Wellinton

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, a port, a major business center and a national political center, is the second largest capital with the largest population in oceanic nations. Wellington, including Kapiti, Polly Roy, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, is a residential area with the third population in New Zealand, covering 11.3% of the whole population. Located in the southernmost area of North Island, clutching Cook Strait, Wellington is also a national center. The downtown area is ringed on three sides by mountains and one side approaches the ocean, embracing Nicholson Natural Harbor. The structure of the city is alike Roman Amphitheatre.

Stretching mountains, vast forests, blue seas and beautiful views can be found in Wellington. With a temperate climate and pleasant seasons, Wellington, whose population reaches about 450,000, has become a famous tourist destination in the South Pacific and, together with Sydney and Melbourne, is regarded as cultural centers in Oceania.

Wellington is not only a transportation hub that connects South Island and North Island but also one of the best deepwater ports in the world. With the influence of oceanic climate, it is warm and shiny in the city. Situated in the fault zone, the whole city is constructed around mountainous areas, apart from the flat areas near to the sea. The port was severely destroyed in a violent earthquake in 1855 and the city was latter rebuilt in 1948. However, for the city is near to gulf and high is altitude, the city is often hit by sea breezes. Thus during the majority of thees years, it is windy and the city is called as Windy City.

Scenic spots:

The most beautiful views in Wellington

Rimutaka Forest Park, Queen’s Quay, Old Government Buildings, Kapiti Island Nature Reserve and Wellington Botanic Garden.

To explore the city beauty

Wellington is one of the most beautiful ports in the world. Lying between downtown areas and Oriental Bay, the port is also a entertainment place that is popular among the locals and travelers.
You can walk along the Queen’s Bay to Oriental Bay or swim by Golden Beach. Or you can try sea kayaking, roller skating and rock climbing. The cafes, restaurants or bars on the pier also offer food and beverage for you.

Impressive buildings---ancient and modern

Majestic Centre, constructed in 1991, is the highest building in Wellington. Old St.Paul's Cathedral Church, the birthplace of Katherine Mansfield, Antrim House, Old Quarter of Thorndon or Old Government Buildings (the biggest wooden building in the southern hemisphere) all reflect the characteristics of wooden buildings.
Victorian Gothic Parliament Library, Edwardian Neoclassical Parliament House and The Beehive, a complex that was built in 1960s and is in connection with the administrative building of Parliament House.

Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum of New Zealand

Built in 1998, the museum was officially unveiled by then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jenny Shipley and is seen as the best interactive museum in the world. Te Papa is a vocabulary in the Maori language, meaning valuable containers. Undoubtedly, the museum has stores many valuable historical legacies. It is like a window through which you can understand the histories and cultures of New Zealand. Travelers can observe the natural environment, plants, animals and marine geology of New Zealand in the museum. Besides, many photos are displayed, which authentically represent the history of The Maori and Europeans who developed New Zealand.

The Beehive

The Beehive, Parliament House, is located in the convergence of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay. For the building is similar to a beehive, the building was named after it. The Beehive was designed by a British architect Bath Spence. It is said that Mr Spence drew his initial inspiration on a tissue. The building is 72 meters high, with 14 floors, of which basement floors take up 4 floors. The walls are made of stainless steel wire meshes and the ceilings are semi-transparent glass. The website "Virtual tourist” ever ranked the building among the top 10 ugliest buildings in the world.

You can take a cable car from Quay Street to the Botanic Garden. The Botanic Garden covers an area of 26 acres, in which special gardens, native jungles and lawns are set up. Then you can visit the most ancient Old Quarter of Thorndon in New Zealand or climb to the top of Mount Victoria to enjoy the whole view of Wellington, harbour and Cool Strait.