The capital city of New Zealand; home to Parliament, the Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa, a thriving film industry, and the headquarters of many large employers. The NZ government is the largest employer in the region, with many other large employers including ANZ National Bank Ltd, BP Oil New Zealand, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Contact Energy, Plunket, KPMG, and Hannahs to name a few.
The city is compact and interesting, nestled between a dramatic harbour and bush clad hills. Great views can be found at the top of Mount Victoria, or by catching the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens. Made up of four quarters each with their own distinct mix of shopping, cafes, transport, accommodation, Wellington’s intense urban experience is unrivalled in the country.
Wellington’s waterfront is a beautifully walkable public space, dotted with cafes, parks, sculptures, bars and ice cream vendors. Wellingtonians walk, jog, skate, cycle, and crocodile bike around the waterfront, visit the markets on the weekend, then aim for Oriental Bay beach to have a swim or just soak up some sun.
You can’t walk two steps in Wellington without stumbling across a gallery. One of the jewels in Wellington’s art crown is City Gallery in Civic Square, which offers a programme of contemporary visual arts, architecture and design. The Cuba precinct has everything from quirky to specialised dealer galleries. Featherston and Victoria streets have a great collection of boutique galleries like Page Blackie and Avid Gallery.
Karori is a fantastic wildlife sanctuary and has contributed to the massive increase in native birdlife in Wellington. Waking up to a Tui singing in the morning is an awesome experience!
A short trip out of town takes you to the Kapiti Coast (20kms from Wellington), stretching from Paekakariki in the south, to Otaki in the north. The route hugs the rugged coastline, providing spectacular views. Off the coast is the world renowned bird sanctuary Kapiti Island. Kapiti Island is one of very few island nature reserves in New Zealand made accessible to visitors, giving them the opportunity to observe birds that are either rare or no longer on the mainland. The warm climate and relaxed lifestyle of this area have given birth to a luxurious style of country life—there are olive groves, feature gardens and unique accommodation options.
Education is well covered In Wellington with many Decile 10 Primary, Intermediate and Secondary schools, and both Massey University and Victoria University (founded in 1897) are situated in central Wellington. Both Universities offer a wide range of tertiary courses and students can take advantage of the capital city’s position as central to New Zealand’s culture, creative arts and science endeavours, as well as the home of government and many international businesses. Wellington’s unique and compact character enables students to enjoy the city’s liveliness and add to its diverse, cosmopolitan feel.
North of Wellington city lies the Hutt Valley, an area that offers a multitude of outdoor and adventure experiences including bush and coastal walks, 4WD (four-wheel drive) tours, golf, mountain biking and fishing.
