New Zealand: Wellington Travel
Facts and Trivia on the Te Papa Museum, Maori History & The Beehive
No capital city is further south than Wellington in New Zealand. Here are some facts and information about Te Papa, the harbour, Maori history and more.
Wellington is not New Zealand’s biggest city – that honour falls to Auckland further north, but it is arguably its most important, as this is where the government sits. It is also its windiest, and makes Chicago seems rather placid on the billowing gale front.
But, wind aside, it is a wonderful city for visitors to travel to, and is packed with attractions. Here is some more information on wonderful Wellington:
Maori name: The original Maori name for the settlement, at the southern end of New Zealand’s north island, was Whanga Nui a Tara. According to tales passed down among generation after generation of Maori, the great explorer Kupe was the first to arrive here. However, it seems more likely that it was the son of a tribal leader from Hawkes Bay that first set up shop.
The Museum of Wellington City and Sea: Perched right next to the city’s famous harbour is this fantastic museum, which is all about the city’s long-standing relationship with the water. Amongst the attractions are accounts of the Wahine ferry disaster, in which 51 people died.
Te Papa: Te Papa, or the museum of New Zealand, is arguably the city’s cultural highlight. It hosts plenty of permanent exhibitions, as well as some superb temporary ones. The Maori collection inside is particularly impressive.
The Beehive: A common misconception is that New Zealand’s parliament sits in this rather strange, if aptly-named building. That’s not strictly true. While it is a parliamentary building, all the important stuff is done in the Parliament House next door. You can do tours of Parliament House if you want more details.
Bungy rocket: It would properly be New Zealand if there wasn’t an attraction on which you could scare yourself utterly stupid. The Bungy rocket ticks that box, and fires the brave/ foolhardy way up into the air at frightening speeds.
Surfing: It’s no surprise that, with all that wind around, New Zealand’s capital has a couple of excellent surfing breaks. Try Lyall Bay or Palliser Bay if you want to catch some serious waves.
Art: If you want an art fix, then you should head to either the City Gallery Wellington or the Academy Galleries. Both have excellent collections.
Botanic gardens: And if you’re after a spot of nature, then the city’s Botanic Gardens are a delightfully tranquil place to hang out and do absolutely nothing.
More New Zealand cities: Rotorua
