This is the second article about wellington. Click Here to view the first one.

Wellington is located on the southern end of the North Island, on the shores of volcanically created Lambton Harbor, which is a part of Cook Strait. Clamped between a gulf and hills, Wellington had to extend along the coast for two kilometers, and it can be easily walked across.
You can get the best panoramic views of Wellington from mount Victoria. From here you can see the Lambton harbor in which the port of Wellington is located. The port is adjoined with the central part of the city. On the other side you will see the Lyall and Evans Bays divided by narrow isthmus, which is crossed by a runway of a Wellington’s airport.
You can feel the spirit of England almost everywhere in Wellington. Take for example the architecture. The huge massive cathedrals seem to be magically transferred from England in a blink of an eye. The St. Paul’s Cathedral impressed me the most. The city captivates with an abundance of bridges, viaducts, tunnels, parks and squares. Its architectural shape is diverse: the electric constructions dating back to XIX and early XX centuries are merging with modern structures and many wooden buildings. One of the most interesting architectural masterpieces in Wellington is the Parliament. It consists of three buildings, each built in totally different style. The first building is the main Parliament building, designed in neoclassical style. The Parliament Library building is in Gothic style and there is also a modernist “Beehive” which is the executive wing of parliament. Opposite to parliament situated the former government palace, being the second largest wooden structure in the world.

Wellington botanical gardens are also very impressive and beautiful. Located on the mountain slope from which beautiful views of the city and the port are revealed, it covers area of 26 hectares. To the south of Wellington, near the Newtown Park you will find one of the oldest zoos, where you will get acquainted with local fauna.

Wellington is also a cultural capital of New Zealand. A Royal ballet of New Zealand, New Zealand symphonic orchestra, the New Zealand opera theatre and National school of dance, all are located here. A famous national museum Te Papa is also located in Wellington. Te Papa is known for its unusual, interesting, and innovative approach to exhibitions, revealing the New Zealand’s history from a very ancient times and up till nowadays.

And a little more tourist information for the ending of this article - on the Cuba street there are many shopping opportunities, in Torndon you will find historical attractions, in the very heart of Wellington is the Lambton Quay where the business life of the city is concentrated, and on Mt. Victoria there are many restaurants and hotels.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, having the second largest population in the country, and the largest capital in Polynesian countries. It is also the southernmost capital in the world. Maori name of Wellington is Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Wellington is New Zealand’s oldest city, and was the first landing place of European settlers, who came in four sailing ships. At first the city was located on the flat area at the mouth of the Hutt River, but since that area proved to be swampy and flood prone, the city was relocated.
Originally the town was named Port Nicholson, and only later it was renamed in the name of Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, who helped the settlers a lot in those difficult times of land development and struggling for the right of existence with the natives. Unlike in Australia, the first European settlers weren’t prisoners.
A fierce earthquake of 1848 caused major destruction in the city, and 1854’s earthquake took many lives. Up till now the area on which Wellington is situated considered to be of high seismic activity. Despite this Wellington’s population grew rapidly, and on 1865 it officially became a capital of New Zealand. On its coat of arms proudly written “Suprema - a - Situ” ironically meaning “Great Location”. But not only earthquakes “threaten” the city. It is located on the ocean shore right in the path of the “Roaring Forties” - the strong winds coming through the cook straight. To the Maori Wellington is also known as “Windy Wellington”.
In my next post I will continue with this interesting story of this magnificent city, and the little secrets it hides, so that when you visit it you will know where to look for its hidden treasures. Click here for the second article about Wellington.

This is a nice DOC article about the Southern Scenic Route, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Southern Scenic Route: Te Anau - Tuatapere - Invercargill
The Southern Scenic Route between Te Anau and Invercargill is a rewarding journey for cyclists, campervanners and motorists. The 200 kilometre drive through Tuatapere takes about two and a half hours by car and is sealed along the entire distance. The road skirts the eastern boundary of Fiordland National Park and the rugged south coast, providing an introduction to southern parts of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. There are many points of natural and historic interest along the route and varied opportunities for recreation - camping, tramping, mountain biking, trout fishing, hunting, boating, and even caving. The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre in Te Anau and the Department of Conservation office in Invercargill have detailed track guide brochures, up to date road and track information and displays on the natural and historic features of the region.

A Natural Journey

The nature of the drive from Te Anau to Tuatapere has been shaped by the events of the last Ice Age which ended 14,000 years ago. Huge glaciers flowed out of the valleys beyond Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, gouging a deep basin which filled with water when the ice melted. The low hummocky country south of Te Anau is a moraine composed of rubble dumped at the snout of the glacier. Most of the debris has since been spread by river sand forms the outwash gravel plains and terraces of the Waiau Valley. The main vegetation type of Fiordland and the Takitimu range is beech forest. On the drier Takitimu mountains the forest is broken by eroding screes and tussock grasslands. Around Clifden are limestone rock outcrops, and caves created by the action of streams. It is a pleasant spot to fish for rainbow and brown trout in the Waiau River. Just before Tuatapere the road enters beech and podocarp forest, a tiny remnant of the type which once completely covered the region’s terraces. Today the largest area of this forest type occurs on the marine and alluvial terraces around Waitutu River, two days walk from Bluecliffs Beach. Beyond Tuatapere the road turns east to follow the cliffs above Te Wae Wae Bay. A large number of Hector’s dolphins reside in the bay and can often be seen playing in the breakers. On a clear day tiny Solander Island can be seen to the south from McCracken’s Rest. An outlier to Fiordland National Park, it is the eroded skeleton of a volcano about one million years old. Its tooth shape is recognised in the Maori legend of Kewa the whale, said to have chewed between Stewart Island and the mainland, tossing island crumbs and a broken tooth in the process. At the ends of Te Waewae Bay lie the long flat ridges of The Hump and the Longwood Range, their summits rising above the bushline to be covered with snow tussocks and alpine tarns. At Riverton the Aparima estuary is revealed, one of several which characterize the Southland coast. Beyond it are the intensively farmed plains from which the province today derives much of its wealth.

An Historical Journey

The Maori have occupied the south of the South Island for around 1000 years and in pre-European times developed patterns of use according to available food supply. Permanent settlements at Riverton and Colac Bay were linked to a string of seasonal camps around the coast. A trade route followed up the Waiau Valley to the lakes and the greenstone resources of Milford Sound. Caves in the limestone outcrops around Clifden show evidence of having been stopping places for travelling Maori parties. The first Europeans to explore the south coast were sealers, many of whom kept their movements secret in order to protect their interests. Whales became the next quarry and Riverton was established as a whaling base by John Howell in 1836. In 1888 there was a little known gold rush at Round Hill with 300 Chinese miners living at the town of Canton. When Europeans took over mining operations a 25 km water race was built from the Longwoods for sluicing operations. In 1896 a track was cut along the south coast of Fiordland to provide a land link with the gold mining settlements of Cromarty and Te Oneroa in Preservation Inlet. A telegraph line was installed on the track in 1908 connecting the Puysegur Point lighthouse with Orepuki. More than 200 sawmills have operated in the forests of western Southland. From beginnings with axes and bullocks the industry developed sophisticated, steam powered haulers, locomotives and mills. In the 1920s the mill at Port Craig was the largest in the country. All that remains today is the school, now a tramper’s hut, and four spectacular wooden viaducts. As the accessible forests were milled and burned, pioneer farmers turned the land to agricultural use. Hydroelectric development of the Waiau Valley began in 1925 with the raising of Lake Monowai for generation. In 1971 the Manapouri hydro station was completed, diverting water from Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri to Doubtful Sound and supplying power to Tiwai aluminium smelter near Bluff.

Hanmer is a truly beautiful spa resort situated amongst tall mountain peaks, magnificent forest and near crystal-clear rivers. Located only 1.5 hours’ drive from Christchurch, it is a popular destination for both overseas tourists and Cantabrians seeking a weekend getaway.

The main attraction of Hanmer Springs is definitely the Thermal Pools. They offer a luxurious, relaxing soak, water slide fun for the kids or private spas and beauty treatments. More adventurous can try quad biking at the Hanmer Adventure Center. You can also hire a mountain bike and explore the Hanmer Forest Park with its narrow tracks, flat roads, fantastic scenery with undulating hills and stream crossings. Other activities available in Hanmer Springs are jet boating and rafting on the spectacular Waiau River, and also archery and clay bird shooting

People looking for a more relaxed holiday can ride horses, play golf or just take a stroll around the delightful town, which as a true village atmosphere. Walking to the top of Conical Hill is also recommended.

Recently the town’s expansion has been dramatic. New gift shops have sprung up offering a wide array of souvenirs and works by New Zealand artisans. On weekends artist market is held on the local green in the middle of town.

Hanmer Springs is also serves as a gateway to the Molesworth station, Rainbow and Lake Tennyson station. In the summer you can follow gravel road through the stunning Rainbow Valley to St. Arnaud and Nelson Lakes National Park.