Life in Wellington, NZ
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand / Aotearoa. It is also the cultural, administrative and political center of the country. Two aspects of the city that will immediately strike any visitor are the sprawling harbour and the dramatic, hilly terrain. Everywhere you go, the sounds and smell of the ocean hang in the air, and green hills and valleys wrap you in a bear-hug embrace. At night, Wellington offers up a spectacular, shimmering cityscape that is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. Even after seeing it for the hundredth time, it takes one’s breath away.
Wellington is a vibrant, scenic, windy, cosmopolitan, diverse, eccentric, maddening and hilarious place. It has the some of the best museums, art galleries, restaurants, microbreweries, and coffee houses in the country. It is the storehouse for the nation’s historic, cultural and artistic treasures. Being the first place European settlers arrived, it also boasts lots of historic streets and buildings.
Wellington is host to an excellent Festival of the Arts every two years.
ON THIS POST:
Walking
Cable Car
Buses
Trains
Cycling
Taxis
13 Free things to do in Wellington
10 things to do for less than $10
Useful Websites
Wellington is often described as the cultural, sporting and political capital of New Zealand. There’s so much going on, you’ll never be lost for something to do.
There are always events happening in the city as well as the greater Wellington region. Wellington also boasts one of the highest ratios of cafes per person in the world. In summer or winter, there is always plenty to do. Super 14 rugby, film festivals, wine and food festivals, arts, cultural, jazz and comedy festivals, concerts, theatre, museums, galleries, craft fairs… and the list goes on.
The main University campuses, accommodation and the city are all within easy walking distance. Trains, buses and the cable car are very accessible and don’t cost much. The key is student discounts !
Always ask, as it is more than likely that there will be discounted fares for students. You will need to present your student ID card to obtain a student rate.
Walking
Wellington is a great place to walk, as the city is so compact, and there’s always a new view to come across. Always remember:
Use a footpath wherever possible
At night, wear light-coloured clothing or carry something white with you. Try and cross the roads near lights
If you are within 20 metres of a pedestrian crossing you must use the crossing to cross the road
Traffic must stop for pedestrians using a crossing but don’t suddenly step out – give the car time to stop
Obey any traffic signals. A buzzer, green walking person or arrow will signal when it is safe to cross
Cable Car
On those wet and cold Wellington days, the cable car is a great way to travel from the city to Kelburn Campus. For students it is $1 each way, and concession 10 trip cards are also available.
Buses
For timetables, fares (concessions), routes, and stations, visit Metlink or phone 04-801 7000.
Single tickets are purchased upon entering the bus. Ten trip and monthly passes are also available. The price depends on how many ‘zones’ (sections) you are travelling. These are economical if you travel regularly and can be bought from dairies, the bus or train station, Victoria Books shop, and tourist information offices.
Some useful bus routes include:
For travel between the Pipitea (Rutherford House, Railway Station
and Law Buildings) and Kelburn Campuses, catch the #20 or #17 bus (from $1) or take the cable car down to Lambton Quay
The Airport Stagecoach flyer leaves from Lower Hutt (Westfield shopping centre), goes through the city and to the airport (the price from Courtenay Place to the airport is $4)
City Tour – this a bus circuit of downtown Wellington every 10 minutes
Trains
Local train tickets can be purchased from the ticket counter at the train station or on the train. Also available are ten-trip and monthly passes. For timetables, fares, routes, and stations, visit Metlink.
Cycling
Because of its many hills and tight curves in the roads, cycling around Wellington can be tricky. When cycling:
always ride to be seen – wear reflective or light clothing at night
be sure you have the correct and legal equipment, such as lights and reflectors
wear a correctly fitted cycle helmet – the penalty for not wearing a helmet is an instant fine of $55
obey the road code at all times
Taxis
Taxis are usually taken from one of the many taxi cab ranks around the city and in the suburbs, or ordered by phone for a small extra charge – see the Yellow Pages under ‘Taxi’ for phone numbers.
For large groups, shuttles (Co-op Shuttles, phone 0-4-387 8787) are cheaper than a taxi. When ordering the shuttle, inform them of your destination and the number of people, and they will advise you of the price, as most operate a fixed price schedule. These can also be used for single passengers, particularly for going to the airport. It’s about $15 from Kelburn to the airport.
13 free things to do in Wellington
Te Papa, Our Place, New Zealand’s National Museum on Cable Street, along the waterfront. It is open 365 days a year (some exhibitions have an entry fee).
Tour the Parliament Buildings and The Beehive, Molesworth Street – Mon-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 1-3pm
Botanical Gardens, top of the cable car, Kelburn. There are events in the gardens for the Summer City Programme from December to February.
The Museum of Wellington City and Sea, Queens Wharf – open 10am-5pm daily.
Otari-Wilton Bush, Wilton.
Red Rocks Coastal Walk – this takes 2-3 hours and you will see seals from May to October
City Gallery, Civic Square (some exhibitions have an entry fee).
Dowse Art Museum, 35 Laings Road, Lower Hutt.
Open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm and Weekends/Public holidays 11am-5pm.
Short walks, beach walks, city walks, heritage and nature walks – pick up a free walkway brochures from the Wellington Visitor Centre, Wakefield Street
Wellington Public Library, Victoria Street – a great resource, where you can borrow from a huge range of books, music CDs and DVDs
The wind turbine, Brooklyn
St Paul’s Cathedral, Molesworth Street
Capital E, Civic Square – events, theatre, arts centre and school holiday programmes
10 things to do for less than $10
Wellington Zoo, Newtown, $9 plus concessions
Wellington Aquatic Centre, Kilbirnie and Freyburg Pool, Oriental Parade – $3.50, spectator 50c
City Circular Bus – $1 takes you around the circuit once
Travel the Wellington region on a train or a bus
Hire rollerblades/tandem bikes at Oriental Bay
Catch the ferry across the harbour to Day’s Bay, Eastbourne
Go ten-pin bowling at Bowland, Petone
Check out the view and the stars in the planetarium at the top of the Botanic Gardens
Go rock climbing or kayaking at Ferg’s Rock n Kayak on Queens Wharf
See native New Zealand birds at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
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