Wellington
In sharp contrast to yesterday’s feast of marine wildlife, today we explored many of the urban delights of New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington. Perched on steep hills which loom over a secure harbour, Wellington entertained us with an intriguing array of the wild and the civilised. Our three excursions gave us a taste of the country’s culture, history, government, horticulture, and wildlife. We started with a tour to the Parliament buildings, including the distinctively shaped “Beehive,” home to the offices of the Prime Minister and many Members of Parliament. We also peeked inside Old St Paul’s Church, a stunning gothic church that, unusually, is made entirely of wood. Then it was off to the lush Wellington Botanic Gardens where we wound our way on foot through its verdant avenues, admiring the mix of exotic and native flora. To cap off the morning, we sampled the richness of exhibits at Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum.
The afternoon saw us getting back to nature in Zelandia Wildlife Sanctuary, a suburban valley that has been carefully fenced to exclude introduced predators like rats and weasels. In their absence, the native birds and plants are flourishing, giving visitors the opportunity to see some of the rare birds for which New Zealand is famous. A hardy group of us even returned after dark to view kiwi and other nocturnal specialist species, although for others “nightlife” could only mean time in the bars and restaurants of this vibrant city.
