Wellington New Zealand is Cosmopolitan to a Fault

Our New Zealand vacation travel included a stopover at the country’s second largest urban city and the world’s southernmost capital seat (replacing Auckland) at the southwestern tip of the North Island, in rugged Wellington New Zealand bay.

Te Papa Museum was a fascinating starting point for our visit. We particularly enjoyed the festival we attended there and The History of Skin exhibit, which showed how Maori artisans etched ta mako, or tattoos, on people’s bodies. Six floors of national history and culture kept us busy an entire day, and the free admission was a bonus.

Outside the museum, Wellington New Zealand appeals to those seeking a metropolitan atmosphere. This place is literally cosmopolitan to a fault – that is, it’s located directly on one of the world’s most active fault lines. With “roaring forties” latitudinal positioning producing boisterous prevailing westerly winds and distinction as one of the planet’s windiest places, this city can blow you away in more ways than one.

Wellington New Zealand has the largest number of cafes per capita in the southern hemisphere, yet to its credit, only three of them are Starbucks. Many also feature New Zealand food and drink, which facilitate late night life hours. Some, along with small ethnic restaurants, are found on bohemian flavored Cuba Street, where Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, curry, and vegetarian are among dining choices.

Nightlife beyond the cafes is abundant in bars, some of which have dance floors for various genres. The bars cater to a range from business chic to gay clientele in casual to crowded settings.

Wellington New Zealand is home to theatres, festivals, museums, sports, and leading film industry center (think “Lord of the Rings”), including NZ Symphony Orchestra, Royal of New Zealand Ballet, and biennial Festival of the Arts. Wellington Botanic Garden, on a hill west of downtown, smacks of San Francisco with its cable car system. Sporting events represent rugby, cricket, and more.

The Museum of Wellington City and Sea explores a unique Kiwi city/sea relationship, but if you’re headed for the South Island next, you may want to skip the video depicting the 1968 sinking of interisland ferry Wahine in the shallows of treacherous Barrett Reef.

Beyond its cosmopolitan setting, this picturesque natural harbor city seated on Cook Strait, the passage dividing the north and south islands, is surrounded by rugged coastline and stunning countryside. Adventure outfitters offer rock climbing, sea kayaking, caving, canyoning, rafting, inline skates, bikes, and scooters.

The southern shore has rugged passage through lava rock formations on Red Rocks Coastal Walk and crashing surf of Sinclair Head beyond, where fat fur seals colonize during winter.

A 40 minute drive north provides an easy getaway to golden beaches of Kapiti Coast, small wildlife sanctuaries, and bird-filled Kapiti Island. Bypass Wellington New Zealand hotels for some of the best backpacker seaside sleep accommodation at Moana Lodge.

It’s a sure bet that “Windy Wellington” New Zealand, as it’s locally known, will blow you away with all its attractions.