Wellington offers backpackers a vibrant and energetic city experience, all set within a natural amphitheatre nestled between a beautiful harbour and lush green hills.
Wellington is a city full of flavour. Whether you’re after an imaginative cocktail, award-winning wine or your favourite pint, Wellington’s nightlife is packed with bars and clubs to suit every taste. You can listen to live music, watch the rugby or simply soak up the scene at one of the eclectic mix of bars along Cuba Street and Courtenay Place.
Visit the world-class Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa, or the Wellington Zoo or head north to enjoy the beaches on the Kapiti Coast. Compact in size, making it a breeze to explore by foot, Wellington bursts with a thriving arts and culture scene and sets out to ensure visitors have the ultimate urban experience. The excitement of the city is only minutes from exploring your way through native bush or soaking in the sun at one of Wellington’s many gorgeous bays.
Positively Wellington Tourism
Website: www.wellingtonNZ.com
Kapiti / Horowhenua: the Nature Coast
Spread along the coast from Whanganui to Wellington, Kapiti / Horowhenua is a lively rural region with a coastal flavour.
Known as the Nature Coast, Kapiti / Horowhenua offers visitors unspoiled beaches and a wild bushclad hinterland, steeped in both Maori and Pakeha history. With a thriving farming industry, there are lots of opportunities to visit farms and enjoy a taste of real kiwi farm life.
Kapiti Island, off the coast, is one of the most valuable wildlife reserves in the country. This island is set aside to protect native flora and fauna, particularly the native kiwi, takahe, stitchbird, and saddleback. Access to the island is by permit only, to preserve the special predator-free environment that has been created. Private boats are not allowed to dock, so visits must be made through licensed operators.
Strung along the coast like beads on a necklace are a number of charming rural towns - Levin, Otaki, Paraparaumu, Raumati, all with their own distinct character and charm. The Kapiti coast is a favourite weekend destination for Wellingtonians, featured widely in New Zealand fiction as an iconic childhood playground.
Nature Coast Enterprise
Website: www.naturecoast.co.nz