Auckland New Zealand greets nearly 4 million visitors annually. Some stay in the city, but more come to explore the lush green countryside. It’s this exploration that makes a visit to New Zealand so special. Sure, you can fly to the major cities, but what you miss along the way is the magic. An Auckland …
Wellington
Wellington Activities: 37 Things to Do in the Capital of New Zealand
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is often overlooked by visitors as they head straight to the South Island, yet it is one of my favourite getaway cities. The range of Wellington activities makes it a perfect choice for either a romantic escape or a sightseeing visit with family and friends. It is a charming …
Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary by Night and Day
Tucked up over the city of Wellington is Zealandia, an ecosanctuary reminiscent of the days before humans arrived in New Zealand. A predator-proof fence surrounds the Zealandia sanctuary, creating an “island” within New Zealand’s capital city and allowing birds and other native creatures to live wild as nature intended. Whether you are a nature or …
Quinn’s Post Joins Two Powerful War Exhibits in Wellington NZ
Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand is home to the country’s history and that includes our involvement in the wars. Its newest exhibit Gallipoli, The Scale of our War is one of three must-see war exhibits in Wellington, the nations capital city. It was created by created by Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings) …
Coffee Roasting Behind the Scenes: Mojo Wellington
Wellington New Zealand has great coffee. A moment inside the Mojo Wellington coffee roasting facility is all it takes to know why. Actually, we knew before we arrived. The earthy, nutty aroma that can only mean we are near a coffee roasting plant drew us in. It permeated the air with a mix of two …
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 hotel, 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. There is something really special about the Wellington Botanic Garden that draws me …
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. …
Hiking to Mount Victoria Lookout in Wellington NZ
Hiking Mount Victoria, we were immediately rewarded with 360-degree views of Wellington’s eastern harbour bays, Wellington airport, the Hutt Valley, local Island, and the Miramar Peninsula. The views are well worth the effort to get here. In reality, “hiking” Mount Victoria is probably a bit of an exaggeration. It’s more of a moderate uphill 2-kilometre walk, sometimes …
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 …
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 to help improve my portrait photography skills. Last year I never completed the 100 …
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 …
Unique Animals at Wellington Zoo, including New Zealand’s Only Bear
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. We had perfect weather on …
