Wellington, New zealand

Advantages: Great nightlife
Disadvantages: Not a lot to do during the day

...I have been to Wellington twice once in 2005 and again in 2007. Wellington was not may favorite place in New Zealand, however as it is a city it has really good night life, with many bars, pubs, and restaurants. So if you need a good night out then Wellington is definately one of the best places to go out. During the day Wellington has many good shops so if you enjoy shopping then you could easily spend a whole day shopping in Wellignton. When you come to the end of your stay in Welington and you need to decide how to get to the south island then I would recommend the ferry wich takes you across into the small town of Picton which is very nice, or plane which is a lot quicker and takes you into Nelson. I have done both and the plane is a lot quicker but I spent one night in Picton which was really relaxing and I really enjoyed the coach...

Ben_1907 12.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Wellington (New Zealand)

Te Papa - New Zealand's fun filled museum

Advantages: Fun, educational, entertaining, hands on
Disadvantages: Very big (can't see it all), can't take pictures of exhibits

...Te Papa Tongarewa museum ("Te Papa" or "Our Place" for short) is New Zealand's national museum and is right in the heart of Wellington next to the docks. If you only have time to visit one thing in Wellington, visit Te Papa. Many of the collections are online, so if you can't make it all the way to New Zealand, then have a look at the web pages instead. Originally dating from 1992 (or 1998 for the present incarnation in its iconic building), this is a modern museum suitable for children and adults alike and the exhibits are fun and often interactive, whilst still being educational. Most of the exhibitions are free, but you pay if you want to go on a guided tour. Lifts going to every floor help with accessibility and are useful for everyone - the museum goes up to floor level 7, so we were quite worn out by the end of our trip...

beckyXX 27.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), Wellington

WINDY WELLINGTON

Advantages: Great place for all!
Disadvantages: Windy is the name!

...When you ask people what the capital of New Zealand is, they’ll probably say Auckland. Yes… Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. You can feast yourself by visiting the ‘Beehive’, (Government buildings), and even listen in to the local politicians. It’s not as extravagant as the House of Lords, however- it’s still a ‘debate’, even if you can’t join in! From Wellington you can catch the ferry to Picton, there’s three ships that sail and it doesn’t take very long to get across. Dolphins normally accompany you if it isn’t too windy. When I say windy, wellington has been given the name ‘Windy Wellington’ by the locals, because it's always windy! One of the most famous peices of history for Wellington is the sinking of the Wahine ship...

michellej 04.09.2000 (05.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of Wellington (New Zealand)

New Zealand's diverse, cultural history

Advantages: Wonderful way to see New Zealand way of life, past and present
Disadvantages: None

...Don't plan a short trip to Wellington and New Zealand's Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. You will need at least a morning or afternoon, better plan on the whole day. I've been to Te Papa, as it is more usually called, several times and every time I go there I see something different. This is mainly because they have set exhibitions but there are ever-changing long and short term special exhibitions to focus on. We took my grand-daughter to one called ` Inside your Body'.` (I think I remember that as the title, but even if it wasn't , that was what it was all about. Aimed at all the family it left nothing to the imagination! Exceptionally well presented and inter-active. I love Te Papa because it belongs to all New Zealanders and in that respect a lot has gone into presenting how the country has evolved, both...

Writing321 14.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand), Wellington

Wellington. If you are young - give it the boot

Advantages: A nice looking, small city, easily explorable
Disadvantages: Not much left to do after 2 days! Young people will be bored unless they like museums.

...way that takes 40. In reality you can get down in about 10-15 minutes but in the summer you would really want to take 2 hours! A huge variety of plant and tree life is signposted as you descend the hill and you look up with envy at the houses dotted over a similar hill straight across from the gardens. At the foot of the hill lies the rose garden that has hundreds of different types of rose growing next to each other. I'm sure I saw one called "Benson & Hedges" rose. I'm a non smoker so didn't smell that one! :-) *****The Food***** I wasn't impressed by the cuisine in Wellington. I don't really know what I expected, maybe New Zealand lamb? Anyway that wasn't plentiful at all. I actually ate the best Indian meal I have ever had..in the main street in Wellington. I can't even remember the name of the restaurant but it was so much...

u103177 19.10.2004 (03.11.2004) · Read review
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Review of Wellington (New Zealand)

"Pokarekare ana Nga wai o Rotorua" - ROTORUA, New Zealand

Advantages: Somewhere very diiferent, Maori culture, boiling mud and geysers
Disadvantages: the smell was a little off putting, Maori evening was awful

...ROTORUA: Rotorua is on the North island of New Zealand almost in the middle about three hours drive from Auckland and six from Wellington. We stayed at the Sudima Hotel right beside Lake Rotorua and as we got off the bus the interesting sulphur smell of Rotorua greeted us. It is quite a strong rotten egg sort of smell that gets in to everywhere. I didn?t find it too revolting but others in our group found it very over powering and complained constantly that it even pervaded the air-conditioning in the rooms. The town is quite small enough to walk around the main sights, the lovely steaming lake and the park alongside it and all the way to Ohinemutu. On our first evening we went to the Tamika Maori evening ( see separate review on this one) TE PUIA ? THE NEW ZEALAND MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS INSTIRUTE: The next day we were up...

catsholiday 03.10.2009 (05.10.2009) · Read review
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Review of Rotorua, New Zealand

Breathtaking New Zealand!!!!

Advantages: Great Scenery, lots to do
Disadvantages: long bus rides to see the whole area

...New Zealand is the youngest country on earth, it was the last major landmass to be discovered. Its history has both Maori and European heritage. There are still amazing Maori historic sites to be found some dating back almost a thousand years. When I visited New Zealand in July I decided to take an organised tour as I had limited time. I travelled with a group of other like minded travellers and we were transported around on a bus with two tour leaders who gave us loads of information along the way. They organised my accommodation and recommended tours to go on in each place we visited. Also most meals were included. The tour overall cost me The Advantages on taking a Connections Tour • It took hassle out of having to navigate and plan the trip. • You travelled with like minded travellers. • Were recommended...

DeniseKelly40 13.09.2007 (14.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of General: New Zealand

New Zealand now has a small peice of my heart!

Advantages: Amazing country!1
Disadvantages: Weather unpredictable

...a bright red, stunning. The main highlight from Lake Taupo is the famous Tongariro Crossing, this is a full day hike that takes through all 4 seasons of weather conditions, it is very heavy going and not for the weak, hence why I did not participate. My friend did however and would not stop raving about it for days, so if hiking is your thing I would put this on your list of things to do. Depending upon if you do the walk or not I would say 1 or 2 days would be a good amount of time here. Wellington: Wellington is my favorite city in New Zealand, it is not as crowded as the others and seemed more like a large town to me. I would advise a few days here to wonder around and get a feel for the place. The main highlight here was actually the museum; it was so interesting full of information about New Zealand culture and history, it was...

LIZKEMPO 02.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of General: New Zealand

Capital views from a wonderfully windy city

Advantages: Truly spectacular scenery and friendly people
Disadvantages: Southerly gale force winds and rain can occur unexpectedly.

...priced real estate to emerge at the top of Mt. Victoria. The views en route are really quite extraordinary. I took a photograph en route, and was very pleased at the way it turned out. You can view this at http://www.flixya.com/photo/360538/PanoramicviewofWellingtonNewZealand Once at the top of Mt Victoria, if you have reserves of energy left, you can continue in a Southwards direction along the tops of the hills, and eventually, you'll finish up past Newtown and drop down to Island Bay. From there, catch a bus to take you back to the downtown area. It is a wonderful walk, and if you are lucky enough to experience one of Wellington's windless sunny days (more common than many would have you believe) you will have a marvellous time....

Jim2003 21.06.2008 (05.06.2009) · Read review
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Review of Wellington (New Zealand)

Christchurch - a little piece of England in New Zealand

Advantages: Beautiful city
Disadvantages: Not very Kiwi

...Christchurch is in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island and is the largest city on this island. Like the North Island's Auckland, it is a key arrival point and hub for international travellers. Christchurch is situated close to the East coast and to the West lie the immense flat sweeps of the Canterbury plains. These vast plains feel flat, even to me, a native of East Anglia. Their main use is farmland and they require regular wind blocks of tall fences of trees to stop the topsoil from blowing away. Named by the after Oxford's Christ Church (a college that one of the Canterbury Association went to), it was a colony sponsored by the Church of England about 150 years ago. Even today, the city centre has an extremely British in feel to it and even has a river Avon upon which you can go punting!The centre itself has...

beckyXX 03.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Christchurch - New Zealand