Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.nzportraitgallery.org.nz
; Shed 11, Queens Wharf; 10.30am-4.30pm)
Housed in the historic
waterfront Shed 11, this gallery presents a diverse range of NZ portraiture from its own
collection and frequently changing guest exhibitions.
Parliament House
MAP
CULTURAL BUILDING
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.parliament.nz
; Bowen St; tours on the hour 10am-4pm)
The austere grey-and-cream
Parliament House was completed in 1922. Free one-hour tours depart from the ground-
floor foyer (arrive 15 minutes prior). Next door is the 1899 neo-Gothic Parliamentary
chitect Sir Basil Spence and built between 1969 and 1980. Controversy surrounded its
construction and - love it or loathe it - it's the architectural symbol of the country. Across
southern hemisphere, doing a pretty good impersonation of stone.
Mt Victoria Lookout
The city's most accessible viewpoint is on the top of 196m-high Mt Victoria, east of the
city centre. You can take the Roseneath bus some of the way up, but the rite of passage is
to sweat it out on the walk (ask a local for directions or just follow your nose). If you've
got your own wheels, take Oriental Pde along the waterfront and then scoot up Carlton
Gore Rd. If this whets your appetite, ask a local how to get to the wind turbine or Mt
Kaukau - both higher, better, blinkin' marvellous.
LOOKOUT
Wellington Botanic Gardens
MAP
GARDENS
GOOGLE MAP
The hilly, 25-hectare botanic gardens can be
almost
effortlessly visited via a cable-
car ride (nice bit of planning, eh?), although there are several other entrances hidden in the
hillsides. They boast a tract of original native forest along with varied collections includ-
ing a beaut rose garden and international plant collections. Add in fountains, a cheerful
playground, sculptures, duck pond, cafe, magical city views and much more, and you've
got a grand outing indeed.
Cable Car
MAP
CABLE CAR
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