Wellington
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and a cultural center with about 400,000 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the country.
Wellington | ||
region | Wellington region | |
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resident | 418,500 (2018) | |
height | 0 m | |
tourist information | +64 (0)4 802 4860 www.WellingtonNZ.com | |
no tourist information on Wikidata: | ||
location | ||
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background
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand since 1863. The city's location, closer to the center of the country, during the Gold Rush, was a rash against the then larger Auckland. Wellington is located at the southern end of the North Island and with Port Nicholson has a large natural harbor on the Cook Strait, allowing connections to the South Island.
In Wellington everything is a little denser than in Auckland, for example. In spite of modern buildings, some old buildings could survive alongside designer high-rise buildings and highways. A city with its own flair and a lot of heart. The view from the center of Victoria is good, with a view of the entire city and almost the entire bay. The National Museum "Te Papa" in the area of the harbor shows a lot of interesting things from former and modern New Zealand. In particular, the culture of the Maoris is brought very clearly closer. The Botanic Garden, which can be reached by cable car, is also a good point of view.
Wellington City has a population of about 200,000 inhabitants and has 57 small parts of the city. Its CBD (Central Business District) is roughly equivalent to Lambton Ward with the parts of Wellington Central, Pipitea, Te Aro, Te Aro Valley, Mt Victoria and Oriental Bay. The population of the entire Wellington region is around 450,000.
arrival
By plane
The airport is relatively close to the city and easily accessible by public transport. Due to its short runway, it is only partially suitable for long-haul flights.
by train
Wellington is located at the southern end of the route of the Overlander. There are other local trains with the Capital Connection on the same route, then the Hutt Valley Line to Upper Hutt, the Johnsonville Line and the Wairapa Line to Masterton. You can find current timetables and prices at Metlink.
By bus
Wellington is connected to all major cities of the North Island by Intercity bus lines.
On the street
Wellington is not particularly car-friendly. Parking is rare and expensive. It is normal to have bigger traffic jams during the hour. However, you can still find your way around without any special local knowledge. However, outside the rush hour, you can get there quickly.
By ship
- In Wellington's harbor, on 1Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry Wellington Terminal are available ferries to Picton (1 person approx. 59 NZ$, car approx. 79 NZ$ depending on line and season, make sure to book).
- Larger cruise ships are moored on 2 Aotea Quay near Westpac Stadium.
mobility
If you are a bit on foot, you can explore the city center without any means of transport, as everything is close by. Otherwise, Wellington has an excellent bus network.
A special means of transport is the Cable Car, which runs 628 meters from the Lambton Quay downtown and 119 meters above the Botanical Gardens in Kelburn district.
sights
churches
- 1 Old St. Pauls Cathedral. Wooden building in neo-Gothic style on Mulgrave Street, Bishop's seat of the Anglican Church from 1866 to 1967. Glass windows worth seeing. Opened: daily from 9:30 to 17:00. Price: Entry is free, donations are requested.
structures
The government buildings:
- 1 Beehive. The building was opened in 1977 and is part of the Parliament and hosts the cabinet meetings of the New Zealand Government. Because of its shape, it quickly became known as beehive.
- 2 Parliament House. The Parliament building is next to the Beehive.
- 3 Parliamentary Library. Parliament's library was opened in 1899.
- 2 Old Government Buildings. The building, completed in 1876, is the second largest wooden building in the world after the Todai-ji Temple in Nara. Today it houses the legal faculty of Victoria University of Wellington.
museums
- 3Museum of New Zealand (On 5 Floors Exhibitions on the natural history of New Zealand, Maori culture, the art of the country. The interactive Discovery Centers are also impressive, such as the large heart of a whale accessible to children), Cable Street. Opened: daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Price: Admission free, special exhibitions can be charged.
- 4 Museum of Wellington City & Sea (Wellington Museum), 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf. History of the city and shipping. The museum is located at Queens Wharf, Jervois Quay. Opened: daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Price: Entry is free.
streets and squares
park
- 5 Botanical Garden (Wellington Botanic Garden). The Botanical Gardens are freely accessible and the visitor center is located in the staircase. Opened: Mon - Fri 9:00 - 16:00.
- Frank Kitts. The park is located near the Museum Te Papa, directly on the water.
miscellaneous
- Mount Victoria. Panoramic view of the whole city.
- Capital E for Kids. Theater for children, on-TV studio, soundhouse at Civic Square.
activities
- sealcoast. Visit a large seal colony on the south-west coast with four-wheel vehicles.
- Flat Earth. Flat Earth offers tours to the filmmaking locations Lord of the Rings.
- Weta NZ. Visit the studios for special effects of movies like Lord of the Rings or King Kong.
- Karori Sanctuary. Kiwi breeding station is located on the western edge of the city.
purchase
- Reading Courtenay Central. Shopping mall, cinemas, car park, central location at the Customhouse Quay.
- Old Bank, Lambton Quay, city center. shopping carts in a former bank.
- Simply New Zealand, at Wakefield Street Visitor Center. arts, souvenirs.
- Sommerfields, Lambton Quay. arts.
kitchen
favorable
- 1 Nicolini's Italian Restaurant, 26 Courtenay Place; right behind the Youth Hostel. Romantic restaurant with good and affordable cuisine.
means
- Skippers Seafood Restaurant, Freyberg Lagoon, Oriental Parade.
walking
- Dockside NZ, Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf.
- St. James. theater and opera house, The Jimmy Cafe & Bar.
nightlife
accommodation
- Kingsgate Hotel, Hawkestone Street, Thorndon, near Botanical Gardens.
- Hotel Willis, Willis Street. Central location.
- Richmond Guest House, Brougham Street, at the foot of Mt. Viktoria. WLAN.
- Tinakori Lodge, Tinakori Road.
- Capital Gateway Motor Inn, Newlands Road, Johnsonville. North of the center.
learning
work
safety
- 111 national emergency number
- 4 Police, 41 Victoria St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-381 2000.
health
- 5 Unichem Wellington Central Pharmacy, 204 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-472 0362, Fax: (0)4-472 0587, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Monday to Thursday from 08:00 to 18:00, Friday from 08:00 to 19:00, Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 to 16:00.
- 6 Unichem Willis Street Pharmacy, 16 Willis St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-472 9398, Fax: (0)4-472 6221, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 18:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday and public holidays from 11:00 to 16:00.
- 7 Life Pharmacy, 50 Manners St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-382 8762, Fax: (0)4-382 8663, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00, Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
- ,8 City Medical Center, 190 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-471 2161, Fax: (0)4-471 2162, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Monday from 08:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Thursday from 07:30 to 17:00, Friday from 08:00 to 16:30. Closed on weekends and public holidays.
- 9 Capital Care Health Center, 35 Tennyson St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-801 8935. Opened: Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00.
- 10 Wellington Accident & Urgent Medical Center, 17 Adelaide Rd, Mount Cook, Wellington 6021. Tel: +64(0)4-384 4944, Fax: (0)4-384 4840. Opened: Daily also on public holidays from 08:00 to 23:00.
- 11 Wellington Hospital, Riddiford St, Wellington 6021. Tel: +64(0)4-385 5999.
Practical information
- 12i-SITE Visitor Information Center, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-802 4860, e-mail: [email protected]. Opened: Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00.
- 13 German Embassy, 90-92 Hobson St, Thorndon, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-473 6063, Fax: (0)4-473 6069.
- 14 Austrian Honorary Consulate, Level 4, 75 Ghuznee St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-384 1402, Fax: (0)4-384 3773, e-mail: [email protected].
- 15 Swiss Embassy, Level 12, Maritime Tower, 10 Customhouse Quay, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)4-472 1593, Fax: (0)4-499 6302, e-mail: [email protected].
- 16 New Zealand Post, 2 Manners St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)800-081 190, Fax: (0)4-801 2428. Opened: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:30, Saturday from 09:00 to 15:00.
- 17 New Zealand Post, 177-183 Featherston St, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)800-081 190, Fax: (0)4-499 9875. Opened: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.
- 18 New Zealand Post, 94 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011. Tel: +64(0)800-081 190. Opened: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.