Wellington 2013

View from Mt. Victoria 

Night View from Bedroom Deck

 View from Living Room

Even though we are not city lovers, we have truly enjoyed our week in Wellington.  The views from the apartment we rented are amazing.  There is always something going on in the harbor for us to see.  One morning, we saw thousands of swimmers racing.  Everyday we watch the Inter-Island Ferry arrive and depart.  We can also watch the many cyclists, walkers, runners and sightseers strolling along the waterfront walkway, as well as kayakers, water-boarders, and rowing crews in the water.   The water in the harbor is very clean.  There is even a great swimming beach below our place on the Oriental Parade.  Wellington is easy to get around in by foot.

Enjoying a Tightrope Walker

The Embassy Theater is down the street from our apartment.  Peter Jackson premiers his movies in this 1920's Theatre which has been beautifully renovated.  The sound system and the HFR HD screen in the main auditorium are state of the art.  Our seats were leather with wide padded arm rests.  You can even have tea or a drink in the lobby before the movie.

Embassy Theater

Embassy Theater Cafe

 We took the Wellington Cable Car up to the Botanical Gardens one day and to the Carter Observatory another day.

Wellington Cable Car

Rose Garden with 122 varieties in the Botanical Garden 

We returned to one of favorite places in the city of Wellington - the Zealandia Ecosanctuary.  New Zealand wildlife evolved much differently - no mammals existed here (except one form of bat) until the Maori arrived around 1200.  Many birds partially or completely lost the need for flight.  The quick introduction of mammal decimated the bird population.  All predators are kept out of Zealandia so that endangered native birds, trees, and wildlife are now thriving.

Inside Zealandia (notice the predator-proof fence at top of hill)

Male Tuatara (the only surviving reptile from the age of dinosaurs) - endemic to New Zealand

Takahe - only 250 remain