Hello and welcome to this week’s instalment of the mrlukeniktravels blog from Wellington, New Zealand. I am currently at almost the southern tip of the North Island and heading to the South Island next week. Wellington is recognised to be the windiest capital in the world with an average wind speed of 22kph per year. The chilling southerly winds make the temperature feel much less than the advertised approximate 20 degrees Celsius. But still, the sun is usually out! As I write this post there is one of the Mission Impossible films in the background (don’t ask me which one). Without further delay, here we go…
While in the capital I have been making the most of the national museums and public spaces here. Yesterday I visited Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand. There were some interesting exhibitions and displays of Maori culture, crafting skills and civilisation. Some of the exhibits, like the Treaty of Waitangi, I have already encountered during my time in New Zealand. Still the museum was very interesting and, for the most part, free to enter! Today I took a tour of the Parliament buildings, including the famous ‘Beehive’. Again, this was completely free so it is worth seeking out cheap/free activities. Much of the operation of Parliament was familiar to me. One difference is that New Zealand has only one legislative chamber- unicameral in technical language.
This week my thoughts have turned towards Christmas, even whilst applying sun-cream. I have to say that, so far, I am enjoying my Southern Hemisphere Christmas experience. There are no short, cold, wet days but also fewer log fires and mulled alcohol! I did not bring a Christmas jumper all the way across the world, but I did invest in a Santa hat this week. Christmas is officially around the corner. Last Friday was office Christmas party night with much karaoke singing and merriment. I shall be on the South Island by Christmas, so hopefully there will be more of the same sunshine across the Cook Strait.
I hope this week to get in some more hiking trips in the hills around Wellington. Whilst they may not be snow-capped, the views are still pretty fantastic. Mount Victoria on my first day here was a great viewpoint, I hope to bag some more peaks during the week. That said, crossing from one side of the valley to the other requires a lot of steps, a bit like a hike! Tomorrow I will take a ride on the cable car up the side of the valley, so that will save some step climbing. The expanses of water also offer some good views of the coastal bays and, in the distance, South Island. I have seen a few people swimming in the bay but haven’t been brave enough to join them yet.
That is about all for this week’s update. As previously mentioned, I will be on the other side of the Cook Strait on South Island next week. As ever, for more up-to-date news there is my Twitter feed @mrlukeniktravel. For photo updates there is my Instagram feed @mrlukeniktravels. My next update will be on Christmas Eve, so things will be very festive indeed! From now until next time, stay safe and travel on!
