I am definitely an Aucklander, through and through, but I love a visit to the nation’s capital to check out what’s new and get a natural blow wave from that wild wind. Here are the top spots I saw, and the best advice I got for a Jafa visiting Wellington…
I am definitely an Aucklander, through and through, but I love a visit to the nation’s capital. It’s great to check out what’s new and get a natural blow wave from that wild wind.
My top observations of coming from Auckland to Wellington would have to be the lack of traffic – which hit home when I could waltz across central city streets with a baby buggy with no cars in sight- and that people don’t text while they’re walking around.
Also, I really noticed how friendly and helpful people were compared to the big smoke. Shop assistants in particular seemed so nice.
Wellington’s always been small but perfectly formed. Its advantage for the pedestrian traveller is its small size means you can circumnavigate it by morning tea time without needing a cab.
Wellington’s always had bohemian cafes and Cuba Street hasn’t seemed to have changed for a while, since the advent in recent times of chain stores such as Glassons. Cuba Street’s top eateries remain Floriditas, Ernesto and sister cafe Fidel’s. Cafe Italiano at the top of Cuba is worth noting for its tiramisu.
By far the strongest memory I have from my trip in February 2011 is the arrival and proliferation of Wishbone.
This sandwich bar was so ubiquitous that in one spot while I stood still I could see two Wishbones and smell a third around the corner. It reminded me of Pret A Manger in London; a boring but useful sandwich staple.
Another thing Wellington does that Auckland doesn’t do as commonly, is the hole-in-the-wall coffee bar without seats.
Here are the top spots I saw, and the best advice I got for a Jafa visiting Wellington…
Below: Sweet Mother’s Kitchen at the Embassy theatre (Oriental Bay) end of Courtney Place. This cheap n’ cheerful Mexican casual diner received rave reviews on its food from locals; I thought the food was okay but not the best Mexican I’ve had by a long shot.
What it wins out on, is character, in spades. Check out the interior decorated within an inch of its life with paraphernalia and signage and fruity fairy lights.
Some dishes are served on plastic plates and your bill comes with a giant bug. The curly fries ($6.50) deserve a special mention for their salty spicy flavour.
Fashion-wise, the stores I had recommended to me were Coco in Willis Street, Alexandra Owen in Wakefield Street, S’Wonderful in Victoria Street, and shoe shop I Love Paris in the Old Bank Arcade (pictured below.)
Other fabulous shops in the Old Bank Arcade included Taylor and Ruby boutique, both of which are in Auckland.
Also in the Old Bank Arcade was a cafe I really enjoyed for good service, a chutney and relish buffet and reasonably priced to boot (I had a delicious feta and spinach scroll grilled with relish for $4.50). Below: Smith the Grocer.
Smith the Grocer has an instore counter of Tempt cupcakes.
Other food places I was recommended include having brunch at Olive’s courtyard, lunch at Nokau, dinner at Capitol, Mojo coffee (now a chain) on the waterfront, Nicolinis pasta in Courtney Place and Kaffe Eis at Oriental Bay.
The girls at Karen Walker – possibly the most friendly I have ever met in a shop – were incredibly helpful. They were experts on two-for-one deals and mentioned Chow 2-for-1 on Monday nights and 12-4pm every weekday, Duke Carvells 2-for-1 breakfasts on one day of the week (possibly Mondays) and Library bar’s 2-for-1 desserts on Tuesdays.
Below: my favourite new building design: the Supreme Court on Lambton Quay. Intricate welded steel makes a lace latticework.
Below: the stunning Courtney Place sculpture ‘Tripod’ by sci-fi fantasy artist Greg Broadmore whom I used to know in Hamilton years ago drawing comic strips, and who has made good, now working for Weta and designing on District 9.
And we all know Wellington is famous for its arts and culture. In fact I think they (aptly) use capitals for it there; Arts and Culture.
However, I have found the Ugliest Piece of Wellington Sculpture and I leave you with it: the turquoise rag-roll painted seashells.
Megan Robinson 17 February 2011
iPhotos by Kevin Robinson.
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