The capital of New Zealand is Wellington named in honour of Arthur Wellesley the first Duke of Wellington. Wellington is positioned on the southerly tip of the North Island and makes it an ideal home base to explore the central and coastal regions. It is the arrival and departure point for the inter island ferries.

The Wellington Botanic Garden features 25 hectares of unique landscape, conifers, protected native forest, colourful floral displays specialised plant collections, and a view over Wellington city. It is classified as a Garden of National Significance by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and is an Historic Places Trust Heritage Area. The Garden is minutes from downtown Wellington and entry is free.

The Cable Car is one of Wellingtons oldest and most popular tourist attractions. The cable car journeys up under the motorway, through the three tunnels, past Kelburn Park and Victoria University and on to the top entrance of the city s Botanic Garden.

The Cable Car Museum housing an original cable car and trailer as well as the old winding equipment. At the Wellington Cable Car Museum, you will learn more about the colourful 100-year history of this relentless red machine.

The Te Papa Tongarews Museum of New Zealand is a must to visit. The free displays give a glimpse into the culture and people of New Zealand. You can easily spend all day here.

Lately, Wellington has positioned itself as a prime destination it is a bustling little city with the feel of a waterfront village. It has extensive cultural activities and a thriving cafe and pub culture in a busy pedestrian hub, but also boasts miles of nature reserves and stunning scenery.

Wellington is great if you like being outdoors. It is surrounded by hills, a rugged coastline and one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Adventure activities include mountain biking, bushwalking and sailing.

The city has a fantastic nightlife, with nightclubs bars and pubs to suit every taste and budget. Whether you are after a pint of Guinness or live jazz Wellington is New Zealand s entertainment capital. Wellington is famous for its coffee restaurants and wine with more than 300 cafes and restaurants located throughout the city.

Downtown Wellington is a good shopping destination. It is so compact that you can walk from one end to the other in twenty minutes. Wellington also offers great shopping from famous New Zealand designers like Zambesi and Karen Walker to local designers like Robyn Mathieson Mandatory, Starfish, and Voon.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - New Zealand s Entertainment Capital

About the Author

Douglas Scott works for The Good Value Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Villa Rental Site