Wellington Regional Information

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The earliest name for Wellington, from Maori legend, is Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui. In Maori it means \\\\\"the head of Maui's fish\\\\\". Caught and pulled to the surface by Polynesian navigator Maui, the fish became the North Island. In 1842 Wellington became the first Borough created in New Zealand Perched on the edge of a spectacular harbour, and surrounded by imposing hills, Wellington is a stunning and compact city. The seat of New Zealand's Government and administration, it offers a unique blend of heritage and culture, cafes and restaurants, shopping and nightlife, all within an easy stroll of each other. Wellington has a huge range of attractions on offer. Home to Te Papa and New Zealand's Parliament, Wellington is renowned for its heritage and cultural attractions with events and festivals all year round. The compact layout of the city means you can enjoy quality shopping, sample wine and food at a vast array of cafe's and restaurants and still have the energy to experience the city's nightlife. Wellington is the hub of an area known as Centre Stage of New Zealand including Wairarapa, Nelson and Marlborough. These comprise some of the best wineries, boutique rural retreats and natural heritage walkways in the country.

Wellington, New Zealand's capital, (population 346,000), is a superbly compact city, set on the shores of a deep harbour and surrounded by a natural amphitheatre of wooded hills. It is New Zealand's trendy weekend destination and has the most vibrant entertainment district in the country, where you can find some of the best bars, cafes, restaurants and theatres. Wellington boasts an eclectic mix of shops. With a host of fashion stores and the country's premier department store, the city offers some of New Zealand's best shopping opportunities. With around 400 cafes and restaurants, Wellington's inner city has the highest concentration of eating establishments in New Zealand, earning it the tag 'cafe capital of New Zealand'. The city is home to the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, as well as national dance, drama, opera and musical groups. Four professional theatres operate year-round, so there are live shows every night. Wellington is also the home of much New Zealand heritage, including Te Papa, New Zealand's national, leading edge museum. Just 45 minutes by car or rail from Wellington, Kapiti Coast is the recreational playground for the lower North Island, with both beaches and mountains readily accessible. Choose from white water rafting, safe swimming, boating, hunting and hiking, golfing, horse trekking and bush walks.

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. It offers an unforgettable city experience in a natural setting, located between a beautiful harbour and rolling green hills. Wellington has excellent shopping, professional theatre, heritage attractions, cafes and restaurants all close to untouched nature spots. Wellington is only two kilometers wide so it can be explored easily on foot. Te Papa is New Zealand's national museum. Located on the waterfront Te Papa is an easy walk from the centre of the city. Within the central city you will find many cafes and bars plus a mix of restaurants. An interesting experience is the Cuba Street Quarter, renowned for its coffee bars; Cuba Street is old Wellington town, with verandas over the pavement and its varied and interesting olde world charm. Wellington is the arts and culture capital of New Zealand. Festivals and events are held here throughout the year. A highlight is the bi-annual New Zealand International Arts Festival - a month long arts festival. There are numerous activities that one can experience when visiting Wellington. A place of interest is the Embassy Theatre, restored for the World Premiere festivities for The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King. This magnificent theatre is a must see for those on a cultural sojourn. Why not experience Middle Earth, Wellington was the main filming and production location for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Why not try one of the leisurely harbour cruises, by day or by night with the shimmering reflections of the city on the water. For the nature lover a tour of the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is a must. For first time visitors we recommend one of the fascinating guided tours. Experienced guides help visitors spot our special birds and are very knowledgeable about bird and plant species. Wellington Rover offers a 'hop-on hop-off' sightseeing service around Wellington City and now includes the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary on its list of options for passengers to explore. A Karori Wildlife Rover pass provides return transport from the Wellington Visitor Centre, in Wakefield Street to the Sanctuary at various times during the day. The Sanctuary offers a wide range of walking tracks, suitable for all ages. Visitors are free to wander at their own pace and are encouraged to ask the roving guides questions about the Sanctuary and seek advice on tracks and trails. The Wellington region (including Kapiti, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa) has the third highest population, containing 11.3% of New Zealand's population.