In Wellington

Here we are, finally: in Wellington! All the New Zealanders we’ve met told us a lot of good about the capital….

The end of a trip in Wellington…

Alas, we are not really in a tourist mood. We have now to sell our car Léonie… But after our advertising sessions in the backpackers hostels around the city, we still find some time to walk in the CBD. The weather is perfect, it would have been stupid to do not enjoy it!

The city is quite cool, lost between green hills and the ocean. Well, its architecture is not among the best in the world, but its charms come from the incredible life style cultivated by the locals. Indeed, who would go for a kayak trip during his lunchtime? The old docks have been transformed in a pedestrian walk with bars and restaurants where everyone come to relax. From joggers, to businessmen, to lovers or uni students… Of course, we had to buy some divine homemade ice creams and sit down on the docks, while 2 stingrays are playing in the water in the middle of thousands of small jellyfish. A few hundred meters further, the city council has installed a diving platform from where people can jump in the water. Seriously, which capital in the world offers this kind of luxury?

We also use our time in Wellington to visit the most famous museum in New Zealand : Te Papa Museum. It is sincerely well done, beautiful, educative and interactive. Listing a lot of subject, like History, ecology, vulcanology, biology, or Maori art… Make your choice! Among the curiosities, it is possible to experience a earthquake in a false shaking house, to visit a real Maori marae, or admire a female giant squid conserved in a preservative bath (the only specimen in the world to be exposed in a museum).

But our town discovery stops here. We’ll have to come back later in this beautiful city. Indeed, we sold the car the next day, and jumped on the interislander two hours later, heading to south island for more adventures!

See you on the South Island !

Tintin & Riette

 Tips

Free campground in Wellington :

• From the CBD, behind the Bassin Reserve Stadium, drive on Adelaide Rd until it ends. Turn right, and follow the coast until you arrive in Owhiro Bay. The car park at the end of Owhiro Bay Parade is officily a freedom campsite for every kind of vehicle, but no tents are allowed.
• 2 toilets are available, but there is a LOT of people camping here, and lot of them are washing themselves inside, blocking the toilets for 30mn…
• Drinkable water and trash bins also available

What to do for free in Wellington ?

• Visit Te Papa Museum. On 6 flors Te Papa Museum propose a lot of different collections and exhibitions. Sciences, sismology, arts, maori culture, music, etc… The museum have even some external gardens and artificial caves ! It’s possible to experience a earthquake, of see the only giant squid in the world in a museum. And all of that is free !
• Visit the Beehive Parliament of New Zealand. Free guided tours are every day every hours from 10am to 4pm. No booking are necessary, but you must arrive 15mn before.
• Walk on the docks ! The docks have been transformed into a very cool pedestrian walk with bars, restaurants and shops. Perfect for a lunch in front of the sea!
• Climb up Mt Victoria. Small walk from the CBD, the lookout on top of Mt Victoria offer a nice 360° view over the city.
• A lot of famous film locations are around the city. Just walk and enjoy 😉
• A Lord Of The Ring trail is available all around the city to see some statues and original costumes from the movie. More informations : Wellington Costume Trail

Enjoy a more than yummy home made ice cream

• Kaffee Eis, on the docks, makes some amazing ice cream ! We tried Café Latte, After Eight, Ferrero Rocher, plum and black current and all of them are just wonderful !
  Frank Kitts Lagoon 49/77
  Jervois Quay
  Wellington 6011

Be careful if you want to stay in a backpacker hostel, Rosemere Backpacker has a very bad reputation (dirty, inscects in the rooms, etc). Indeed when we’ve been inside to drop an add for our car the hostel do no look really good…