WELLINGTON

The capital city of New Zealand. A very cosmopolitan city with plenty of activities including the annual Festival of the Arts and the Wearable Arts Awards.

Renowned for its winds, largely due to its geographical situation in the Roaring Forties, combined with the steep-to topography on Cook Strait.

Probably the best known tourist attraction in Wellington is the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. The only museum in NZ which enjoys operational funding from the government (the others are privately funded or funded by local or regional councils). Apparently NZ's most visited institution, entry is free, though most special exhibitions come with an admission fee. The Museum is open 10am to 5pm daily. The museum shop offers high class NZ souvenirs and books.

There is a very good boutique brewery adjacent to Te Papa and there are a number of good hotels within a short walk. Many of these are available through BETTER PRICE HOTELS. A short walk from Te Papa around the waterfront (on Queens Wharf) is the Museum of Wellington (MoW), formerly the Wellington Maritime Museum. For maritime history buffs this museum is now something of a disappointment as the bulk of its maritime collection is in storage; however the maritime element is still there and the audio-visual of the WAHINE disaster (1968) is particularly evocative. There is a good small art gallery adjacent to MoW.

On Queens Wharf, under the care of MoW, is the preservation display of the INCONSTANT, or PLIMMERS ARK. Details. More remains of the vessel can be seen under the old Bank of New Zealand building on Lambton Quay.

The cable car is a popular attraction and there is a small museum at the top of the run. The planetarium is also close by and is worth a visit.

The seat of Parliament, the Beehive, is often open to visitors.