Wellington

At the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and is home to the country’s government and administration.

The city is also home to the Victoria University, giving it a young and vibrant feel that is just one of the factors that contributes to making it one of the most livable cities in the world. The cosmopolitan feel is also supported by a world-famous sailing harbour while the city’s electric train and buses add to the already fresh, clean, totally unpolluted nature of the city.

Wellington is also home to New Zealand’s movie industry (including Peter Jackson, among many others) and is widely recognised as the cultural capital of New Zealand as the city is also host to the Royal New Zealand Ballet, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Opera, New Zealand Chamber Music and the New Zealand School of Dance.

Cable Car and Botanic Gardens

One of the most well known attractions in the city is Wellingtons Cable Car that stretches from Lambton Quay up past Victoria University to the city Botanic Gardens, filled with begonias, roses, and during October with over 30,000 tulips. Very popular with the locals on fine days.

Houses of Parliament

The executive wing of the National Parliament building in known as the ‘Beehive’ to the locals – not because it is as busy as one. The rest of the grounds are open to the public and the area is also known as ‘The Hill’. The Old Parliament Building is the second largest wooden building in the world behind the Todaiji Temple in Japan.

Museum of New Zealand

Also know in Maori as ‘Te Papa Tongarewa’ or ‘Our Place’, the Museum of New Zealand is New Zealand’s largest and most modern museum and has an exhibition space equivalent to three football fields. Entry is free and relics include those from Maori culture, Captain Cook and exhibitions showcasing European life in New Zealand, farming and agriculture, ‘Awesome Forces’, ‘Mountains to Sea’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’.

Wellington Zoo

The Wellington Zoo is always popular with animal lovers or those looking to do something a little different.

Westpac Trust Stadium

This stadium was inaugurated in 1999 and is the home cricket in Wellington as well as being the home stadium of and the Super 14 Rugby Hurricanes .

• Wellington Airport