1) Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Te Papa Museum in Wellington is New Zealand's National Museum. Admission is free, but an admission fee is charged for special short term exhibits.Attractions at Te Papa include:
- Mana Whenua (Māori cultural exhibit)
- The giant squid
- New Zealand art works
- Tours of the museum
- The transformation of Aotearoa New Zealand
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| An overview of Wellington City Square with Te Papa in the centre (It is the brown building by the water) |
2) Mount Victoria
Mount Victoria is located just South of the CBD (Central Business District) and Te Aro. It is within walking distance of the CBD and Oriental Parade. It can also be reached by vehicle and public transport. Mount Victoria is a large hill that is a great place to go on short hikes. There are lots of hiking trails leading to the summit. Scenes from the Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring were filmed on Mount Victoria. |
| Oriental Bay with Mount Victoria in the background |
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| A Māori totem pole at the top of Mount Victoria |
3) The Film Archives
The New Zealand Film Archives are located in Wellington's Te Aro community. The public can watch any New Zealand-made film that is on DVD or video for free. Upstairs, the Film Archive has films and special events that the public can attend. Some events have an entrance fee.4) Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place in Te Aro is the cultural centre of Wellington. There are three movie theatres in Courtenay Place: Reading Theatre, for blockbuster and mainstream movies; The Paramount, for foreign language and independent films; and the Embassy Theatre hosted the world premieres of The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Theatres hosting stage productions include: The Saint James Theatre, BATS Theatre and Downstage Theatre. Courtenay Place has a lot of restaurants and cafés as well.5) Kaitoke Regional Park
Located outside the city, Kaitoke Regional Park is parkland with lots to offer. Rainforest, walking and biking trails, and campsites offer visitors a variety of opportunities to explore. The Rivendell scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in Kaitoke Regional Park. |
| Suspension Bridge over the Hutt River, Kaitoke Regional Park |
~Angie
