Wellington
Welcome to the Capital of Cool.
You can't beat Wellington on a good day. Take a stroll around Oriental Parade, go kayaking or paddle-boarding on the harbour, or simply soak up the sun at one of the city's charismatic cafes. And if Wellington's windy ways dominate your day, sometimes it's handy to have the inside word on where to go and what to do if you need to take refuge undercover.
We all appreciate a more personalised experience when we're in a new city, so the SSC 2012 organising committee have put together a few of our favourite things to do in the Capital of Cool. Below you'll hopefully find a few ideas that appeal to you while you're exploring Wellington.
Perched on the south-western tip of the North Island, Wellington sits between the Rimutaka Ranges to the north and the Cook Strait to the south, a stone's throw from Kapiti's beaches and the plush wine region of the Wairarapa…well positioned for a weekend break or sneaky day trip.
Wellington and surrounds boast a smorgasbord of activities to keep you entertained throughout your visit. Named as the fourth top city in the world to visit in 2011 by "Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011", Wellington is the political centre and creative capital of New Zealand.
Compact and convenient, make sure you pack a pair of comfy shoes as Wellies is the perfect city to explore on foot. Have a peek at the following, pick a few things that tickle your fancy and you're on your way to creating your very own Wellington experience.
Bat's Theatre
Carter Observatory
City Gallery
The Embassy
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary (Zealandia)
Matiu/Somes Island
Mount Victoria
Old Government Buildings
Old St Paul's
Oriental Parade
Parliament Buildings "The Beehive"
Plimmer's Ark
Te Papa
Wellington Cable Car
Mix in one or two of the above with a stop off at one of the following wee beauties and your day in Wellies just got a whole lot better…
Café culture dominates Wellington. Take a quick wander and you'll soon see you're spoilt for choice when it comes to coffee, just follow your nose. Here are a few favourites:
Aro Cafe http://www.arocoffee.co.nz/
Beach Babylon http://beachbabylon.co.nz/
Deluxe http://www.zenbu.co.nz/entry/1139727-deluxe-cafe
Ernesto www.ernesto.co.nz
Fidel's Cafe http://www.fidelscafe.com/
Gasoline http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/gasoline-wellington
Maranui Café http://www.maranuicafe.co.nz/
Memphis Belle http://www.zoomin.co.nz/info/nz/wellington/te+aro/dixon+street/28/-memphis+belle+coffee+house/
Nikau http://citygallery.org.nz/NikauCafe/
Olive Cafe http://www.zoomin.co.nz/info/nz/wellington/te+aro/cuba+street/170/-olive+cafe/
Next to our love of coffee, we enjoy our food and – according to recent research – we like to drink a bit too! So, it's not hard to see why we're also one of the happiest cities, reflected in the quality of bars and restaurants in our compact and cool capital, offering up vibrant night life and food that will keep you going back for more, time and time again. Take your pick of quirky, cool, divine or decadent here http://bars-restaurants.wellingtonnz.com/
For more inspiration check out: www.wellingtonnz.com.
Welcome to Wellington, it's great to have you here.
Weather
February is summertime in New Zealand with typical daytime maximum temperatures ranging from 19-24 degrees celcius. The weather can be slightly unpredictable, so bring a jacket just in case!
To view Wellington's current weather situation, click here.
Pre and Post Conference Touring Options
This site offers a selection of unique touring opportunities
