Local Expert
Liz Lewis
Liz is a freelance travel, health, and lifestyle writer. Having lived various places in the world (Hawaii, Crete, California, Germany, and Saudi Arabia), Liz now resides in New Zealand.
But living in…
Liz is a freelance travel, health, and lifestyle writer. Having lived various places in the world (Hawaii, Crete, California, Germany, and Saudi Arabia), Liz now resides in New Zealand.
But living in such a remote location has not stopped Liz from continuing to roam the world (real and cyperspace) in search of new and exciting adventures to experience and document.
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Wine enthusiasts should make an effort to spend the day in Martinborough. It's only an hour away from Wellington and offers a chances to explore some of New Zealand's great boutique wineries.
First stop should be the visitors center where you can pick up the Martinborough Wine Trail brochure. This brochure provides a map and information about the 17 wineries in the area.
And once you're done with the wineries, take a little time to explore Martinborough's Colonial Musuem and the Taxidermy Gallery. Or, for something a little more adventurous, check out McLeods Quad Adventures and take a 300cc Quad Bike over farmland and through riverbeds.
Join the Zombie Walk at the Frank Kits Park tomorrow (8th September) and become part of an effort to break the world record for the world's largest Zombie Walk.
All Zombies are to gatther and be counted, starting at 8pm, with a march along an unknown route beginning at 9pm.
Of course, you'll need to dress up as all Zombies do, in tattered (fake) blood stained clothing with funny hair, white face, hollow checks, and black lips. Dress up in your Zombie-finest. And if you've any Zombie make-up tips send them along.
What: Zombie Walk
Where: Frank Kits Park ($2)
When: Monday the 8th, 8pm
Lord of the Rings fans know that Wellington was the place that most of the filming and production work was done. Between October 1999 and December 2000, Wellington was 'middle earth'. And while no film sets remain from this time, there are a number of Wellington tour operators who run 'Lord of the Rings' tours that take you to the locations, tell you the secrets, and get you where the public usually cannot go.
Wellington Rover Tours is a small sightseeing company that offers The Rover Ring Tour which visits nine film locations around Wellington.
Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences has the Middle Earth Filming Locations Tour.
Hammonds Scenic Tours has the Palliser Bay & Scenery With Some LOTR Sites.
Wellington Movie Tours has two half day tours - the Wellington Movie Tour and the Northern Movie Tour. Or you can combine them into the Ultimate Movie Tour.
It might be a little cool outside at the moment, but August is a great time to visit the zoo. All you have to do is put on a layer or two of clothing and head on out.
Located at 200 Daniell Street, Newtown, the Wellington Zoo is firm favorite with locals looking to get outside and commune with nature and animals. It was the first zoo in New Zealand, having celebrated it's 100th birthday in 2006.
There's over 500 animals at the zoo, living in enclosures that are designed to be as natural and similar to the environment they would inhabit in the wild.
The zoo is currently running $5 Winter Wednesdays only in August which is a great savings off the usual admission fee of $15 for adults and $7.50 for children.
According to Frances Sutton, Wellington is the sculpture city of New Zealand and she has set out to prove it with her book, Art & About. Featuring the artists and artwork around Wellington's streets, parks, and gardens, the book provides a pocket guide to Wellington's outdoor sculptures. There is a map at the back of the book to help you find what's where on your travels.
My favorites - the Nikau Palms that support part of the Wellington Public Library and the Seven Steps to Heaven at Civic Square that form word ladder with one letter changing at each step.
You also learn more about Wellington's Art in Public Places at the Absolutely Postively Wellington
website. They have a list of
Gallery of Art in Public Places - Sculptures and Gallery of Art in Public Places - Memorials worth checking out.
It's easy, fun, and a great way to get around and see the city. The 2.5 hour tour offered by Segway Wellington Tours let you discover the old and new of Wellington without wearing out the shoe leather. And what's more, its eco-friendly.
The tour starts at Civic Center where you'll get a brief training session. The segway is easy to use, but you'll need a few pointers on how to stop, start, and turn before you take off.
Once you've learned the technique, the glide through Wellington's streets will be a blast.
Definitely not to be missed.
Tour cost: NZ$89.00 per person. Tour limited to 6 persons.
Tours depart 10:00 and 1:30pm from i-SITE visitor centre in Civic Square.
Contact: (04) 802 4860