Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wellington Region
Why Go?
If your New Zealand travels thus far have been all about the great outdoors and sleepy rur-
al towns, Wellington will blow the cobwebs away. Art-house cinemas, funky boutiques,
hip bars, theatres and lashings of restaurants - all can be found in the 'cultural capital'.
As the crossing point between the North and South Islands, travellers have long been
passing through these parts. The likes of Te Papa and Zealandia now stop visitors in their
tracks, and even a couple of days' pause will reveal myriad other attractions - a
windswept and interesting harbour with a walkable waterfront, hillsides clad in pretty
weatherboard houses, ample inner-city surprises and some of the freshest city air on the
planet.
Less than an hour away to the north, the Kapiti Coast has a slower, beachy vibe, with
Kapiti Island nature reserve a highlight. An hour away over the Rimutaka Range, the Wai-
rarapa farm plains are dotted with quiet towns and famed wineries, hemmed in by a
rugged, wild coastline.
When to Go?
»
The capital has its fair share of blustery, cold, grey days, but such conditions prevail
only part of the time. 'Windy Welly' breaks out into blue skies and T-shirt temperatures at
least several days a year, when you'll hear folk exclaim 'You can't beat Wellington on a
good day'.
»
November to April are the warmer months, with average maximums hovering around
20°C. From May to August it's colder and wetter - daily temperatures lurk around 12°C.
»
The Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa are a different story - they are both warmer, less windy,
with more blue-sky days.
Best Places to Eat
»
Ortega Fish Shack (
Click here
)
»
Logan Brown (
Click here
)
»
Ombra (
Click here
)
