There are a ton of galleries and museums to visit in Wellington. The oldest museum is up Buckle street, they have bells there
too, that they do bell ringining periodically, but its got some great exhibits, especially of the early pioneer days, and various ages.
The cable car too, down on Lambton Quay is a good sight, when going up or down you can see over Wellington Harbour, the
University is right there too.
The best store is Kirkcaldie & Stains - it is been there since the late 19th century, I believe that the James Smith Centre is now
divided into numerous boutiques.
The waterfront, all around Wellington is spectacular, and swimming of course is the in thing, if you want to swim, Oriental Bay or
Princess Bay would be the places as they are the warmest.
There is a seal colony further around the coast, I think its about a two mile walk from the end of the road, but is so quiet and peaceful you can forget that time exists.
Numerous wonderful resturants have sprung up, with wonderful bread, and the bread and butter and cream are to die for, as is the
lamb, if you like lamb.
Up Bolton Street, where they tore part of it up for the roadway you can see Katherine Mansfields memorial, and I believe her house,
she was a famous authoress in the early part of the 20th century and was considered shocking because of her behaviour - it would
be passee today for sure.
Down Thornton Quay there is a fabric shop, if its still there, look in the yellow pages, I think its called The Fabric Warehouse, or
some such name, you have to look through stuff, but he does get some great designer ends in, of course now that our dollar is
no longer worth as much its not such a great bargain anymore, down Thorndon area and up Bolton Street and Tinakori Road you
will see unusual houses, very Indian (india) in looks, lots of punga trees, I think they are known as Australian tree ferns here.
Lots of silly looking artwork inhabits wellington now, but they really have updated it a lot in recent years.
Are you perhaps thinking of the golden coast - Raumati, Paekakariki, and Paraparaumu, on the other coast is the Rimatuka Range,
very windy roads, one way each way, Featherston, masterton Carterton, which is the wairapa valley, and the farming centre -
personally I'd go for the Paekakariki, we are not allowed to abbreviate anymore - the language thing - anyway they have a park
there Victoria Park and you can ride the steam train.
As to fabric, well last time I was home it was a big disappointment - Palmerston North, which you get to either by the golden
coast or throught the ranges, has a few nice fabric stores that cater for brides, but the prices are just dreadful - we have such
high import taxes on things that it makes buying fabric a joke really.
the icecream up in Raumati is delicious, the passionfruit and mango and ginger is to die for.
February and March are the best times to go. The fish is wondeful too - if you can afford it, my brother who skin dives said
that crayfish (much nicer than lobster is about $80.00 a kilo) - butterfish is wonderful.
Mt Victoria you see the whole of Wellington spread beneath you - schools are generally single sex - Wellington East which is
above the Mt Victoria Tunnel, you must go through the tunnel has been there since 1920, and many generations of
wellingtonians have passed through ther, grandmothers, daughters and grand-daughters - they wear school uniform, junior navy.
It was very strict when I went there, but when I taught there I was truly disgusted at how far they had fallen.
You will enjoy your visit for sure.
regards
Fran
