Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.nzafa.com
;
1 Queens Wharf; 10am-5pm)
The showcase of the New Zealand
Academy of Fine Arts, Academy Galleries presents frequently changing exhibitions by
NZ artists.
New Zealand Portrait Gallery
GALLERY
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(
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
CULTURAL BUILDING
OFFLINE MAP
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 Parlia-
GOOGLE MAP
, designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence and built between 1969
and 1980. Controversy surrounded its construction and - love it or loathe it - it's the ar-
chitectural symbol of the country. Across the road are the
Government Buildings
OFFLINE MAP
GOOGLE MAP
, the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere,
doing a pretty good impersonation of stone.
WELLINGTON IN ...
Two Days
To get a feel for the lie of the land, walk (or drive) up to the
Mt Victoria Lookout
, or
ride the
cable car
up to the
Wellington Botanic Gardens
. After lunch on groovy
Cuba Street
, catch some Kiwi culture at
Te Papa
or the
Museum of Wellington
City & Sea
. Top off the day by doing the rounds of the city's numerous craft-beer
bars.
The next day, reconstitute with coffee and a plate of sage eggs at
Nikau
in the
City Gallery, then head to
Zealandia
to meet the birds and learn about NZ conser-
vation, or encounter some other bird-brains in a tour of
Parliament House
. Raid
Moore Wilson
for cheese and wine for a picnic supper in Waitangi Park, before
heading back into the night lights for some live music, or a movie at the gloriously
restored
Embassy Theatre
.
