After spending a chilly night at the National Park Village, we traveled south around the stunning Mt. Ruapehu and headed through the towns of Ohakune, Waiouru, and the bizarrely named little town of Bulls to reach New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. It is the third most populous city and considered as the political and cultural hub of the country.
At 2pm, we weren’t really sure if we had enough time to see what this beautiful city has to offer. So after getting settled at our hostel, we grabbed our map, bottled water, and wander lusty feet into the city’s cool streets.
Te Papa National Museum. This is for us, one of the must-visit places in Welly not only because it’s educational and entertaining, but most of all *drum roll* it is free! There are just so much to see that you’ll lost track of time. From the rich Maori history to the recent earthquakes that shook the country, it is one huge place to learn about New Zealand’s colorful culture. Of all the exhibits and activities inside the museum, we had most fun at the film showing which featured different short stories/documentaries about how is it like to live in one of the most stunning countries in the world.
City to Sea Bridge. This wedge-shaped pedestrian bridge crosses the waterfront to the Civic Square. It is adorned by non-traditional wooden sculptures carved by a prominent Maori artist, some of which forms the sides of the bridge. Not many writers include this in their must-see list in Welly but we thought that it deserves to be considered as a tourist attraction in its own right.
Civic Square. It is a gorgeous open area at the center of the city which boasts of an iconic fern ball sculpture suspended in the air over its center. Now the real challenge is how to find the perfect angle to take a photo of it! You’ll know what we mean when you get there. 
Also located at the square is the official visitor center of Welly, the i-Site. It is a one-stop shop for all your travel needs.
Cuba Street. We heard a lot about how funky and lively this street is, so we went to see for ourselves. It is indeed, one of the most happening streets in all of NZ. We loved the hippie, artsy vibe of the area which is home to a number of art galleries, music shops, and cute boutiques. One can also find several food joints, bars, and cafes all ready to infect you with the street’s fun atmosphere. The Bucket Fountain is another iconic structure that can be found in Cuba Street that is surely would take a few minutes of your time looking at how the buckets fill with water until they tip and spill to the buckets below. We loved it!
Lambton Harbor (The Waterfront). We spent the rest of our time just strolling along the beautiful harbor. Resting at the many benches, taking photos of the surroundings, and people watching were just some of the things we did there. After all the walks that we’ve done, it was nice to just be still and relax. We were just in time for the sunset and it was a nice way to end the day.
Other free sights in Welly that we did not get to see:
source: wanderinginwellington.wordpress.com
Mt. Victoria Lookout. Enjoy panoramic view of the city and watch the ferries sail on the Cook Strait. We were looking forward to go here but unfortunately, our bus driver is new to Welly and didn’t quite know how to reach it. We’ve seen a lot of nice photos of the view from here so if you’re an avid photographer, this is a must-visit!
source: markbennett.co.nz
The Beehive. This iconic structure is located at the corner of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay. It houses the Prime Minister’s offices and its Cabinet members. We heard that there are free guided tours inside for those who want to know more about its history.
source: mountainrunning.org.nz
Oriental Bay. It is the nearest beach from the city and when the weather’s nice, the locals flock here to enjoy some sun and sand. Whether or not the sun is out, we think it’s nice to just stroll along the sandy shore and relish the beauty of the bay.
We were amazed at how many sights and activities this little capital has to offer. We are one with Lonely Planet when they named Welly as the World’s Coolest Little Capital. We are planning to go back to New Zealand next year and hopefully, we can revisit Wellington and see the sights that we missed.
Have you been to Wellington? What are the other sights to see and activities to do when on a budget?
