One thing you should know about Wellington is that it is windy. Seriously, your hair is going to get messy and you might get a chill. The buildings block the wind a bit, but even so, it can get quite cold.
When JRR Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings in the 1940s, the setting was England. Fortunately, Peter Jackson found the similarity of the environment in New Zealand this century, thus, we got The Lord of the Rings trilogy!
The Lord of the Rings movies brought out the best in New Zealand’s nature. Ask anyone and most will associate New Zealand with Lord of the Rings and vice versa.
Do you know that Peter Jackson is from Wellington? He resides in Pukerua Bay, a seaside town near Wellington. Which meant that many of the scenes in Lord of the Rings are actually set in Wellington. Yes, his study is there too.
Let me share with you some interesting details on Wellington. Fairly common for locals, but might be a novelty for foreigners.
downtown roads
It’s important to note that downtown Wellington is mostly made up of one-way streets. If you lose a turn, you will have to do 1 big round. It has happened to me countless times!
Since there are many one-way streets, you may miss the center divider and turn onto the wrong side of the road. Yeah, it happened to me once or twice. Drive carefully here and keep an eye out for traffic signs.
Parking can be a challenge here. Lots of parallel parking along the road and some multi-story parking lots. Personally, my favorite car park is the Te Papa Museum. At least I’m pretty sure I won’t forget where I park it.
I highly recommend exploring Wellington on foot. Cuba Street was once the route for Wellington’s trams, and is now one of the busiest pedestrian walkways. Don’t worry, the main attractions are quite close to each other.
Oceanfront
Personally, I find Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor prettier than Wellington’s Lambton Quay. The seafront is best in Auckland. I guess it has to do with the view of Rangitoto Island.
Growing up in Singapore, I find the ocean view to be very average. However, for some of my friends, being able to see the sea frequently is actually considered a blessing. Well, it’s like Singaporeans experience winter and see snow.
Cableway
When I first saw private cable cars in the residential areas here, I admitted that I was quite surprised. It’s like taking a gondola ride every day! Granted, it makes sense to build them – I can’t imagine spending 2 hours walking up and down the hill every day.
The Wellington Cable Car is one of the oldest attractions and has been known to have been in operation since the early 20th century. The cable car itself is a slope, that is, the ground is not flat. You have to see it for yourself to know what I’m talking about.
Te Papa Museum
New Zealand has 14,000 recorded earthquakes annually. I’m not sure how many buildings are earthquake proof, but the Te Papa Museum is definitely one of them. There is an observation deck where you can see the base infrastructure!
Of all the museums in New Zealand, this is my favorite. Nor can I pinpoint why I like this museum. I guess the Kiwi part of me is proud of the New Zealand heritage.
I have lost count of the number of times I have visited the Te Papa Museum, probably 4 out of 5 visits to Wellington. On the other hand, I usually park here. There is no reason not to visit the museum.
Lord of the Rings
I went on 3 different Lord of the Rings tours in New Zealand – 1 in Wellington and 2 in Queenstown. My favorite is definitely the full day Lord of the Rings tour by Wellington Rover.
The best part of Lord of the Rings experiences in Wellington is definitely Rivendell and Weta Caves. Kaitoke Regional Park is about as ethereal as Rivendell you can get without the special effects. And the Weta caves are great!
Before I close, let me share with you a quote from JRR Tolkien: “May the wind beneath your wings take you where the sun sails and the moon walks. Remember that you are now on the edge of nature and all kinds of fun await you wherever you go.” you go”.
