-	All photographs of Wellington

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, the most southern capital in the world. Located at the bottom of the North Island, well inside the roaring forties, and exposed to the south winds it has well earned its nick name “Windy Wellington“. Situated around the Wellington Harbour the city offers great views, on a fine day you can see across the Cook Strait to the South Island. Wellington is the cultural hub of NZ, and has strong ties to the arts. Wellington has an excellent range of facilities, it has more bars, cafes and restaurants per head then New York, plenty of accommodation and don’t forget it's buzzing nightlife.

New Zealand’s capital city Wellington, is named after General Wellington the victor of the Battle of Waterloo. Its Maori name is “Te Upoko o te Ika“, meaning “the head of the fish” referring to the fish caught by Maui, the hero of Polynesian mythology, whom hauled the North Island from the sea. Maori legend states that Kupe discovered and explored this area around about the tenth century.

Wellington is New Zealand’s second largest urban area, after Auckland, and is also the country’s business and political centre. Parliament gathers at the “Beehive” and the head offices of all the government ministries and departments, plus most of the foreign embassy’s and consulates are based in Wellington. Government House, the official residence of the Governor General, is in Newtown, opposite the Basin Reserve. Wellington is also home to New Zealand’s Supreme Court, Victoria University Te Papa ("Our Place"), the Museum of New Zealand, all are near the city centre. The Wellington Zoo is the oldest in New Zealand

The inner city suburb of Te Aro is where Wellington’s Art, cultural and nightlife venues are based. The compact CBD is only 2 km across so Wellington’s action is all within walking distance of each other.

The Wellington region has 500 km² of regional parks, forests and gardens, there are many well maintained scenic walking tracks, through rainforests, along the coast, around the harbours three Islands, through botanical gardens and throughout the city, for all to enjoy.

Wellington is also the North Island’s terminal for the Interisland Ferries, crossing the Cook Straight to link the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The Airport is only 15 minutes drive from the centre of Wellington, it services domestic destinations throughout New Zealand, daily. State highways one and two both terminate downtown at the waterfront, so getting here is easy.

If you need a place to stay in the capital, then you will find plenty to choose from. All of the top hotel chains are represented here. There are many bed and breakfasts, homestays, motels and holiday houses throughout the city. Backpacker hostels are abundant as are camping grounds and holiday parks.