Wellington Travel Guide

Wellington is a laid back city.  You can smell relax and warmth ambience everywhere. There are a lot of money exchange shops throughout the town beside the airport of course.  The one that always give a good rates is James Cook, last time I know it was on the corner of Willis St and Lambton Quay I don't know whether it's still there or not but  you can ask around.  There are also National Bank, ANZ Bank, Westpac Banks. It is easy to get around Wellington, you can actually walk everywhere within the city centre,  there are cabs and they are easily found on a street corners and also buses.  The main bus station is located next to the railway station, as far as I remember there are no bus operate above 9 PM, so you better catch a cab or walk. Food are also everywhere ranging from fast food such McDonalds / KFC and Burger Kings, there are also a lot of of course Western restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Korean, Japanese, Malaysian restaurants and Indian restaurants around the city centre and let's not forget Turkish Kebab as well.  Most of them you can find along Willis Street, Cuba Street, Courtenay Place.  Cafes are also everywhere, I like Felix Cafe on Wakefield Street for a nice afternoon coffee or tea, Krazy Lounge of Cuba Street for a killer Iced Chocolate and I love having breakfast at Fidel's on Cuba Street, the place is next to a fish company (I dunno whether it is still there or not) and Zebos for brunch on Saturday, they never fail serving a killer breakfast.  For a killer seafood Chowder I would go to La Bodega cafe (I dunno whether it is still there, it was on Upper Willis Street).  If I don't feel like lazy to walk up to Oriental Parade or after Swimming on Public Swimming pool on Oriental parade, I love going to The Parade Cafe, their Chocolate Cake is super! Wellington is not that alive during weekday nights, shops are mosly close around 6 PM except restaurants, Cafes and Fast food counters.  There is a late night Shopping on Friday night.  The open half day on Saturday and some shops are closed on Sunday. There are nice clubs all over Wellington but most are concentrated along Courtenay Place area, where you can find R&B clubs, Jazzy clubs, Trance Clubs or just lounge for chilling with your mates.  Most clubs are happening on Friday Night and Saturday night, some clubs do open on Wednesday nights as it is normally students' night. Wellington is a harbour city meaning that it is located near the harbour area so you can expect a beautiful view of sea and mountain.  There are a couple of spots in the Wellington City, the city council area where you can find City Library and Children Museum and a exhibition center The Michael Fowler Centre.  There is also a Te Papa Tongarewa, National Museum.  It has a unique but Modern Architecture.  You can also go Seals watching somewhere in Seatoun area (I forgot the exact area because you have to walk to get to the seals place) and last but not least Mount Victoria, the highest place in Wellington where you can see the view of Wellington City, beautiful. Except visiting museum, going to Oriental Bay and Mount Vic there is not much tourist attractions except you are willing to go a bit further like to Wairarapa for wine tasting or Paraparaumu area for Cheese tasting and farm attraction (sheeps that is) There are lots of backpackers hotel in Wellington. one YHA hostel (please check first whether it is still there or not) is located on the corner of Cable Street and Kent Terrace.  The other one backpacker hostel is located right in front of Railway Station.  There some posh hotels around like Quality hotel on Lambton Quay, Quest hotel on Willis (which was also my home when I was there) Wellington is practically safe for women travellers on we have to be a little bit more cautious on Friday and Saturday night because drunken people are everywhere in sight.  But the police there are cool and qucikly response to anything. Hopefully this is useful

Wellington is a cool place if the weather's right.  No matter what time of year come prepared for four seasons.  Check out the City Gallery in Civic Sqaure, it's free, as is Te Papa, the national museum.  There's the Fine Art's Gallery near Queen's Warf (donation), sometimes it's worth a visit.  Cable Car is very popular with toursists (and no you won't crash).  Cuba Street is supposedly vibe-ish. Check out the beaches, Oriental, Lyall Bay, Eastborne.  But it's also nice to get out of the city as it's only a short drive in any direction to get a taste of rural scenery, Waikane is nice.  Most people only go to Wellington to travel through to the South Island on the Picton Ferry but it's worth a short stop to have a look around.  The nice thing about Wellington is the way most of the surrounding suberbs work into the landscape, old victorian-style houses dotted on the hills.  But the best sight in Wellington is the Katherine Mansfield birthplace for the literary, cultural tourist.  Have a read of some of her stories before you go, like 'Prelude', 'The Wind Blows,' 'At the Bay' (set in Eastbourne) to put the place and the house in perspective. Enjoy!!

If you're in Wellington there's a few places you really must see.  The Aro Cafe is one such place, that not only serves excellent coffee, but has groovy magazines, fantastic food (including kick ass yoyos) and an atmosphere that's hard to  duplicate.
Another place is the bucket tree at the top of the cable car at the start of the Botanical Gardens.  It's a giant tree - climb it and sit on top of it to marvel at Wellington.  Brilliant spot to have a picknik, and completely safe!
Lastly, there this fantastic children's bookshop in Lyall Bay.  It's small, it's dinky and it's ideal to do an afternoon's browsing in it.