you know you’re in a sports mad city and there is nothing Kiwis are more mad for than Rugby union. You can watch the Hurricanes, Wellington Lions or if you’re lucky, the mighty All Blacks play. When the men in black do play it’s a sight to behold and watching the most successful sports team of all time is always going to be a privilege. Tickets are affordable and sport is played there most of the year. Even on smaller matches the atmosphere is great and there are usually tickets available right until kick off.
Zealandia
Just a 10 minute shuttle bus away from the city centre you can get to Zealandia. This nature reserve is unique in its proximity to a population centre and boasts a 225ha sanctuary which is wheelchair accessible! It is home to a number of species found only in New Zealand, species like the Takahē of which there are only 225 individuals left and the Tuatara; one of the oldest reptile species alive today. Along with a small introductory museum and trendy café you could easily spend a whole day in the park watching and listening to the beautiful birds.
Picton
Wellington’s harbour and its Interislander ferry service is the gateway to New Zealand’s south island. The journey is a few hours and takes you to the harbour town of Picton. Whilst nothing special itself, Picton is vital in its role as the transport hub to the rest of the South Island. Whether you want to go whale watching in Kaikoura, walk along the Franz Josef glacier or sit back and relax in Marlborough’s famous wine region this part of your journey is crucial if you make your way down the country.
Te Papa Museum
When you enter Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, you may be asked by one the employees were you’re from. If you answer anywhere in the UK the reply is usually “there are buildings there that are older than New Zealand”, then you can perhaps see the problem of setting up a museum in a country where humans have only been around for 700 years. Despite its handicap Te Papa is a fantastic modern museum which documents New Zealand’s geological and natural history as well as the initial settlers, relations between the Maori and Europeans and finally recent phenomena like agriculture and science programmes. It is free entry and offers a wide range of topics to almost guarantee something of interest for visitors.
Kiwi Fish and Chips
It would be criminal to talk about any part of New Zealand and not talk about the food. Although it is not always cheap, there is always at least one great place to eat regardless of the size of the town. A special mention must go to the fish and chip bars. Unlike the upmarket restaurants, prices are lower than they are in Britain as fish stocks remain relatively abundant and easy to access. Whilst the method of battering and frying remain the same, it is the variety and freshness of the fish that stands out. The Hoki, terakihi, Bluefin gunard and blue cod are all tasty options and their price lets you throw in a couple of shrimps, prawns or other seafood if you’re still peckish.
