Top 20 Wellington Attractions, New Zealand

The capital of New Zealand is located on the slopes of the mountains descending to the sea, along the shores of picturesque bays. The most beautiful panorama opens from Mount Victoria and the hills of the Kelburn suburb, which can be reached by cable car. At the top there is a wonderful Botanical Garden. Also, the exotic flora and fauna of the region can be observed on the territory of several reserves and about a hundred parks within the city and its environs.

Among the interesting architectural buildings of Wellington are the old St. Paul's Church, the memorial complex in honor of the polar explorer Beard, the Beehive parliamentary building, the largest wooden building in the world, reminiscent of an Italian palace. City museums introduce the culture and life of the indigenous Maori people. Movie buffs will love a tour of the filming locations of the famous film The Lord of the Rings.

What to see and where to go in Wellington?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Hive

The original form of the building in the style of modernism really resembles an English straw bee hive. The building has 4 underground and 10 above-ground floors, the height is 72 meters. The official opening took place in 1977. Currently, the "Beehive" is part of the parliamentary complex of buildings, it houses the ministries of the country, the prime minister's office. Considered one of the most iconic structures in the capital, it can be seen on the New Zealand $20 bill.

Wellington cable car

Date of foundation - 1902. Connects the capital's waterfront to the hilly central suburb of Kelburn. The length of the route is 612 meters. The maximum height is 120 meters. Travel time is about 5 minutes. In the 70s, the old booths were replaced. Currently, there are two red trailers with large windows and wooden seats. The maximum capacity of each is 100 people. At the top stop there is a museum of the history of the cable car.

Mount Victoria

It is located to the east of the center of the capital, has a height of 196 meters. The best observation deck in the city with a 360° view. A little lower is a memorial to the American pilot R. Bird, who made the first flight over the South Pole from a base in New Zealand. The mountain can be reached via several hiking trails or by bus. There are benches throughout. It is always very windy at the top, even on warm days, so warm clothing is recommended.

Cuba Street

The most famous street in Wellington. After the tram rails were removed from it in 1969, it turned into the main pedestrian artery of the capital. Since 1995, it has been recognized as an object of historical value. Today the street is filled with boutiques, bars, cafes, art galleries. Its northern part is given to commercial organizations. It is considered the center of the arts, street artists, musicians, photographers demonstrate their talents here. Location of the annual carnival.

Te Ngakau town square

Wellington's cultural center is centered around this square. Here is a magnificent building of the town hall, where not only government meetings are held, but also concerts, charity evenings, etc., the city library, an art gallery, a national museum, and the M. Fowler concert hall. The square was created in 1991 and was called Civil. It was renamed Te Ngakau in 2018, which means "heart" in Maori.

Te Papa Tongareva

The museum, whose name translates as "a collection of the wealth of this land", was created in the 90s with the aim of preserving the heritage of New Zealand. The thematic variety of expositions located on 6 floors is impressive. Here is an archaeological collection of fossils, a collection of marine and terrestrial fauna, a herbarium of 250,000 dried plants. As well as exhibitions dedicated to the life and culture of the Maori, the history of the development of the country, the filming of the film "The Lord of the Rings".

The Weta Cave

An entertaining museum of the Weta Workshop company, which has been creating makeup and costumes since 1987, and since 1993 special effects for various films and television. The company gained worldwide fame after the release of "The Lord of the Rings" by P. Jackson. Costumes, armor, weapons, creatures, special effects are the result of the work of Weta Workshop. Other famous films include Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, The Hobbit, Van Helsing, I, Robot and others.

Wellington City Gallery

Was established in 1980. Since 1993, it has been located in an Art Deco building on the territory of the Chivik Suar Park. It does not have its own permanent exhibition. There are exhibitions of paintings united by one theme, as well as solo exhibitions of New Zealand and foreign artists. After renovations in 2009, the museum building opened a new hall to display works of art from the indigenous Maori people, as well as an auditorium for lectures and seminars.

Wellington Museum

It was founded in 1972 as a maritime museum. Over time, the subject has expanded, and today part of the exposition is devoted to maritime history, and the other part is dedicated to the history and culture of the city and country. Thematic exhibitions are arranged in multimedia galleries. They tell about the Maori and the first European settlers, the Anglo-Boer War, the life of Wellington 100 years ago, navigators and their discoveries, the wreck of the Wahine ferry at the entrance to the city harbor in 1968, etc.

government house

. The interiors are decorated with marble fireplaces, oak paneling, bronze lamps, carpets, parquet floors, and a collection of New Zealand art. Some of the rooms are intended for solemn official events and government receptions. The residence is open to tourists.

National War Memorial

It is a high obelisk with three-dimensional sculptures, the top of which is crowned with a bronze rider. His figure with a raised hand symbolizes the readiness of New Zealanders to defend their fatherland. The monument is dedicated to the soldiers who died during two world wars of the 20th century and in local military conflicts. It was installed in 1931, and at the end of the 40s it was supplemented with figures of lions and bas-reliefs on military subjects. Every year on April 25, events are held at the memorial to mark the Day of Remembrance.

St. James Theater

The theater building is of historical value. It was erected in 1912 by the famous architect of his time G. White. St. James was the first theater built of reinforced concrete on a steel frame. The interior decoration was striking in luxury - marble chips, colored stained-glass windows, cypress and eucalyptus floors, cherubs on the ceiling. In the 90s, a large-scale reconstruction of the building was carried out. Today there are concerts, exhibitions, performances, celebrations.

Old St. Paul's Cathedral

One of the main historical sites of New Zealand, a good example of neo-Gothic architecture. It was erected from wood, without the use of nails, in 1866. Painted white on the outside. The interior decoration is distinguished by solemnity and an interesting play of light thanks to the stained-glass windows on the windows. Former seat of the Bishop of the Church District of Wellington. Since 1964, the diocese moved to a new cathedral, and the old one was bought by the government, restored and turned into a museum.

Bridge "From the city to the sea"

Known for his whimsical wood sculptures depicting mythical creatures, whales, dolphins and birds. The decoration of the bridge also contains stars, different phases of the moon and other Maori symbols. It was built in 1994 according to the project of the sculptor P. Matchitt. In this way, the artist decided to acquaint local residents and tourists with the history and cultural traditions of the Maori people. The pedestrian bridge connects the central city square with the harbour.

Wellington Regional Stadium

. Designed for 34500 spectators. Located near the center and railway station. Mainly used for sporting events. It regularly hosts rugby, cricket, football matches, including international ones. It is also a popular venue for concerts, festivals, exhibitions, large-scale cultural events.

Carter Observatory

Located on the territory of the botanical garden. The opening took place in 1941. In 2010 it was modernized. It is small in size, but equipped with the most modern technology. Planets, stars, galaxies and New Zealand's contribution to the development of space science are told through interactive galleries, multimedia exhibitions, the giant Thomas Cook telescope, and a full-dome digital planetarium. Special curricula for schoolchildren have been developed.

Wellington Botanic Garden

It is located on top of a hill, where the cable car leads from the city center. It was created in 1868. The territory of 25 hectares includes a rose garden, the House of Tropical Plants with the world's largest water lily and a collection of orchids, the Begonia House, a rock garden, a luxurious Victorian-style greenhouse, and a Tea House. Dozens of interesting sculptures serve as an additional decoration. There is a small artificial pond with ducks. For children there is a play area with swings.

Wellington Zoo

It was founded in 1906. It occupies a small area - 13 hectares, but all animals are kept in ideal conditions close to wild nature. The pride of the zoo is representatives of endangered species that feel great in captivity and bring offspring. Among them are the red panda, the Asian otter, the Malayan bear. In the exhibition pavilions you can admire ostriches, giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys, reptiles, the New Zealand kiwi bird.

Reserve "Zeeland"

On the territory of 225 hectares, the unique wildlife of New Zealand, which was disturbed by the arrival of man, has been restored. The ecosystem is isolated from the outside world. A special fence is installed along the perimeter, protecting the inhabitants of the park from hares, cats, mice, weasels and other predators. More than 40 bird species, dozens of reptile species, hundreds of plant species and thousands of invertebrate species have been recorded. Many of them are on the verge of extinction or have become extinct in other regions.

Ferry Interislander

The steamship company Interislander is engaged in the transportation of passengers and vehicles through the Cook Strait between the North and South Islands. The route from Wellington to Port Picton is 92 km and the ferry ride takes 3.5 hours. This time can be spent in a bar, watching movies or reading the press. Or you can just admire the scenery of the strait. Due to strong winds, currents and rocks, it is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, but at the same time one of the most picturesque.