Best of Wellington, NZ
While New Zealand is known for its stunning array of landscapes, many still want to experience the upbeat vibe of cities. And in terms of cities, Wellington ranks high on my list of the most pleasant city I've experienced, and that's coming from someone who has social anxiety and has a strong disinterest in crowded cities.
As the capital of New Zealand and the home to the major governmental agencies, Wellington had a more upscale ambiance to it, but I did not feel out of place at all. It was a very welcoming city, with every person we met being incredibly kind, and the city making a clear effort to make people of all genders, races, and sexualities feel welcome and safe.
Situated on the water, and being such a clean city, Wellington is beautiful all around. I would highly recommend visiting this town for anyone looking to enjoy city life for a bit.
Wellington is also where the Interislander ferry departs from, taking you from north island to south island and crossing the Cook Straight. If that is the route you choose to take between the islands, which I highly recommend as it lends for stunning views of the sounds, you will have the perfect opportunity to fit in a trip to Wellington.
The Coronavirus pandemic was sweeping through the globe, and unfortunately, I was reaping the consequences of it. My study abroad program was being ended and we were all being sent home. This last day in Wellington was all we had left together, cut short way too early.
Our day in Wellington was mostly filled with eating and shopping, but who could complain about that. We began with a delightful brunch (the best meal of the day) at Sweet Mother's Kitchen, an eclectic comfort food diner. And as Americans that love our breakfast food, it was greatly appreciated and well-received.
Cuba Street is the perfect place to go to explore the culture of Wellington. The street is lined with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and a variety of shops that all come together to embody the bohemian flair that people love about Cuba Street. With rainbows lining the street and buildings, and different sculptures and art pieces to see in every direction, you are sure to find something that catches your eye along the route. This was one of my favorite places in the city, and many locals feel the same.
I strongly suggest taking a stroll along the harbor, as the views are quite beautiful and the area is really cute. There is even a sneaky lock bridge along the way that you can leave your mark on, as my friends and I did to honor our time together in this special country.
Given the opportunity, we wanted to take the chance to experience a more formal dining experience. After all, a majority of the time we have been college kids on a budget hitting up small joints and pubs. We came across Chameleon Restaurant, and it ended up being the perfect find. For such an enjoyable experience that gave us a touch of luxury for us young souls, it was relatively affordable. Entre and cocktails came to only about $30 USD, which is what you could expect to pay at any sit-down restaurant in the States.
Beyond the fact that it was a great experience for an affordable price, I will be dreaming of this food for the rest of time. It was absolutely decadent. I come from a family of fantastic cooks, so it can often be hard for restaurants to impress me with their meals. However, upon indulging in their beef tenderloin with hollandaise sauce, homemade gnocchi, and green beans, I was a goner. It was one of the best meals I have ever had out at a restaurant, and there are only a few memorable meals I have had, as it takes a lot to impress. Their cocktails were all phenomenal as well. If you are in the area and looking for a good place for a nice meal, I definitely recommend Chameleon.
To finish off our night we hopped over to The Library, a lounge, reading room, dessert bar, all in one. Less of a traditional bar, The Library has a very relaxing vibe, so it was a great place to end the night with friends. While a bit pricey, the drinks were delicious and so were the desserts. It was the perfect place to end our night out.
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