Wellington and the Hutt Valley
We lived in Lower Hutt from mid 2003 to the start of 2005. It's a very windy place but the harbour is beautiful on a sunny day. For a capital city, Wellington is compact and friendly. The centre is easy to walk around - from the buskers, alternative shops and bucket fountain on Cuba Street to the distinctive parliamentary buildings, with the Lambton Quay shopping area in between. Art deco buildings are mixed with business high rises and shiny new hotels. There's plenty to see and a huge number of great shoe shops.
Highlights
Wellington cable car
To the view point, then walking down through the botanic gardens and back into town.
Watching rugby
At the Cake Tin.
Walking
Red Rocks coastal track, any of the lovely bush walks around Hutt (especially Belmont Trig), beaches at Eastbourne and round toward Cape Palliser.
Kaitoke Regional Park
The Hutt river gorge, Rivendell and beautiful walks through established bush.
Shopping
On Lambton Quay for clothes and in Thorndon for household things. Expensive by Kiwi standards but very cheap compared with most of Europe and America.
Eating
Coffee shops
For cake and latte or Sunday brunch. Especially Go Bang and Palace in Petone.
Little India
In Wellington for excellent Indian.
Shanghai restaurant
In Wellington for great Chinese at very reasonable prices.
