One City To Inspire It All: Wellington

This quote lies on the Sea Walk Bridge at the Central Waterfront in Wellington, 
New Zealand:

Wow….

It was perfect.  It was a harbinger, a call from the deep.  After spending two days in the city, this was the answer to all of the arithmetic I’d gathered.  This quote blossomed in my mind like a drop of ink from Shakespeare’s quill.  It only took an instant for me to believe those words completely. 

A few weeks prior I had explored Melbourne, a city similar to Wellington in many, many ways.  Isolated, but highly cultured, sophisticated, artistic, creative, and full of good people with whom I could interact and live.  But time wasn’t on my side, and I only touched the surface of Melbourne.  I had left Melbourne feeling unsatisfied.  I had missed something immense, like a confirmation I could live there.  I felt hollow.

My hollow spot was filled by Wellington.  The feeling of getting to thoroughly explore a place like Wellington not only reinvigorated my wanderlust, it gave me that immense confirmation I had missed in Melbourne.  Perhaps it was supposed to be Melbourne; and yet the confirmation was in Wellington. 

A series of panorama shots--south to east to north to west--from Mt. Victoria:

I gravitate toward high places and vista points equally as much as I gravitate towards the “road less traveled.”  Either of these gives you more reality.  Looking out upon Wellington from Mt. Victoria gave me the sense of the city’s definition.  To view something expansive all at once is not just humbling.  It frames your perspective so that you marry all your being to all its being.  The breathtaking landscape upon which Wellington stands; the stretch of white on green; the lovely curves of the harbors.  All of that reality, defined as one.  It’s a beautiful feeling to merge with it.        

On both days in Wellington I was fortunate enough to escort a tour from the ship.  On both days I was greeted with panoramas of the city from Mt. Victoria and from within the city itself.  For instance the tour buses took us through streets like Courtenay Pl. and Dixon St., two main roads in Wellington.

The St. James Theatre, of the finest performing arts stages in Wellington.

There is an incredible amount to take in on each block alone...it seemed like a person could spend a day on these two streets alone.  

The downtown area is chock-full of similar streets, lined with one intriguing café—restaurant, store, you name it—after the next!  Now, expand that fact to all of what can be seen from Mt. Victoria:

…and to be seen is that wonderful expanse of Wellington, chock-full of greatness and opportunity.  If one can spend an entire day on one street, Wellington itself would take an entire month and more.... 

On the second day I not only rode those roads, but I walked, closely interacting with many unique places.  That day, I understood that each place to see is worth the curiosity.  

Sea Walk Bridge

The Rose Garden of the Wellington Botanic Garden

The Beehive, part of the complex of Parliament and one of
Wellington's most notable piece of architecture.

Downtown

Outside the grounds of Victoria University of Wellington.  Lovely roads weave through the
hills right outside downtown.

A great little cafe called Gotham.  Check out the surroundings...no wonder
they chose "Gotham as the name!

Outside Victoria University of Wellington

An amusing title for a bar.

Downtown

 

Sea Walk Bridge, on the waterfront.

The city’s quantity has quality.  The impression was astounding.

Wellington’s culture, sophistication, and creativity are all intertwined.  This is the main reason why the city has much more to it than its size.  Wellington has a history of strengthening the positions of local businesses and projects (my drummer friend, from Wellington, told me there are only two Mickey D’s in the entire city).  The city is therefore a profitable hub for small businesses.  Its classiness and artsy-ness come from this dynamic.

Wellington is also, of course, the hometown of Peter Jackson and a thriving film industry. The massive success of the Lord of the Rings created a massively successful film industry centered on the Miramar Peninsula, Wellington’s own “Hollywood.”  Weta Cave can be found on the peninsula.  If you want to see tons of behind-the-scenes stuff from the film industry of Wellington, Weta Cave offers more than one could fathom.  Check out more here at http://www.newzealand.com/int/plan/business/the-weta-cave-workshop-tour/  

One more interesting fact about Wellington: it is one of the windiest places on the planet! 

173 days of wind over 60 kph in a typical year...that's pretty insane!  

I was, definitely, blown away.  If I ever come back to Wellington, at the very least I will spend a few weeks here, dining in more restaurants, exploring more parks, talking to more people, visiting more museums, and certainly experiencing more of its outstanding music scene.  At the very most…I will act upon the quote. 

Check out this site for a great general overview of Wellington and easy access to specific places and things in the city:

http://www.newzealand.com/int/feature/wellington-cruise-overview/

And yet, Wellington won’t be my only reason for acting upon the quote.  New Zealand as a whole is utterly, magically worth it….

Wonderful Napier.  After a catastrophic 1930's earthquake,

the town rebuilt itself entirely in the art-deco style.  

Scottish-founded Dunedin, another lovely little town.  It is situated on the Otago Peninsula, home to rare yellow-eyed penguins, seals, 
and a mainland albatross colony.  

Touring across the Otago Peninsula

A view of Auckland from the Sky Tower.

Tauranga, from the top of Mt. Maunganui.

I was incredibly fortunate to land a tour into the Southern Alps and 

Arthur's Pass.  

We drove for several hours through nothing but beautiful countryside.  

It was everything I'd hoped it would be: Middle-Earth incarnate....

Entering the Souther Alps.

A shallow mountain lake.  Can you imagine the white beauty of winter here?

A braided river running from Arthur's Pass

This breathtaking shot shows light shining onto Akaroa, French-founded and settled.

The drive leading to the alps...farmland and rolling hills and natural bliss all around.

And, of course:
The Shire!

We all overly loved the tour of the set.  One thing I'll remember is this picture: an
old Indian woman calmly sitting and relaxing in front of the entrance to Hobbiton.

The allure of New Zealand is mighty.  It is gorgeous.  Wellington was the catalyst that made me understand this.  

Disclaimer: 

I do not intend to speak on behalf of Azamara Club Cruises.  As an employee of Azamara Club Cruises, I hereby state that all views and expressions of opinion I hold are solely my own, and do not reflect or represent the views, values, beliefs, opinions, or company policies of ether Azamara Club Cruises or Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additionally I neither own nor claim any legal rights to the links provided in this post.