Enjoy an outta this world experience at the Space Place at the Carter Observatory, which tells the stories of the southern skies through multi-media exhibits and a packed calendar of events. Located in the Botanic Garden, the attraction was refurbished in 2011 and features a state-of-the-art digital theatre, where visitors can experience a virtual journey through space. On late nights, the historic Thomas Cooke Telescope is available for star gazing.
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Things to see in Wellington
Tourist offices
Wellington i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Address: 111 Wakefield Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 802 4860.
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 0830-1700; Sat-Sun 0900-1700.
www.wellingtonnz.com
Space Place
Opening Times: Tues & Fri 1600–2300; Sat 1000-2300; Sun 1000-1530.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
40 Salamanca Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 910 3140.
Te Papa Tongarewa (Museum of New Zealand)
Te Papa (meaning 'Our Place' in Maori), the national museum of New Zealand, is located on Wellington's waterfront overlooking the picturesque harbour. The museum was opened to enable the people of New Zealand to learn more about their cultural identity and their country's geography and has attracted international acclaim for its ultra-modern and interactive displays. It occupies floor space measuring 36,000 sq m (387,513 sq ft) and houses many national artefacts, enabling visitors to learn about the art, history and natural environment of New Zealand. It also has several permanent exhibitions, including the Time Warp display, which allows visitors to travel back in time to New Zealand's prehistoric age. Don't miss it.
Opening Times: Daily 1000-1800.
Admission Fees: No (except for special exhibitions).
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
55 Cable Street, Waterfront, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 381 7000.
Website:
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz
Wellington Waterfront
Once the centre of Wellington's bustling port, the Wellington Waterfront is one of the city's most distinctive and attractive precincts. It is home to many bars and restaurants, as well as galleries and museums (including the wonderful Te Papa Tongarewa).
Opening Times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
Wellington Waterfront, Wellington, New Zealand
National Tattoo Museum
A look at the rich history of traditional tattoos, or ‘ta moko,’ as well as more modern practices. Discover the spiritual, political and symbolic dimensions of body art throughout the Pacific, Asia and beyond, and more recent fashionable body adornment practices.
Opening Times: Mon-Thurs noon-1730; Fri-Sat noon-2000; Sun noon–1730.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
187 Vivian Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 385 2185.
Website:
http://www.mokomuseum.org.nz
Wellington Botanic Garden
Take the cable car from Lambton Quay and spend half a day exploring over 25 hectares (62 acres) of exotic forests, native bush, colourful floral displays and gorgeous gardens of the Wellington Botanic Garden. There are great views of the city from the top of the hill. Gardens are open daily sunrise to sunset.
Opening Times: Dawn til dusk.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Address:
101 Glenmore Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 499 1400.
Wellington Zoo
The city's zoo is the oldest in the country (it opened in 1906) and is home to over 500 animals, including meerkats, red pandas, Malayan sun bears and Sumatran tigers. African, Asian and native wildlife (tuatara, kiwi, kea among them) are all well represented. There are incredible interactive animal experiences enabling visitors to get up close to cheetahs, lions, giraffes, red pandas and meerkats.
Opening Times: Daily 0930-1700.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
200 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 381 6755.
Website:
http://www.wellingtonzoo.com
Weta Cave
Movie fans should visit Weta Cave, a mini-museum with some of the props, displays, sets and characters from blockbuster films made by Peter Jackson, the man behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The museum also enables visitors to get a glimpse of the creativity and brilliance behind a number of award-winning movies such as King Kong, Avatar, Tintin and District 9.
Opening Times: Daily 0900-1730.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
1 Weka Street, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 909 4000.
Website:
http://www.wetanz.com/cave
Old St Paul's
Constructed entirely of native timber in the mid-1850s, this 19th-century gothic revival church showcases stunning wooden arches and magnificent stained-glass windows. Various memorial items and displays tell the early history of Wellington. Tours by arrangement.
Opening Times: Daily 0930-1700.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
34 Mulgrave Street, Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 473 6722.
Website:
http://www.historicplaces.org.nz
Parliament Buildings
A visit to the capital city would not be complete without stopping by New Zealand's beautifully refurbished Parliament Buildings, set in the historic suburb of Thorndon. The complex is made up of three architecturally distinctive buildings: the Edwardian neoclassical Parliament House, the Victorian gothic Parliamentary Library and the striking 1970s-style Beehive building.
Opening Times: Visitor Centre: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; Sat-Sun 0930-1700.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Address:
32 Molesworth Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 817 9503.
Website:
http://www.ps.parliament.govt.nz
Zealandia
A short stroll from downtown Wellington, Zealandia is the place to spot some of New Zealand's rarest and most endangered endemic species and native birds, such as the little spotted kiwi, the stitchbird and the kaka. The attraction presents 80 million years of natural history, with engaging interactive features and films on a big screen. A must for wildlife lovers.
Opening Times: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Address:
53 Waiapu Road, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 4 920 9213.
Website:
http://www.visitzealandia.com
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