Wellington
Destination
New Zealand's capital city offers up an eclectic mix of cinemas, live music venues, musems, hip bars and cafes and has a world-class foodie scene. Wellington is often called 'Windy Welly' and you'll quickly understand why if you're visiting on a day when gale force winds are blowing in off the Cook Strait.
Wellington is arguably one of the world's most beautiful capital cities. The city centre is backed on one side by towering hills covered with bush and dotted with colorful weatherboard houses. On the other side you have Oriental Bay with its walkable shoreline and white sand beaches. Wander the nearby streets to get a feel for the cafe and bar culture that Wellington is famous for. And as Wellington is the cultural capital of New Zealand, a visit isn't complete without checking out the National Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa.
The hills surrounding Wellington offer some great mountain biking - don't miss the Makarau Park Mountain Bike Park found about four kilometres west of the city centre. If you're not keen for single track mountain bike rides, consider a leisurly cycle ride around Wellington Harbor and on to Oriental Bay. If you're after a bit more of a challenge, cycle up Mount Victoria for some of the best views of the Wellington Region.
Chances are you'll be in Wellington waiting to cross the cook strait, yet realize this is not your typical port town - it's a diverse, hip, and cultural capital city that is worth exploring for a couple days.
