Day Fifteen … Wellington and homeward bound

Today was the last day of our amazing NZ North Island trip. What a journey we have had … but in typical I & J style we couldn’t waste the morning just lolling about doing nothing. We had until 11.15 before we needed to leave the CBD to get to the airport so we got up, repacked our cases for the flight home, left them with the concierge and headed off to explore for one last time in Wellington.

Today’s adventure, aided by an Adventure Lab, took us on an exploration of the government buildings, the government precinct, diplomatic embassies and the architecture of the area. The lab had been created by a teacher as a way to get his students to look at different styles of architecture around Wellington. We also had the chance to see more of the quirky and unique statues in the area.

We saw Parliament House which is also known as the Beehive … a very odd, futuristic looking building that doesn’t really look like a nation’s parliamentary headquarters. Right next door to it is the old parliament building, more austere and dignified.  The parliamentary library was a real surprise as it was a gothic revival edifice that was stunning, even if it needed a little love and restoration on its entrance steps. 

One of the buildings that we wandered past at the university looks like a laid stone structure but upon closer examination (here is where the Adventure Labs take you to places beyond the norm and teach you new things) was actually constructed out of Kauri logs to look like stone. It was so incredible and it wasn’t until I touched the wall and even knocked on the “stone” that you really appreciated that it is a wood structure.

 

Our walk took us past an old brewery chimney, the former prime minister’s house (who had his address and phone number listed in the phone book so that  anyone could reach him at any time), a home for returned nurses from the war, a garden dedicated to Katherine Mansfield who is one of NZ’s most prolific and well known authors and to the old Fire Station that had once been located on the other side of the road but when it was decommissioned it was disassembled and reassembled across the road and converted to apartments.

After about an hour of wandering we stopped so that I could grab a coffee at a local café and for us to then sit and eat our breakfast … and then the heavens opened. I mean … bucketing down! So … we ate breakfast sitting under the verandah of the coffee shop, munching on our muesli bars and bananas watching the rain pour down. Ian had told me when we started that the weather was going to be fine this morning according to the Met … but they got it wrong big time!

 

After the rain stopped we finished our adventure and headed back down to wander the streets, through the railway station,  the wharf and the CBD before we needed to collect our bags, grab a taxi and head to the airport. By pure accident we stumbled across the local public library so of course we had to check it out. What a fabulous city library – a functioning and bustling café, work spaces, relaxing spaces, and something we have never seen in a public library before … a large vinyl collection (including box sets).

As we travelled back out to the airport we were amazed at just how much we had seen of Wellington in our very short stay. I think we both agreed that Wellington is probably our favourite city of this trip. We loved Auckland, don’t get me wrong but Wellington had a vibe about it, a feeling of welcome, a quirkiness that appealed to us, stunning art, murals and street sculptures and a relaxed feeling. So many people came up to offer to take a photo for us or to help navigate us on our way … I could go back there (oh wait … we will be in January!).

 

Checked in on time, bags dropped off, a chance to recharge the phones (amazing how quickly your battery depletes when you snap photos non stop), grabbed some lunch and then waited to board the plane. I am writing this blog from the plane while Ian watched Bullet Train beside me (lots of blood and gore 😳😬🤢).

 

So home we are headed … our wonderful trip over. We have had so many highlights on the trip, we have seen so many things. We have eaten incredible food. We have walked for kilometres and driven even more. We have so much to recommend about this country but for now we tick off the North Island … and look forward to the South Island very soon (watch this space!)

 

If you would like to share the link of this blog with any of your own family or friends … feel free. We love to share our journeys.