Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is often overlooked by visitors yet it is one of my favourite getaway destinations. The range of Wellington activities makes it a perfect choice for either a romantic escape or a site-seeing visit with family and friends. It is a beautiful waterfront city, surrounded by lush green hills. As […]
Penguin – #AtoZ Postcards of New Zealand
P is for penguin . . . or precious. Practical Information: Native to New Zealand these little blue penguins are fairly common on New Zealand coasts and also found in southern Australia. They are the world’s smallest penguin, standing just over 25cm (10 inches) and weighing only about a kilogramme (2.2 pounds). They are […]
Lord of the Rings – #AtoZ Postcards of New Zealand
L is for Lord of the Rings… or large. Practical Information: Wellington airport bills itself as the middle of Middle Earth. The Gollum photoed on the page was installed in October 2012. The total exhibit has three fish and is 13 metres long and 3 metres high. The Lord of the Rings trilogy utilised over 150 filming […]
Kaka – #AtoZ Postcards of New Zealand
K is for kaka. Practical Information: The kākā is a large forest parrot found on the North Island, South Island and Stewart Island. With between 1,000 and 5,000 remaining, they are considered nationally vulnerable. Generally considered diurnal, they are also active in a full moon or on fine weather evenings. Often heard before they are seen, they make a […]
Cable Car: #AtoZ Postcards of New Zealand
C is for Cable Car . . . or climb. Practical Information: On the “must see” list of most visitors to New Zealand’s capital city, the country’s only funicular railway runs from the centre of town on Lambton Quay uphill for 612m. Once at the top you will find the Wellington Botanic Garden (free), the Cable Car […]
The Art of Coffee Roasting: Behind the Scenes at Mojo
Wellington is known for great coffee. A few minutes inside the Mojo coffee roasting facility and I knew why. Delicious coffee is found at Wellington restaurants everywhere. We knew we were near a coffee roasting facility when the earthy, nutty aroma reached us. Reminding me of a mix of two of my favourites: coffee and chocolate, […]
Two Powerful War Exhibits in Wellington New Zealand
War exhibits don’t typically make it onto my list of things to do. However, when one is created by Weta Workshop (Lord of the Rings) and the other by director Sir Peter Jackson, these war exhibits suddenly peak my interest. Both are currently on display in New Zealand’s capital city of Wellington. Each is overwhelming […]
Wellington’s St Paul Cathedral: Gothic Revival vs Modern
Old St Paul Cathedral in Wellington caught me by surprise. The streets of New Zealand’s capital reflect an active, upbeat, modern city. The general architecture styles are eclectic, contemporary and interesting. Then there is old St Paul Cathedral. Built entirely of native timber, this 19th-century gothic-revival masterpiece is well worth a visit. The high, vaulted […]
Colourful Photos from Wellington Botanic Garden
Half the fun of the Wellington Botanic Garden is getting there. We arrived into town late in the day, checked into our apartment, and headed to Lambton Quay. It’s the centre of Wellington and the location of the Cable Car entrance. At the top is the Wellington Botanic Garden. I am generally not a huge fan of this type of place, but […]
Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots #40 – New Zealand photos
These are some of my favourite New Zealand photos I never shared. I thought it would be nice to have a mixture of general random photos from the past few years as my last New Zealand photos post, since I’m leaving for a year in 4 days (4 days!). When I’m in Argentina on my […]
Our Favourite Wellington Restaurants
Wellington restaurants have it all. Our favourites are comfortable, somewhat casual, and always serving great food. The city offers traditional, international, and eclectic options. Wellington may be a city known for its coffee but take a look at some of the food we tried at several Wellington restaurants and see if you agree it is also a city for eating. […]
100 Strangers Project Completed in Wellington NZ
For some reason, the 100 Strangers Project was a huge challenge for me. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I started it in May 2014. A year and a half later I am pleased to report I have completed the 100 Strangers Project. This beautiful stranger was my final shot: I have read lots […]
Hiking Mount Victoria in Wellington
A few eyes rolled when I suggested hiking Mount Victoria during our recent visit to Wellington, one of my favourite New Zealand cities. At 196 metres, it is taller than any natural point in Auckland, and the 360-degree views from the top are well worth the effort. And effort it was. We were later told we had […]
Kapiti Coast Textures in New Zealand – Sarah’s Snapshots
Last weekend I was on an AFS camp on the Kapiti Coast (New Zealand) north of Wellington and, naturally, I brought my camera along. With only carry-on for the flight (limiting my weight to 7kg), I brought my new lightweight 24mm lens for the weekend. Following the theme of several previous posts, I decided to take […]
Wellington Photos: 20 Reasons It’s My Favorite NZ Getaway
Wellington is so much more than just New Zealand’s capital city. It’s a vibrant eclectic mix of architecture styles, unusual street art, culture, and history. It’s been my favourite weekend getaway destination since my first visit nearly 12 years ago. A picture is worth 1000 words, so I will show you why I love Wellington in […]
Find South with Stars: Things I Learned at Carter Observatory in Wellington, New Zealand
From the big bang to space exploration, Carter Observatory in Wellington took us through time with colourful exhibits. Sarah and I visited during our recent mother-daughter adventure. We went on Saturday night in hopes of seeing the refracting telescope at work. We had a clear sky and we wanted to see the stars. We began […]
Photos: A Rainbow of Hair Color in Wellington New Zealand
People watching from a cafe on Cuba Street in Wellington, New Zealand, Sarah suddenly had an idea “Hey mum, I challenge you to do the 100-Strangers Project featuring a rainbow of hair color.” It’s a new twist on an old challenge. Last year I never completed the Project as I am too intimidated to ask […]
Walk Wellington – Best Way to See New Zealand’s Capital City
Walk Wellington is the perfect name for the city tour we took to kick-start our mini adventure in New Zealand’s capital. We went open minded, expecting to learn a bit about the history and architecture. Our expectations were far exceeded as we discovered a city filled with mystery and surprise around every corner. It’s in […]
Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots #27 – Hobbit Movie Costumes
Last week while at a waterfront cafe in Wellington, New Zealand mum and I came across a glass case containing the costume of Legolas from the Lord of the Rings (LoTR). Me, as a huge LoTR fan, became extremely excited when we found out that there was a whole trail of Hobbit movie costumes scattered about […]
Wellington’s Best Desserts are at Strawberry Fare
Strawberry Fare calls it a Black Forest Tower. I call it chocolate perfection on a plate. It took only a few bites before I realized: this dessert is exactly how I envision heaven (only heaven has fewer calories). **Sorry, Strawberry Fare has closed its doors, but the photos will live on in my memory: Wellington […]
Zealandia, New Zealand Wildlife the Way Nature Intended
Tucked up over the city of Wellington is Zealandia, an eco-reserve reminiscent of the days before humans arrived in New Zealand. A predator proof fence surrounds the sanctuary, creating an “island” within New Zealand’s capital city and allowing birds and other native creatures to live wild as nature intended. In contrast to the Wellington Zoo […]
Wellington Zoo, Home to the Only Bear in New Zealand
Wellington Zoo calls itself the “Best Little Zoo in the World,” and they just might be accurate. Having lived most of my life near large cities with somewhat famous zoos, I thought I had seen it all. Not so. The Wellington Zoo offers many surprises and is worth a visit. It’s one of the highlights […]
Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots #26 – Wellington Textures
This weekend has been very exciting so far – mum and I have been in Wellington since Friday for a mother-daughter weekend, and it has been awesome! Wellington is full of interesting sites and activities (which mum and I will be writing about in the weeks to come) and we’ve been having lots of fun. Today I […]
Bizarre Wellington Street Sculptures are Colorful Fun
Wellington is an exciting, eclectic mix of modern, traditional and cultural street art. My daughter and I had a blast exploring the city and discovering so many interesting Wellington street sculptures. Often thought of as the soul of the city, colourful Cuba Street is a meeting place for friends, buskers, shoppers and diners. We chose […]
Walking Along the Wellington Waterfront, New Zealand
New Zealand’s capital city is the perfect place for a mom/teen getaway. Of course, we went shopping, ate wonderful food, and we also took a walk along the Wellington waterfront. I had my new street lens (20mm prime f/1.7) on my Olympus OM-D Em5. Here are the photo highlights: There is plenty more to see […]
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