Wellington & Wairarapa Regional Information

Hang out in Wellington's central city for a while and you'll discover how effortlessly this city does culture, creativity and style. The range of museums, activities, nightlife and sights could keep you busy for weeks, but make sure you stay long enough to at least see some Kiwi favourites.

Our national museum Te Papa Tongarewa, tours of the Beehive and Parliament Buildings (they're both free), and the cable car journey up to the Botanic Gardens are as memorable as they are celebrated. The Zealandia wildlife sanctuary and conservation exhibition is also something the whole family will enjoy - spotting our national icon, the kiwi, always goes down a treat.

Billed as much more than a means of crossing the Cook Strait, a trip on an inter-island ferry incorporates plenty of essential Kiwi holiday traits - getting out on the water, marvelling at our country's stunning scenery and plenty of amusement for the kids. Take the 92km trip from Wellington to Picton in the South Island and you'll soon see why this iconic ferry ride is a must-do.

Back in the North Island, swap the city lights of Wellington for a jaunt in the relaxed Wairarapa region. Martinborough and Greytown are towns filled with gourmet delights to indulge the whole family, while Masterton is a child-friendly destination with plenty of fun attractions. It's only a short drive from Masterton to Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre where the whole family will fall in love with Manukura, the first white kiwi to be hatched in captivity.

Wellington is the ideal destination for a Good Old Kiwi Holiday. There's so much crammed into Wellington's CBD - ideally located on the shores of a beautiful harbour - that the whole family will be amused for days on end. This enviable location was instrumental to the city being chosen as the capital of New Zealand, and Wellington's vibe, sense of style and endless number of attractions ensure it carries this title with distinction.
As well as being the political capital, Wellington is dubbed the "creative and cultural capital of New Zealand" thanks to its vibrant arts scene. A raft of cultural attractions can be found here, and the city is also home to the country's leading arts festivals and organisations.

Wellington is packed with many diverse walks that gift enticing views of the city and surrounds. Similarly the capital provides a staggering number of parks and play areas for the kids to burn off some energy in - more than 100 of them are scattered around Wellington.

One of the many appealing points of this exciting city is its compact CBD - you can walk from one side to the other in 20 minutes. The waterfront is lined with immaculate parks, historic buildings and museums, while the Lambton Quay area is well known for its fantastic shopping. The Bohemian Cuba Street area gives an insight into Wellington's creative scene, while Courtenay Place pulsates every night thanks to its great bars and nightclubs, cinemas and theatres.

After a busy day sightseeing, kick back and enjoy one of Wellington's superb restaurants or cafés - after all, there are more eateries per capita here than in New York City. The range includes everything from elegant fine dining and top-quality ethnic restaurants to funky laid-back cafés and takeaway joints.

Attractions

• The Wellington Writers' Walk is a definite must-do, taking you on a journey of the mind and the senses that pairs harbour views with poems that resonate with the essence of the city.
• The capital is the home of our national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, and other leading museums and galleries including the City Gallery, the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, the BNZ Museum, Victoria University of Wellington's Adam Art Gallery and the Colonial Cottage Museum.
• Animal lovers are sure to be enthused by a visit to Wellington Zoo. There are about 100 species on show here, from big cats to native species and those on the endangered list.
• Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience is just a short drive from the city centre. Its 225ha valley is a haven where many of New Zealand's most vulnerable birds, reptiles and insects thrive in their natural environment.
• At the exciting and interesting Te Papa Tongarewa, our national museum, the country's origins have been traced back millions of years and among the highlights is a comprehensive history of volcanoes and earthquakes.
• Visit Parliament and The Beehive, where free one-hour tours provide a comprehensive look at past and present parliamentary activity at the home of New Zealand politics.
• Departing from Lambton Quay, the iconic cable car makes a short, but steep, journey to the top of Wellington Botanic Garden and panoramic views of the harbour and city. You can also visit the Carter Observatory here.

With charming townships, a thriving café scene, boutique food stores, fabulous vineyards and vibrant art and culture, the Wairarapa region is ready to be explored. Throw in some spectacular natural attractions and plenty of family-friendly activities and you have the makings of a great, laid-back Good Old Kiwi Holiday.
Mum and dad may enjoy the delightful village of Martinborough a little more than the kids - after all, it's home to some of the country's finest winemakers and full of colonial charm. Martinborough features over 20 wineries, most within walking or cycling distance from the town square. Follow the wine trail here; the flat ground makes bike hire an attractive option, or romantics might consider touring wineries by horse and carriage.

Greytown was New Zealand's first inland town, and is arguably the prettiest and most Victorian of them all. Holidaymakers flock here to indulge in wine trails, antiques, arts, craft and specialty shops, not to mention New Zealand's most complete main street of wooden Victorian buildings. While you're in town you won't be able to go past a brioche from the artisan French Baker, or something delicious from the gourmet chocolate studio.
Masterton is a great family destination at the heart of the Wairarapa and one of New Zealand's foremost sheep farming districts. Over the past decade Masterton has redeveloped its recreation centre, which now features one of the longest hydroslides in the country, a health and fitness centre, spa and indoor and outdoor pools.
Two amazing scenic attractions are highlights of the Wairarapa coastline. Spectacular Castlepoint Beach, with its 100-year-old lighthouse, giant limestone outcrop and landmark Castle Rock is a great place to view the rugged east coast. The southern coastline boasts Cape Palliser, known for its fur seals and photogenic red and white-striped lighthouse.

Attractions

• The Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre north of Masterton is home to Manukura, the first all-white kiwi chick hatched in captivity, and some of New Zealand's most rare and endangered wildlife.
• Take a sumptuous souvenir home with you from Schoc Chocolates in Greytown, and ask the resident "chocologist" to tell you how your chocolate choices are a reflection of your personality.
• Paua World is an iconic Wairarapa shop located in Carterton. Here you can purchase quality paua products and view the working factory on weekdays.
• An adaptation of the mysterious 4000-year-old monument on England's Salisbury Plains, Stonehenge Aotearoa is a short drive from Carterton. Learn how our ancestors used the sun, moon and stars to devise calendars and navigate oceans.
• Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton is fun for the whole family, with a fantastic playground, flying fox, mini golf, skate park, swing bridge and deer park.

Kapiti Island is one of New Zealand's most valuable nature reserves. It is the only large island sanctuary for birds between the Hauraki Gulf and New Zealand's southern outlying islands. Kapiti Island is just a 45-minute drive north of Wellington City and 10 minutes by boat from Paraparaumu.

Visitors to Kapiti have the opportunity to experience breathtaking views, see rare and endangered birds, insects and lizards that are rare on the mainland, and appreciate restored island vegetation and rich Maori and European history.

Nature reserves are areas set aside to protect native plants and animals and keep human influence to a minimum, and every effort is made to minimise the adverse impact of introduced plants and animals on Kapiti Island. Before embarking on the boat ride, visitors have a part to play in ensuring they follow biosecurity procedures.

One of the few accessible 'treasure' islands, Kapiti has become one of the nation's most important sites for bird recovery. Visitors are regularly entertained by cheeky kaka, colourful saddleback, weka, and if they're lucky they may see a shy takahe. Since the eradication of rats from the island, species such as kakariki (red-crowned parakeet), robin, bellbird and saddleback have increased.

Since the 1980s, stitchbird, kokako, takahe, brown teal and saddleback have all been transferred to the island. The little spotted kiwi now thrives on Kapiti Island and has since been reintroduced to mainland areas in Marlborough, and Wellington's mainland island Zealandia.

Other birds you are likely to see in the bush include kereru (New Zealand pigeon), North Island tomtit, kaka, whitehead, tui, fantail, long-tailed cuckoo (in summer only) and silvereye. Birds that can be seen around the coast include black-backed and red-billed gulls, white-fronted tern, variable oystercatcher, reef heron, and little, black and spotted shags.

On the boat trip to and from the island you may spot gannets, fluttering shearwaters and little blue penguins.

The Visitor Experience:

Kapiti Island is a 'Must Do' Visitor Experience for Summer 2013/14. A visit to Kapiti Island starts with making a booking with one of the three experienced concessionaires - visit www.doc.govt.nz/visitkapiti. Go straight to the BOOK NOW option for details.

Once you have made your booking and have the necessary permits to access the island you are ready to go. On your day of departure you will leave from Paraparaumu Boating Club for a 10-minute boat ride across to the island.

Visits to the island generally land at Rangatira, halfway along the eastern shore. After landing there will be an introductory talk at the public shelter. This will explain conditions of entry and safety on the island, as well as information about flora, fauna and human history.

There are two walking options from Rangatira. Follow short and easy tracks through the forest to view the birdlife and see the historic whare. From the whare, climb the Wilkinson Track through mature forest to the highest point of Kapiti Island, Tuteremoana, at 521m. Allow two hours to climb to the summit, and one-and-a-half hours to return.