To begin my blogging journey I thought I’d share one of my favourite places in the world (being a little biased I might add)..My home town Wellington :D
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital city and sits near the southern most point of the North Island on the Cook Strait. It is a very small compact city which makes it easy to get around (especially by foot). It is also home to Weta, so if you are a big Lord of the Rings fan like I am, then a visit to the Weta Cave should definitely be on your list of things to do if you are planning a trip here.
Should be’s on your Wellington List: Tour of parliament, Mt Victoria Lookout, Red Rocks, National Museum Te Papa, Art gallery, Cable Car and Botanical Gardens. (Most of those are free except for a small cost for cable car and Te papa accepts donations with only temporary exhibitions costing you).
In the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, Wellington Botanical Gardens
Ask any Wellingtonians what they like doing around town and that is walk around the waterfront and just sit in cafes/ bars along the water or up on Cuba street and watch the world go past.
As a Wellingtonian myself, it most certainly is one of my favourite past times. There are many great cafes/bars here so you can’t really go wrong with any of them but what I will share is all of my favourite places.
For Breakfast/ Brunch/ Lunch :
Prefab – http://www.pre-fab.co.nz/ Located on Jessie Street, I am huge fan of their freshly backed baguette but love all of their food.
Olive – http://www.oliverestaurant.co.nz/ Situated in the middle of Cuba street. For me Olive is the best place in town for a big breakfast and a place to catch up with friends. They have a cute courtyard in the back which I almost always try and get a table in when I eat there.
Loretta– http://www.loretta.net.nz/ Another cafe on Cuba street very different to most style of Cafes in Wellington – great food
Spruce Goose – http://www.sprucegoose.net.nz/ Not in the heart of town but out near the airport in Lyall Bay. You can watch the planes coming and going. The cafe looks out on the beach. Perfect view to see people either walking their dogs, surfing or kite surfers. I love this place so much on a nice sunny day.
For Dinner:
Cha – https://www.zomato.com/wellington/cha-te-aro-wellington-city/menu It is pretty cheap and cheerful. One of my regular dine in/out places. Service is sometimes not the best but the place reminds me of a home away from home asian kitchen. I always walk away with a happy stomach.
Chow – http://www.chow.co.nz/ Asian Fusion restaurant and a bustling place to be on Monday nights. They do 2 4 1 dishes all day and its a great place to share meals with friends or family.
Kazu- http://www.kazu.co.nz/yakitori-sakebar/ This Japanese bar restaurant is another great place to share meals with friends. Other than their delicious Sashimi and avocado salad, it is one of the few places I’ll enjoy a cold beer or some sake. But love all the food on their menu.
For Bars:
There are many great bars along Courtenay place – Mish Mosh, Bangalore Polo Club, Basque and Ancestral just to name a few!!! But below are a few of my favourites and hidden gems you may not necessarily know about it
Hawthorn Lounge – http://www.hawthornlounge.co.nz/ One of Wellington’s best kept secrets. From the outside you wouldn’t know its a bar unless you knew about it. It is a cozy little bar with the best cocktails in town. The bar staff are amazing and if you don’t fancy anything on their extensive cocktail list, they will invent some pretty tasty beverages for you. They also have some great live music and in winter the fireplace is roaring (the best part you can toast marshmallows too)
Library Bar – http://thelibrary.co.nz/ Right next door to Chow, this bar has some nice character. Most of the walls are covered with books that you can pull off the shelves and take a look at and there is mixture of bar stools, funky chairs and couches in different areas of the bar.
Matterhorn- http://matterhorn.co.nz/matterhorn-wellington/ Matterhorn is also a restaurant but I have tended to go later in the afternoon evening for drinks and tapas. They have live music in there at times and have a nice outdoor courtyard out the back. Not the cheapest place to go to but a nice place to catch up with friends.
Fruit and Veges acquired from Victoria Street Farmers Markets
Lastly, I want to share about is my weekly Sunday ritual which I am sure I share with many Wellingtonians. Rain or shine, I love to go to the markets to select all my fresh fruit and vegetables for the week . Not only does it support the local growers around the region but it also is very affordable and much often much cheaper than buying it in the supermarkets.
There are two markets in town one on Victoria street and the other by our National Museum Te Papa. I love them both for different reasons. But what I will say is the atmosphere is great at the ones by Te papa. So if you are visiting check out these ones. You will see lots of locals shopping for their weekly produce and live music and food stalls also surround the area so you can also grab some breakfast and stroll around the waterfront while you are there. If you are keen there is also fresh fish available fresh off the boats but go early I hear all the best fish go quick!!
For everything else the markets don’t provide me with, I head to Moore Wilsons ( Only the very best supermarket ever!!) Stocked with amazing produce, meats, seafood, wines, cheeses, coffees, chocolates, freshly baked breads and much more. You are always spoilt for choice of things to try. If there is one thing that I highly recommend you do if you set foot in Moore Wilsons, is to buy their freshly squeezed Orange juice. It is seriously the best orange juice I’ve ever tasted – it does not disappoint!!!
For other things to do in Wellington during the year look out for “Our Wellington” it is a free guide that lets you know events happening around the city at the time. I always grab a copy to see what’s happening in the city.
Hope you have all enjoyed my first little blog :) If you have any questions or want me to talk about a certain something please leave me a comment!! Thanks again for your support! Peace and love xoxo
“There is no place like home” – My Windy Wellington To begin my blogging journey I thought I'd share one of my favourite places in the world (being a little biased I might add)..My home town Wellington :D…