Wellington
The Capital of New Zealand
It offers an unforgettable city experience in a natural setting. It is located between a beautiful harbour and rolling green hills. Wellington has excellent shopping, professional theatre and cafes and restaurants all close to untouched nature spots. Wellington is only two kilometres wide so it can be explored easily on foot. Discover New Zealand’s heritage in Wellington. The city is home to Parliament Buildings as well as many historic buildings and museums which tell the story of New Zealand. Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum is on the waterfront. Walk to Te Papa from a central city restaurant and stop at a local fashion store or an art gallery on the way.
Wellington is the arts and culture capital of New Zealand
Festivals and events are held here throughout the year. A highlight is the biennial New Zealand International Arts Festival – a month long arts festival.
Wellington is for nature lovers as well as arts and culture enthusiasts.
The South Coast is one of Wellington’s most beautiful places. Visit the New
Zealand fur seal colony or just watch the waves. Mountain bike through
native bush at Makara Peak, or kayak out to Scorching Bay – the choice is
yours.
The Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington can be reached via a coast-line-hugging scenic highway. Try walking to the top of Kapiti Island’s world-renowned bird sanctuary, picnic along the stretched-out beaches or quad bike through 18,000 hectares of native bush.
Interesting Facts
| • | Wellington is the world’s most southern capital and the only capital in the “Roaring Forties” latitudes. |
| • | Wellington was the first Capital City to see in the new millennium. |
| • | Nearly all Wellington residents are within 3 km of the sea. |
| • | Wellington has the greatest proportion of open space land per capita at 17.3 ha for every 1000 people. |
| • | More Wellingtonians feel safe in their homes than in other cities. (Quality of Life Report commissioned by national City Councils 2001). |
| • | Wellington gets more sunshine than Auckland, Melbourne and London and less rain than Auckland and Sydney. |
| • | There is over 60,000 hours of reading material in Te Papa. |
| • | Thorndon is New Zealand’s oldest suburb and is best known for being home of the world renowned author Katherine Mansfield’s Birthplace. It’s also where you will find the oldest hotel in New Zealand, now renovated as The Shepherd’s Arms. |
| • | Smoking in all hospitality venues, including bars, restaurants, cafes, and casinos, is prohibited in Wellington and throughout New Zealand. |
Key Facts
Population : (Source: New Zealand Census, 2001)
• Wellington City 163,824
• Wellington Region 423,765
The Wellington region (including Kapiti, Porirua, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa) has the third highest population, containing 11.3% of New Zealand’s population.
Land Area: City 28,990 hectares or 290 sq kms.
Wellington’s Climate
(Source: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research)
Sunshine hours:
More than 2035 hours per year.
Sunniest main centre in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2002
Temperature:
_ Mean daily maximum in summer (January) 20.3 C 69F
_ Mean daily minimum in summer 13.4 C 56F
_ Mean daily maximum in winter (July) 11.3 C 52F
_ Mean daily minimum in winter 6.2C 43F
_ Annual rainfall mean 1249mm
