Tonight (1835), we depart by ferry across the Cook Straits to Picton in the South Island. (3hrs) (NZ$ 60) A trip to the pharmacist is required if the water in the Cook Straits is as rough as predicted.
Last night we ventured out in the rain to find a restaurant. The Kiwis know how to party - the city is virtually closed until 4 January, including the vast majority of shops, pubs and restaurants.
We dined in Cuba Street - an alternative area with second hand bookshops, vintage record and clothes shops - mostly closed for the holiday!
From the handful of restaurants available , we chose an Indian restaurant serving 'modern' Indian food. It was BYO ( no corkage charge) but an Off Licence across the street obliged . It was excellent especially the bread , which I had never tasted before. The quality of the food was reflected in the number of Indian patrons.
On our return down the street we are splashed by the street's iconic Bucket Fountain installed in 1969, it continues to splash the unsuspecting passerby
On our return home through the quiet , wet streets we met a man with a dog but he didn't engage!
The Kiwis love their sculptures and they appear in the most unusual places!
It was time for a trip on the cable car.
Cable cars are a necessity here for people living on the hills above the flat, reclaimed land that is Wellington proper with its 190,000 population.
Up on the side of the hill, we had a great view of the city.
Many peoples who live up here have their own private cable cars!! It is too steep for a road!
We decided to take the 30 minute walk down to the city through the Botanic Gardens.
The scent from the plants and flowers was unlike anything I had experienced before!
Lady Norwood's rose garden impressed.
Note the two sculptures in the foreground
Gardeners how many can you name?
We then adjourned to parliament buildings. Wellington is the capital of NZ and its parliament reflects their interest in architecture- the old building has a added ultra modern wing.
It was closed to visitors today. It appears the Wellies are not returning to work until the 4th!!
On we went to the harbour.
Why not use a sculpture as an information board?
We had only seen it in the darkness on New Year's Eve and it was too windy and wet to visit yesterday. It was most interesting as the the conversion of the original goods sheds to cafes and apartments was fully documented The area has been sensitively renovated to acknowledge its marine heritage
Having reaches Ta Papa, we reversed back to the Civic Centre - again a riot of juxtaposing architectural eras. Here was located Wellington Art Gallery, its Library and the Civic centre.
Note the sculptured palm tree
Returning to the hotel, we picked up our bags as we head to the railway station
where a bus will take us to the ferry
and thence to South Island. ........
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