First Impressions of the Windy City

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand and is often called the “Windy City” due to its strong prevailing winds. We had been through once before, back in 1997, but the only thing we remembered from that visit was the wind howling outside our backpackers’ mega-dormitory.

Harbour and Gateway to the South Island

The city sits around a natural harbour called Wellington Harbour (Te Whanganui-a-Tara). This is where the ferries to and from the South Island arrive and depart, making it an important transport hub.

Film, Wētā Workshop and Lord of the Rings

Wellington has a strong film industry presence and is home to Wētā Workshop. We had a great visit to the workshop and nearby Lord of the Rings filming locations—read about that experience here.

Coffee, Cafés and Craft Beer

Wellington has a reputation for great coffee and café culture, something we can definitely confirm. We totally fell in love with The Flight Coffee Hangar. Awesome brews, excellent food, and very friendly staff made this a café highlight of our New Zealand trip.

We also have to mention The Little Beer Quarter—a very cool back-alley bar with good food and a great atmosphere.

Creative Energy and Cuba Street

The population of Wellington is relatively small, but it’s very politically and creatively influential. You could really feel that on a Saturday night at Cuba Street Mall, with street performers, bands playing, a rainbow zebra crossing, and even what looked like a man in drag featured on the pedestrian lights.

Wildlife in the City: Zealandia Sanctuary

Apart from Wētā Workshop and the LOTR filming locations, the other highlight in Wellington was our guided tour at Zealandia Sanctuary. It’s such a cool place right in the middle of the city. Read about our tour and our encounter with a kiwi here.

Final Thoughts

Wellington was a really nice surprise for us. Two nights gave us a full day of nerding out over Lord of the Rings, seeing a wild kiwi, and enjoying a lively and bustling “small” big-city atmosphere with plenty of cafés, bars, and nice shops.

It could easily be one of our favourite New Zealand cities.