Friday 24th to Monday 27th April 2026
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. Nevertheless, it is a compact city. with a vibrant water-front culture.
Whilst in this area, we stayed with my cousin John and his wife Gill, who were amazing hosts. They live approximately 45 minutes away from the city. Many thanks to them for putting up with us and ferrying us around to show us the sights. We had a great time.
Friday 24th:
Gill had kindly arranged for us to get much needed haircuts, before we had breakfast in a local cafe and then visited a local wildlife sanctuary, where were able to see huge eels and some of the indigenous parrots.
Saturday 25th – Anzac Day:
New Zealanders take the commemoration of their armed forces, in particular the first world war and the Gallipoli landings, very seriously.
We rose before dawn to travel to the main war memorial in Wellington centre, for the dawn service, which was incredibly moving. There, we met up with John and Gill’s son and his girlfriend. It was astonishing. The event was televised, and there were thousands of people there, more like a football crowd, with some of the country’s leading politicians and service chiefs. This scenario is apparently replicated all over New Zealand in many towns around the country.
After breakfast we explored the city further, taking the cable-car (funicular railway), up above the botanic gardens and walking back down through them, before finishing at the waterfront.
We then visited the Wellington Museum, which has one of the original cannons from Captain Cook’s ship Endeavour.
There was also an amazing exhibition on regarding the Gallipoli landings which was so moving.
Sunday 26th:
For Sunday, John and Gill had planned a trip across country to Castlepoint, which is on the south eastern coast. It was a full day out, but the location is spectacular and we enjoyed a meal at Greytown on our way back. They do some amazing fish and chips here.
Monday 27th:
Monday saw us meeting up with Susanne, the travel agent who had been amazingly helpful in rearranging our flights to New Zealand, following the middle eastern conflict. Many thanks to her, for her time and attention to detail. Just the best!
We later went for a drive along the local beach, wondering at the huge mounds of driftwood washed-up for miles.
Back on the road tomorrow. Just a broad-brush plan in mind, so TTFN and see-u-later.
"See-u-Later" 