Wellington travel guide

According to Maori legend it was Kupe, the great Polynesian explorer, who first made landfall in the region in about AD 950, and his descendants, the Ngai Tara and Rangitane tribes, became the first permanent settlers. The first European ships to enter the harbour were the Rosanna and the Lambton on a preliminary exploration for the first New Zealand Company in 1826. But it was not until 1839-1840, when the first settlers arrived, that the inevitable dubious land deals with the local Maori were made. Initially the first blocks of land purchased were at the northern end of the harbour towards what are now Petone and the Hutt Valley. However, the land was found to be unsuitable for building, so the settlers moved south, to what is now Thorndon, in the heart of modern day Wellington. Along with the rest of the country, Wellington suffered three decades of Maori/Pakeha friction surrounding the various land deals. Despite this, and a major earthquake in 1855 (which actually had the positive effect of creating new and ideal flat land for building), Wellington prospered. By the 1860s, with the various inroads being made in to the South Island and the then capital Auckland suffering due to its geographical position, it was decided to move the seat of government and make Wellington the capital in 1865. The name Wellington was bestowed in honour of yet another British general, Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), the first Duke of Wellington.

Foreign exchange

Travelex, 358 and 120 Lambton Quay, T04- 472 8346.

Available at the VIC. Otherwise, Manners, Cuba and Courtney sts are your best bet. Cyber City, 97 Courtenay Pl; Cyber Spot, Lambton Sq, 180 Lambton Quay; and IPlay, 49 Manners St. Library Victoria St (Civic Sq), T04-801 4040, Mon-Thu 0930- 2030, Fri 0930-2100, Sat 0930-1700, Sun 1300-1600.

Medical services

Wellington Hospital, Riddiford St, T04-385 5999. A&E Centre (and After Hours Pharmacy), 17 Adelaide Rd, T04-384 4944. Urgent Pharmacies, Medical Centre Building, 729 High St, T04-939 6777.

Police

Corner of Victoria and Harris sts, T04-381 2000.

Post office

94-98 Lambton Quay, T04-472 3301. Mon-Fri 0830-1700. Post Restante, 43 Manners St, T04-473 5922. Mon-Fri 0800- 1730, Sat 1000-1330.

Useful numbers
AA, 342 Lambton Quay, T04-931 9999.

It seems that Wellington is happy and proud to host more ‘events’ than any other town or city in New Zealand and there is always something going on. The jazz and arts festivals are particularly well celebrated.

Wellington city centre is quite compact and best explored on foot. There is also a wealth of well-marked walking tracks around the city, with some interesting highlights and views (ask at the VIC for details).

Parking can be a nightmare in the city centre. It is heavily metered and mercilessly patrolled. If you struggle to find a spot in the centre, try the ‘park and display’ areas around the railway station, north and south of the centre, and at the ‘Te Papa’ Museum; you can walk from there to the centre.

Stagecoach/Metlink buses operate throughout greater Wellington daily 0700-2300. For information call T04-801 7000, http://www.stagecoach.co.nz/www.metlink.co.nz, and get your hands on the free Wellington bus and train guide from the VIC (I-Site). The yellow City Circular Bus runs every 15 minutes daily (1000-1645) from the railway station taking in major sites including ‘Te Papa’, Cuba Mall, the cable car on Lambton, and Parliament Buildings. It costs $3 (child $1).

TranzMetro runs regular daily services between Wellington City and Upper Hutt, Melling and Paraparaumu. There are also services to the Wairarapa and Palmerston North. For information call TranzMetro, T0800-801700, http://www.tranzmetro.co.nz.

Bicycle hire

Mud Cycles Karori, 1 Allington Rd, Karori, T04-476 4961. Penny Farthing, 89 Courtenay Pl, T04-385 2279.

Car hire

At the airport, also: Ace, 150 Hutt Rd, T04- 471 1176; Budget, 81 Ghuznee St, T04-802 4548; Pegasus, 51 Martin Sq, T04-384 4883.
Taxi
Wellington Combined, T0800- 384444/T04-384 4444.

Rail

The train station is next to the quay on Bunny Street and has an information centre, T0800-692378. TranzScenic operates the daily ‘Overlander’ service from Auckland, T0800-872467, T04-495 0775, http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz. TranzMetro, T0800- 801700, http://www.tranzmetro.co.nz, offers regular daily services from the Wairarapa including Martinborough (bus link) and Masterton direct.

Road
Wellington is 658 km from Auckland. The principal route is via SH1. SH2 is the principal route to the Wairarapa and the east coast. Intercity and Newmans, T04- 472 5111, are the principal bus companies and arrive and depart from the train station. White Star, T04-47 84734, operates services to Palmerston North, Wanganui and New Plymouth. Tickets are available from the VIC (I-Site).

Wellington is easy to negotiate, unless you are in a car and swept away on its one-way systems. However, all roads lead to the centre, which is sandwiched between the hills and the waterfront, and those arriving by road will be delivered right into the heart, within a stone’s throw of Lambton Quay, the main business and shopping street. Lambton then doubles back north to meet Molesworth Street, Thorndon and the Parliament District. The harbour, with its merging main roads (north to south) of Waterloo and Aotea Quay, Customhouse, Jervois, Cable Street and Oriental Parade, sweeps back south and east, encompassing the modern and highly developed waterfront, including the dominant ‘Te Papa’ Museum. From the heart of the waterfront south, Willis and Jervois connect with Victoria, Cuba and Courtenay places, where you’ll find many restaurants and cafés. Behind the CBD are the spacious Botanical Gardens and hillside suburb of Kelburn. Dominating the view southeast is Mount Victoria, a ‘must see’ lookout and an ideal place to get your bearings.editlocked
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