Did you see my pics? Well...that is what you get! Actually, the best pictures can be taken from…read moreacross the street so you can get the whole thing. Can't exactly give a 5 when you can't truly explore the place. When we visited the House of Parliament they told us to be sure to check out the original library. We got excited, but this is it. You get the pleasure of looking at a historical brick building. I am very happy it hasn't been torn down and managed to survive the earth tremors. On that note, it is currently closed due to pending earthquake strengthening. It would have been lovely to explore it inside, but you will have to adore her from the outside until further notice. Here is the history: It is the birthplace of New Zealand's national library. Alexander Turnbull built the house with his extensive collection of books, maps, and documents in mind. These items helped to create New Zealand's national library collection. In 1920 the house was opened to the public to display Turnbull's library and remained so until 1973 when the library was moved. The rooms have been open to the public since Turnbull's death in 1918. The only other closure until now was a period in 1955-57 for the strengthening and refurbishment of the building. Although the building is closed, what you can see and appreciate on the outside is the architecture. It is a combination of Scottish Baronial steep gables, Queen Anne red brickwork contrasted with white timber window frames with small panes, and medieval two story high bay windows. It is an easy building to find since it is across from the Houses of Parliament and directly across from the Beehive. If you are staying anywhere I the heart of downtown Wellington it is easy to walk to. Public transport is just a few meters away and there is parking along The Terrace and at the wharf. Plus, it is just a little walk to the Lambton Quay shops and cafes in the area. If you are going to the Houses of Parliament, then check out this historic building.

Take the historic Wellington Cable Car to Victoria Peak for an amazing 360 view of the city…read more At the peak, explore the free Cable Car Museum and the beautiful botanical gardens. Just stunning!

The site from the top of Wellington is OK... And the cable car museum is nothing to venture up to…read morethe top for! A round trip ticket is $7 NZ which is fair however, nothing much to see at the top!

Dedicated in 1943, the Pukeahu National War Memorial commemorates the New Zealanders who gave their…read morelives in the South African War, World War II and the wars in Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. There are several structures but the tall one that is visible from quite a distance is the War Memorial Carillon which is closed for earthquake refurbishment until at least 2027. An Unknown New Zealand Warrior is interred in front of the Hall of Memories. The Pukeahu Park below the Carillon opened in April 2015. It has memorials from New Zealand and from New Zealand's allies. Below the park is a traffic tunnel that carries State Highway 1 for a short distance. There are a number of memorials and structures here. Some are particularly noteworthy including The Man with the Donkey that is based on a photograph from Gallipoli and is a "tribute to all medical personnel, stretcher bearers and ambulance drivers who served alongside New Zealand troops in wartime." Take your time to explore and appreciate those who served and sacrificed for our freedoms. [Review 471 of 2024 - 121 in New Zealand - 21503 overall]

The Wellington Cenotaph sits in the heart of Wellington, the capitol of New Zealand. It honors the…read moreNew Zealand war dead from the two great wars. It was initially erected in 1931 for WWI, with a youth on horseback of Pegasus. Two bronze lions were later added to commemorate WWII. The entire structure is 167 feet high, It also includes a carillon (musical instrument of bells) inside, weighing 70 tonnes, and is the third largest in the world (largest one being in South Korea).

The Wellington Cenotaph was built in 1931 and dedicated later that year on ANZAC Day to commemorate…read moreto Australians and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who fought and died in the Gallipoli Campaign in World War I. After World War II, two bronze lions and a series of bronze friezes were added to honor those soldiers, too. Conveniently located across from the cruise boat shuttle stop, it was a nice place to stop for a few minutes to honor those who fought to protect their country. From the memorial, climb the stairs to reach the Parliament Buildings including the iconic Wellington Beehive.

As the seat of government for the country of New Zealand, the Parliament Buildings are comprised of…read more4 buildings in a 45,000 meter site in the capital of Wellington. The executive wing building is also known as the 'Beehive' and serves as a landmark for visitors trying to orient themselves. As our shuttle driver let us off, he remarked that get off/get on stop was intentionally across the street from the building so that lost visitors could find their way back by asking any local how to get back to the 'Beehive'. The building wasn't open when we came on an early Sunday morning, but its visitor center was scheduled to open at 09:30, with free public tours available throughout the day.

We walked the grounds on a Sunday and enjoyed the exteriors of the buildings. If you go, download…read morean interpretive map on line for more information on the history of the buildings.