Wellington
New Zealand’s capitol sits at the southernmost point of the North Island. It was my last stop on my way back to catch my return flight from Auckland to the US. Two days was enough time to see the primary attractions, especially since Wellington is small and highly walkable. In fact, I didn’t need to rent a car for Wellington.
From the airport, take the bus into the city center for $9.00NZD as the simplest, cheapest option. Uber is available if you prefer. I stayed in a private room at The Setup on Dixon hostel; it was clean, comfortable, quiet, and centrally located. Be sure to check various apps [link here to post about different apps] for the lowest price.
Museum of New Zealand
After checking in at my hostel, I walked over to the The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. I explicitly do not like museums, however this is the most renowned museum in New Zealand. It’s free, and it offered me a quick glimpse into the country’s natural and political history. I looked around for about 90 minutes and was satisfied after I saw the giant squid.
Oriental Parade to Mount Victoria Lookout
From the museum, I strolled down Oriental Parade. To be clear, the Oriental Parade is just a strange name for the road and walkway butting up against Oriental Bay. I wasn’t particularly impressed with this part, but it’s perhaps that at this point in the trip I was beginning to lose a little steam.
Hiking to Mount Victoria
The best view of Wellington may undoubtedly be found atop the Mount Victoria Lookout.
Had I followed my itinerary (I instead went to my hostel for a nap), I would have walked down another 10 minutes to the beginning of the Southern Walkway to start my hike to the top of Mount Victoria. The trail (map here) takes about 45 minutes. See this detailed post on what to expect during your walk.
Note that you may also take a bus to Mount Victoria, and it’s also accessible by car. By the time I made it to the lookout, I had run out of cash for bus fare, so I ordered an Uber to pick me up.
Friday/Saturday Market Nights on Cuba Street
If you happen to be in Wellington on a Friday or Saturday, you’ll want to have dinner from one of the food trucks on the Cuba Street Market. The food is highly diverse. Bring cash though! The market lasts somewhere from 5:00 to 11:00 PM.
Day Two in Wellington
Fidel’s Cafe
My friends know that I am a western liberal who believes in individual rights, free markets, and international peace. So, brunching at Fidel’s Cafe was an ironic experience to be sure. I’ll say, though, that if the Cuban people routinely eat like I did at Fidel’s, then perhaps I should revisit my political assumptions. Joking aside, I was very impressed with Fidel’s. The coffee was great, food tasty, and their presentation plays well to my comrades of the Instagram generation.
Don’t fear a 20-30 minute wait. Their coffee stand serves everybody, waiting or seated. I ordered Fidel’s Feast, which came with generous portions and the best poached eggs I’ve ever had.
Zealandia
The next few steps are best taken in the order that I present them to save time and needless walking. First on the list is Zealandia, Wellington’s world-class conservation project. To get there, take the cable car to the top of the hill. Once you arrive at the top, there is a bus stop about 30 yards away, where free shuttles to Zealandia will come every 20 minutes.
I wasn’t awed by Zealandia, but I’m not much of a birdwatching buff. There are plenty of other rare, native animals however. When you arrive, catch the pontoon for a short tour of the lake, where you’ll be shown the variety of ducks, fish, and frogs. After that, walk through the rest of the preserve to snap pictures of plenty of exotic animals.
Botanical Gardens to New Zealand Parliament
Once you’ve returned from Zealandia to the Wellington City i-SITE using their free shuttle, take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens. It takes 40 minutes to an hour, and you’ll exit near New Zealand Parliament, known to Kiwis as the Beehive. Catch a tour of Parliament. They actually take you onto the floor of parliament! Be aware that they do require you to check your phone before starting the tour.
Bonus Post: Auckland’s Waiheke Island
I arrived in Auckland the morning of my final day in New Zealand. As my flight home was scheduled for 10:50 PM that night, I had plenty of time to head to Auckland’s renowned Waiheke Island. To get there from the airport, I took the SkyBus downtown (stop 7018), which cost $34NZD for a roundtrip ticket. You can save $2 by purchasing your ticket online. After that I walked over to the Downtown Terminal, to catch your ferry to Waiheke. You may purchase your ticket online or at the station for the same price of $38NZD for a roundtrip ticket.
You will arrive at the ferry port, where cabs and public buses await you. The bus is the cheapest option at $3.50NZD per ride. My first stop was Onetangi beach, where there was a nice stretch of beach and a couple restaurants. I ate at Charlie Farley’s. They had classic British fare, and it was a satisfying lunch. After lunch, I took a walk up and down Onetangi beach, which didn’t take long.
At this point, there wasn’t much more to do in this part of the island, so I found the bus over to Oneroa Beach. You will be dropped off near a strip mall. I was able to get a quick neck and shoulder massage at Thai Lanna Massage Therapy. Highly recommended! Afterwards, I walked down to Oneroa Beach, dipped my toes in the water, and headed back up to relax for a moment. I found a sweet treat and jumped on the wifi at The Island Grocer, which has a coffee shop within.
