Wellington, New Zealand

Bridge City in the Sea

The “City in the Sea” Bridge is a pedestrian bridge which, thanks to its distinctive decoration, is a true work of art. The wooden bridge, built in 1994, is adorned with unconventional carved wooden sculptures created by the outstanding artist Paraten Machitt. On one side there are sculptures depicting mythical creatures of the indigenous Māori people, and on the other side - birds, whales, and other representatives of marine fauna. Some of them form the sides of the bridge. This bridge is a real guide to learning about Māori culture.

Mount Tauamuta

A small and, at first glance, unremarkable hill just 300 meters high has entered the Guinness Book of Records thanks to its absolutely unpronounceable name - Taumatauakatang iangako a uau otamatea tur i pukakapiki maungahoronukupokanuenuakitanatahu. Locals simply call it - Taumata. The longest word in the world in its original transcription consists of 92 letters and has several pronunciation versions. The unpronounceable name of the hill can be translated from the native Maori language as “The hilltop where Tamatea, a man with big knees, who rolled down, climbed up, and swallowed mountains-known as the eater of the earth-played his nose flute for his beloved.”

Te Rapa Museum

The Te Rapa Museum is one of the most extraordinary museums in New Zealand, and a visit will unnoticedly turn into a fun adventure. Admission to the museum is free, except for special exhibitions. The museum is notable for the fact that in its halls guests can experience the shiver of an earthquake, delight their hearing with singing, get to know the Emu bird, molluscs, and look at others through the objective of TV cameras attached to the famous sheep. In addition, there are children’s development rooms, and while adults learn the history of New Zealand, kids are immersed in an exciting world of games.

Royal Botanical Gardens

All newcomers are advised not to miss the opportunity to visit the Wellington Botanic Garden. The easiest way to get there is by cable car. The Garden includes Carter Observatory, the National Observatory, the country’s meteorological service, the “Trillhouse” visitor centre, a Victorian-style conservatory, the “House of Begonias,” and a museum dedicated to the cable tramway. Not to mention the witty sculptures hidden among the lush greenery of the pathways, offering coolness and peace of mind. Entry to the Botanic Gardens is free, and you can also go down to the city on foot. The trees growing there even to this day remain among the oldest exotic trees in New Zealand.

Cable car

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Wellington is the cable car, which runs from Lambton Quay to Kelburn, a suburb on the hills, offering magnificent views of the city. The history of the cable car is connected with the name of Martin Kennedy, a successful businessman and land speculator. To attract potential buyers and increase the value of the plots being sold in the Kelburn area, it was necessary to link them to the city center by a transport route. The most suitable option turned out to be the cable car. The new mode of transport proved extremely popular-by 1912, almost a million people used it. At the top end terminal there is a small cable car museum.

Kariori Living Nature Reserve

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the outskirts of Wellington, on an area of 225 hectares, where, through collective efforts, the biological diversity of the forests is being restored. It is home to rare and endangered species of wild animals and birds, such as tuatara (ancient reptiles that lived even before the appearance of mammoths), saddleback (a breed of wild pigs), and kiwi. The sanctuary has become an integral attraction of Wellington and a place with a constantly growing number of rare bird species-such as tui and the kaka parrot. The sanctuary is a 15-minute walk from the center of Wellington. Admission is free.

Wellington Guided Tour

Wellington, the second-largest city in New Zealand and, by the way, its capital-along with the cities of Iceland and Argentina-rightfully takes an honorable place among the most beautiful and picturesque cities in the world. Tours of Wellington and its surroundings will give you the chance to see the most outstanding sights of New Zealand’s capital. During excursions in Wellington, you can visit such attractions as: the Katherine Mansfield House Museum; St. Paul’s Church built in 1866; the Parliament building; the city’s most famous street, Cuba Street, which in 1995 became a historical landmark, and many other equally interesting attractions and places to relax.

Excursion to The Lord of the Rings filming locations

The tour to the filming locations of the famous Lord of the Rings trilogy directed by Peter Jackson is the most popular of all the tours offered in Wellington. You will see almost all of Middle-earth, its most exotic and interesting corners: the Rivendell filming locations, the River Anduin, the gardens of Isengard, the forests of Hobbiton, the forests of Buckland, the Lothlórien sites and the fields of Gledden. During the tour, you will also visit the Miramar area. In Miramar there is a cinema center, as well as Peter Jackson’s house museum and many members of the film crew. You can buy souvenirs and take a virtual tour of the workshop and rooms where everything needed for the filming was prepared.

For a more detailed list of tours and their prices, you can review them after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Account”.