Wellington:
Nestled between a sparkling harbour and rolling green hills, New Zealand's capital city is renowned for its arts, heritage, culture and native beauty. Situated at the southern end of the North Island, Wellington, New Zealand, was recently named "the coolest little capital in the world" by Lonely Planet.

Surrounded by nature and fuelled by creative energy, Wellington is a compact city with a powerful mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine. Fuel your visit with strong coffee and world-class craft beer – Wellingtonians are masters of casual dining, with plenty of great restaurants, night markets and food trucks.

Things to do:

Relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach and delve into the many museums, art galleries and theatre shows that make up the city’s pulsing cultural scene. If you’re into the outdoors, Wellington has action-packed adventure activities like mountain biking and sea-water kayaking, as well as beautiful walks around the harbor and surrounding hills. Try the visually stunning Makara Peak track, as well as the City to Sea walk where you can experience the best of Wellington's waterfront. Ride the cable car up the hill to Kelburn for amazing views over the city and enjoy an ice cream at the top.

On the waterfront itself you’ll find Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, New Zealand’s national museum. Te Papa, as it’s colloquially known, means ‘our place’ and is one of the best interactive museums in the world.

Small village charm, big city style:

• Wellington is movie director Peter Jackson's hometown and many movies have been made in Wellington. The world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in November 2012 has the spotlight firmly in Wellington. A tour is the best way to discover the secrets of the making of the movies.
• Said to have more bars and restaurants per capita than New York, Wellington is widely celebrated for it's good taste. Leave the diet at home and immerse yourself in the culinary capital for coffee, cocktails, cafes and some very fine dining indeed - all within easy walking distance around Courtenay Place and Cuba Street.
• Walk or take a bus from the city to the summit of Mount Victoria for a 360-degree panorama of Wellington.

Telling New Zealand's stories:

• Te Papa is the innovative national museum and a world leader in interactive experiences. New Zealand's history, art and people are showcased in fun and interesting exhibitions. Set on Wellington's waterfront, Te Papa is the most visited museum in Australasia and entry is free for most exhibitions.
• Big bang science meets Maori mythology at Carter Observatory, located in the Botanic Gardens. Open daily from 10am with telescope viewing Tuesdays and Saturdays.
• Wellington has a reputation as the cultural capital. See a live show and concert any night of the week.
• The Museum of Wellington City & Sea presents local history in a dedicated space. Don't miss the moving Wahine shipwreck exhibition and kids will love 'A Millennium Ago', which tells maori legends. Free entry.
• Walk around the stunning waterfront and follow the Wellington Writer's Walk - quotes from New Zealand writers are celebrated in large stone sculptures. Best enjoyed with a coffee or ice-cream in hand.