Wellington - a beautiful and cozy city, which has something to surprise even the most experienced tourist. According to the version of the publishing house of the Loneley Planet No. 1, Wellington is the most comfortable and beautiful capital in the world.
The architectural appearance of the former colonial capital is diverse: buildings of 19-1 floor. 20 centuries. harmoniously combined with modern buildings. In the city there are many bridges and viaducts, green squares and parks.
As a rule, excursions to Wellington begin with a visit to one of the most interesting sights - Mount Victoria. From the observation platform you can see a stunning panorama of the city, surrounding its green hills and the bay with the Cook Strait. Far on the horizon in clear weather you can consider the Southern Alps.
Historical monuments
Not far from the mountain Victoria is a military memorial in memory of the New Zealanders who died on the fronts of the First and Second World Wars and in local military conflicts. On April 25, the anniversary of the landing of New Zealand troops in the city of Gallipoli in 1915, solemn events are held at the memorial.
Another interesting monument of World War II is the fortress of Wright Hill . On the territory of a large military fort with powerful fortifications, batteries and a network of underground tunnels, a museum is currently functioning. The fortress is located far from the center, among the ridge of hills, from its walls a stunning view of the bay opens.
Architectural and cultural attractions
In Wellington, the architectural styles of the three eras - Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau - were very subtly and elegantly combined.
One of the most beautiful buildings of the New Zealand capital, its business card is the city hall . The first stone in the foundation of the building in 1901 was laid by the British King George V. Today the Town Hall is used not only for the needs of the city authorities; it hosts all kinds of exhibitions, concerts, conferences, charitable events. At one time in the concert hall of the town hall were the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Do not forget to be photographed against the background of the "hive" - one of the buildings of the parliamentary complex, which has the characteristic form of a traditional straw hive for bees. A round building in the style of modernism was built for more than ten years, at its opening in 1977, Queen Elizabeth was present.
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Not far from the parliament there is another monument of architecture - the former palace of the government. The uniqueness of the building is that it is completely constructed of wood and until the end of the 90s it was the second largest wooden building in the world.
One of the oldest educational institutions in New Zealand is the University of Queen Victoria. The main building of the university is known as the Hunter Building. This name was given to him in memory of the professor of philosophy Thomas Hunter, who for decades taught at the university.
The Theater of St. James is a valuable historical and architectural object of the country. The building reflects the architectural aspirations of the early 1900s. and has a fascinating history.
A real work of art in the center of the city is the pedestrian bridge "City in the sea, connecting the central square and the city harbor. The bridge is decorated with carved wooden sculptures depicting mythical creatures from the beliefs of Maori and representatives of modern fauna.
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Museums of Wellington
If you came to Wellington with children, be sure to go to the museum of natural history " Te Papa Tongnareva ." A whole complex with thematic departments of "Plants", "Animals", "Birds" and unique exhibits, such as the skeleton of a giant white whale or a huge squid of 10 m long and weighing 500 kg, will not leave you indifferent. Kids will not be bored, they have children's playrooms.
The Museum of Art and Culture " Patak " is located 10 km from the city. It shows pictures of New Zealand and foreign artists, objects of life and art of the indigenous population of New Zealand - Maori. One roof with the museum houses the city library of Porirua, a traditional Japanese garden and a music museum "Farm of Melodies".
There is also a city art gallery in Wellington. There is no permanent exposition in it, the building is used as an exhibition hall for completely different subjects of artistic and photographic art.
In the historic building of the former customs, on the shore of the harbor, there is the Wellington Museum and the sea . The museum exposition consists of two parts. The first introduces the history of the first Maori and European settlements, the development of the city. The exposition about the marine history of New Zealand, which is more than 800 years old, is no less interesting.
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In the very center of the city there is a small, but very nice museum - " Colonial Cottage ". This is the family home of the Wallis family - the colonists who settled in Wellington in the mid-19th century. The situation in the rooms is completely identical to that time.
Fans of the cult trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" will be interested in the museum of the film industry Weta Cave. During the visit to the museum you can find interesting details about the shooting of such movie masterpieces as "Avatar", "King Kong" and "The Lord of the Rings", to buy themed souvenirs.
Religious buildings
Central to the spiritual life of the capital is the Catholic Church of St. Mary of the Angels. The old building of the church was destroyed by fire in 1918. A few years later a new building was built in the Gothic style, using reinforced concrete structures. The church is known for its choir and magnificent organ music.
The wooden St. Paul's Cathedral, located in a green square in the center of the city, amazes with an atmosphere of grandeur and at the same time tranquility, with an elegant interior decoration.
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Natural attractions and parks
In Wellington is the oldest in New Zealand zoo, in which many animals live from around the world. The cages are arranged in such a way that the visitor immediately has a feeling of unity with nature. Here you will see tigers, lions, bears, elephants, various birds, including a kiwi bird - the national symbol of the country.
The Wellington Botanical Garden is located on a hill near the center of the city. In the middle of the subtropical forest, there is a rose garden and a luxurious greenhouse, a pond for poultry. The alleys are decorated with beautiful carved sculptures. On the territory of the garden there are several national observatories and the museum of the cable car tramway.
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