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!

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.

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]

Constructed between 1897 and 1901, the Karori Tunnel is Wellington's oldest road tunnel. It links…read moreWellington City with the Karori suburb resolving major challenges with commuting and traffic as the hill is quite steep and the easiest journey was quite circuitous over what was once known as Bakers Hill. Initial estimates were that it would take only six months to build however it ran into issues from the start, including collapses and slips during construction. It was built using the standard method of the time, a small tunnel was initially driven through the hill which was then widened to the full aperture. The tunnel is approximately 225 feet long and the apex of the portal is 18 feet above the road with a width at road level of 24 feet. The structure was strengthened for seismic protection between 2012 and 2013, adding reinforced concrete and with new capping beams. At the entrance, plaques point out some history including "A.D. 1900" over the entrance. There is no toll to pass through the tunnel and it seemed quite busy with traffic including a number of (single-deck) city bus lines. [Review 495 of 2024 - 144 in New Zealand - 21527 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.

Take a seaside stroll along the Wellington waterfront to enjoy magnificent views of the harbor…read more Start at the Queen's Wharf. Visit the eclectic Wellington Museum. Walk to the Sea Walk Bridge. Honor those who fought in wars at Frank Kitts Park. Enjoy the art along the way. Walk to Te Papa. The National Museum is filled with so many treasures. The Māori traditional homes, canoes, art and artifacts are so beautiful. There is also a very thorough exhibit on Gallipoli. So nice to enjoy a summer breeze, the sunshine and beautiful waterfront views on a sunny day in Wellington. A great way to explore the city.

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.

The suburbanization of Wellington was greatly aided by the early 1900s tramway system expansion. At…read morethis point in time, and for the next fifty years, trams constituted the primary mode of public transportation. Part of Wellington's tramway system's heritage, the Pirie Street to Waitoa Road tunnel was converted into a bus tunnel in 1963. in 1903, the boroughs on the other side of Mount Victoria were incorporated into Wellington City. Many people were suddenly building homes outside of the central city but with motor cars too expensive, these new residents wanted easier travel between their homes and the central city. As a result, the 1200 foot tunnel was dug using of explosives and by pick and shovel taking 18 months to complete. Initially a tram line that was opened in April 1907 and it continued until the trams were phased out in the 1960. It was converted to a bus tunnel and amazingly, it's tall enough for double-deckers. Few changes have occurred to the tunnel since the 1963 conversion. For me, it was a one-way journey from the Central Business District to the airport which is on the far side of Mount Victoria. Having been in a bus yesterday that climbed to the top, this tunnel is a major improvement. Under and through instead of over, all day! There is more than one tunnel - the other is the Mount Victoria Tunnel that opened in October 1931 that is nearly twice as long. [Review 517 of 2024 - 164 in New Zealand - 21549 overall]