A guide to Northland, Wellington and surrounding areas
Sightseeing
Te Papa is New Zealand's national museum and is a must-see in Wellington. Entry is free and there are often paid exhibitions available. It is definitely worthwhile visiting the Toi Art section - the upstairs part is sometimes hard to find but ask someone at Te Papa to give you instructions.
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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
55 Cable StTe Papa is New Zealand's national museum and is a must-see in Wellington. Entry is free and there are often paid exhibitions available. It is definitely worthwhile visiting the Toi Art section - the upstairs part is sometimes hard to find but ask someone at Te Papa to give you instructions.
This museum focuses on Wellington only, and is definitely worth a visit. It has many floors of fascinating content about the Capital and sometimes hosts events.
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Wellington Museum
3 Jervois QuayThis museum focuses on Wellington only, and is definitely worth a visit. It has many floors of fascinating content about the Capital and sometimes hosts events.
If you are interested in the stars, this is a great place to visit. It has a number of planetarium shows available throughout the day and during some evenings the telescope is open. There is a charge and bookings to the planetarium are recommended. Good for adults and children.
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Space Place at Carter Observatory
40 Salamanca RdIf you are interested in the stars, this is a great place to visit. It has a number of planetarium shows available throughout the day and during some evenings the telescope is open. There is a charge and bookings to the planetarium are recommended. Good for adults and children.
The Botanic Gardens has many easy walking tracks, a children's playground, and nice cafe. They often host music and children events during the summer.
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Wellington Botanic Garden
101 Glenmore StThe Botanic Gardens has many easy walking tracks, a children's playground, and nice cafe. They often host music and children events during the summer.
Karori Park has a 1km track around the outside for walking or easy cycling, plus a children's playground and cafe. Great for families. You can catch a bus from by the Karori tunnel, walk up in 25 minutes or drive as there is plenty of parking.
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Karori Park
418 Karori RdKarori Park has a 1km track around the outside for walking or easy cycling, plus a children's playground and cafe. Great for families. You can catch a bus from by the Karori tunnel, walk up in 25 minutes or drive as there is plenty of parking.
You can see ZEALANDIA from my house and it is a beautiful slice of native landscape and teaming with wildlife including tuatara and native birds. In the summer you are pretty much guaranteed to see New Zealand's oldest living dinosaurs - tuatara, and the noisy cheeky kaka birds.
You are likely to see some of the birds flying passed my windows in the early morning and evening as they forage for food.
There is an exhibition about New Zealand land and native species and a cafe onsite. The tracks are well maintained and there is a boat ride. Give yourself plenty of time because a visit can take 1-3 hours on the short tracks and up to 5-6 on the upper tracks.
It is a 15-20 minute walk from my house or drive as there is plenty of parking.
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Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
53 Waiapu RoadYou can see ZEALANDIA from my house and it is a beautiful slice of native landscape and teaming with wildlife including tuatara and native birds. In the summer you are pretty much guaranteed to see New Zealand's oldest living dinosaurs - tuatara, and the noisy cheeky kaka birds.
You are likely to see some of the birds flying passed my windows in the early morning and evening as they forage for food.
There is an exhibition about New Zealand land and native species and a cafe onsite. The tracks are well maintained and there is a boat ride. Give yourself plenty of time because a visit can take 1-3 hours on the short tracks and up to 5-6 on the upper tracks.
It is a 15-20 minute walk from my house or drive as there is plenty of parking.
Food scene
This is an amazing restaurant on one side and bar on the other side. Suitable for adult dining rather than family dining. They use seasonable food and everything is always delicious.
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Havana Bar
34 Wigan StThis is an amazing restaurant on one side and bar on the other side. Suitable for adult dining rather than family dining. They use seasonable food and everything is always delicious.
Kisa is a up-market turkish style restaurant where you share plates. Bookings are essential but worth it.
Kisa
195 Cuba StreetKisa is a up-market turkish style restaurant where you share plates. Bookings are essential but worth it.
This is a great local pub with nice food. Suitable for the whole family. It is close to the house but you would need to drive. There is plenty of parking.
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Kelburn Village Pub
87 Upland RdThis is a great local pub with nice food. Suitable for the whole family. It is close to the house but you would need to drive. There is plenty of parking.
Neighbourhoods
Northland has public tennis courts by the Northland park that can be played on for free, a flat ground park for kicking a ball around, and a local school with a playground. There is a local store which sells everything, including a good wine selection, and loads of takeaway stores. The curry house, Dehli 7 is great - medium is actually quite hot so if you want a lighter curry, go for mild.
There is Te Mairangi forest and lookout in Northland with loads of walking tracks and a great view of Wellington harbour. You can see it from my house and it is five minutes walk to the lookout.
Close-by is Wilton Bush where you can go walking, Kelburn which features the Botanic Gardens, Space Place and Cable Car.
There are three supermarkets 10 minutes away; Countdown in Crofton Downs, and Countdown and New World in Karori. You can also find a bakery and Italian grocer in Karori.
Northland
Northland has public tennis courts by the Northland park that can be played on for free, a flat ground park for kicking a ball around, and a local school with a playground. There is a local store which sells everything, including a good wine selection, and loads of takeaway stores. The curry house, Dehli 7 is great - medium is actually quite hot so if you want a lighter curry, go for mild.
There is Te Mairangi forest and lookout in Northland with loads of walking tracks and a great view of Wellington harbour. You can see it from my house and it is five minutes walk to the lookout.
Close-by is Wilton Bush where you can go walking, Kelburn which features the Botanic Gardens, Space Place and Cable Car.
There are three supermarkets 10 minutes away; Countdown in Crofton Downs, and Countdown and New World in Karori. You can also find a bakery and Italian grocer in Karori.
Tipps für Reisende
Verkehrsmittel
Walking and buses are the easiest way to get around.
Most buses travel to and from the bus station, but some take you right through the city and out to the eastern suburbs. The best way is to pick up a Snapper card and put some money on it to use on trains and buses.
Driving is ok, but there are some narrow roads as you go up the hills. There is paid parking in the city which starts at $4 an hour. You put the number plate into the meter to register. Don't worry if you don't get a ticket to display, you don't need it.
Wellington is easy to walk around and it is worth walking along the waterfront and stopping for gelato.
Was einpacken?
Pack layers
Wellington can see four seasons in one day, so layer your clothing so you can take layers off when it is warm and put a jumper on at night when it starts to cool.
Mit Kindern reisen
Lots to do for children
There are loads of things for children to do in Wellington and the pavements are clear for prams etc.
Local teenagers can sometimes be available to child-sit, so if you want to go out without children, please let me know and I can see if I can put you in touch with someone who can provide care.