CIGAR 2016: Information about Wellington

Out and about in Wellington

Wellington is the coolest little capital in the world. With a fantastic art scene, world class foodie culture and a picturesque location, Wellington is a cosmopolitan city with the personality of a village – navigating the city is easy, almost everything is within walking distance!

• Learn more about Wellington

Do you want to explore more of what Wellington has to offer?

There are a number of walking tours around wellington, including the gourmet food tours from Zest Food Tours of New Zealand. However, Wellington is easy to traverse on foot alone, with a gorgeous waterfront (even on a stormy day), and a short walk up to the top of Mt Victoria for a gorgeous view across the city.

If you are not keen for a climb, but want the view, the iconic cable car will take you up to Kelburn lookout. Only a short walk from the Carter Observatory and Kelburn village. There is also a shuttle which leaves from the cable car museum to Zealandia, Wellington’s unique bird and wildlife sanctuary. The groundbreaking eco-restoration project is a sanctuary for nature lovers, and Wellington Zoo is close by too.

We also have a wealth of museums in and around the CBD, including Te Papa and the Museum of Wellington City and Sea down on the waterfront. You could also visit the Reserve Bank Museum, just across the road from the Beehive (parliament tours are available Monday-Sunday from 10am-4pm).

If the arts are more your thing, Wellington is home to a huge number of galleries, theatre production houses and live music venues. If you are after something a bit different, one of Wellington’s best kept secrets is the wealth of artist studios and galleries housed in the former RNZAF complex out at Shelly bay, great for a wander, a browse and a chat with some of Wellington’s most interesting artists, topped off with a visit to the infamous Chocolate Fish café.

Just around the corner in Miramar, you can get a behind the scenes look at Weta Workshop, the studio responsible for design and effects work for the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, and take a tour of the workshop (bookings recommended). Finish off the afternoon at Wellington’s unique cinema’s – the Roxy, Paramount or Embassy.

Wellington is food lover’s heaven with a huge arrange of cuisine and styles of dining on offer. The strong café scene means a great coffee is never far away (make sure to visit Flight coffee if you are a connoisseur).  Wellington is also the craft beer capital of New Zealand, so if you have time, get out to try some the wares of our local brewers – You can taste before you buy at the cellar doors at the Garage Project and Parrotdog, just on the outskirts of the CBD. Otherwise, pop in to one of the city’s great craft beer bars.  Also close by is the Wairarapa wine region. Venture outside of the city to visit some of local vineyards, have a delicious lunch, or join a wine tour.

What about the rest of New Zealand?

New Zealand is a small, uncrowded country with something to offer everyone. Winter brings colder weather to New Zealand, with rain in the North, and often snow in the South – but it is the perfect time to explore, especially if winter sports are your passion.

In the central North Island, Mt Ruapehu hosts both Whakapapa and Turoa Skifields, and you can base yourself in Whakapapa village or Ohakune (the carrot capital!), and explore the National Park while you are there.

If skiing is not your thing, perhaps take the opportunity to explore the North Island, visiting Waiheke Island in Auckland, Hobbiton near Matamata, the mud pools and hot springs in Rotorua or the distinctive architecture of Napier.  Alternatively, just across the Cook Straight, Marlborough enjoys a very temperate winter climate, and with over 40 cellar doors in Marlborough there is much to explore over there.

Further down south, Queenstown is absolutely buzzing in winter, with easy access to a number of skifields, and other extreme sports for those adventurous types. It is also close to Wanaka, via the gorgeous township of Arrowtown. In the vicinity are a number of renowned central Otago vineyards, and it is a relatively short trip south to Milford sound and Te Anau. Three hours from Queenstown is the City of Dunedin, famous for its surf, birdlife, chocolate and scarfies - a must visit for the avid explorer. Further north is Christchurch, which is gradually being rebuilt into a vibrant, friendly city.

Visit Tourism New Zealand for further information about New Zealand, including sample itineraries and tips and trick for travelling through New Zealand.

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