Guidebook for Wellington

Local Information for the Trinket Box Heading into the city – the quickest route we find is to head down Harriet Street, across Tinakori Rd at the first set of pedestrian lights, press the button for the next set – you can walk across here, but beware that this is the off ramp from the Urban motorway and cars can come around the corner in a hurry. Just over the lights off to the left is a little pathway which connects up with the Hill Street overbridge which crosses over the Motorway. If its dark, it may pay to not talk this path and go along a little further along Tinakori Road when you’ll come across Hill Street going up on your left. Cross across the motorway and continue along Hill Street.** Across the road on the opposite side you’ll see a white/cream, picket fence just past the repro Terrace houses. The gap in this fence is a pathway which winds down behind parliament buildings and down into Bowen Street which will take you further down to Lambton Quay, or Featherston Street, or further down still across Customhouse Quay over to the City to Sea Walkway which may take you all the way around to Oriental Bay and further afield. The nearest large supermarket – is Thorndon New World on Molesworth Street – to get there: On foot – get to ** above and continue further along Hill Street, keep on going down – the street at right angles will be Molesworth with St Pauls Cathedral on your left. Theres a very small gourmet Famers Market here most Saturdays (perhaps not over Christmas period though). Turn left into Molesworth Street and just on the other side of the Street you’ll find the Supermarket. Starfish is the fish and chip shop just beside the driveway into New World –you can phone in your orders – Phone 499 9992, of late the quality is not so good. The Thorndon Chippery is better, but more expensive , one street over in Murphy Street https://www.thechippery.co.nz/ this has a wide variety of both Fish Fries and Extras and is probably worth a try. The closest Chemist is here also. Otherwise Radius Pharmacy down on Lambton Quay. Along further on the triangle back towards Tinakori Hill is Mojos, generic Coffee locally roasted but acceptable. The local Indian Restaurant on the corner we wouldn’t recommend, our preference for a decent Indian meal or takeaway is Little India either in Cuba Street or just over from Chaffers New World in Blair St. If you want to eat in it’d probably best to phone in an order and have delivered, otherwise a restaurant visit is good. Probably you’d find a lot more choice just walking over to Cuba St and taking your pick from a fantastic range. Cuba Street and Courtenay Place would be considered the general average range of Food eating out venues. On the wharf Crab Shack is great value too. More expensive are some restaurants on Oriental Bay like Whitebait or it’s sister more meaty Restaurant Charlie Noble on Aotea Quay. Affordable Asian Fusion style meals are available on the waterfront at Wagamamas. Family friendly. Locally on Tinakori Road the more memborable are Hillside (good morning coffee etc) and the Tinakori Bistro (they do have some all in one specials from time to time), both are more special occasion. For middle range the best choices locally are Cosa Nostra (pasta/pizza) Takeaway pizzas are great too Phone 473 3005. Also the Speights Bar (Shepherds Arms) has the generic NZ fare – Roasts, lamb shanks, Chicken etc and on a good day is reliable, but not quite up to Sth Island standards. Sprig and Fern Bar, seems to be enjoyed by all. The best very local coffee and cafe food is Picnic in the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. Great food and service and really nice to sit out in the garden under grapevines on a sunny day. Good too, for larger groups and you can park although it is a short walk away. You can walk downhill into town via the Bolton Street Cemetery. A walk up in the gardens through the main entrance following the pink flowers up hill will take you to the Cable Car (goes down into Lambton Quay) a nice coffee stop here, or going along further towards Kelburn Village will find two reliable cafes for coffee and small bites or bigger breakfast fare. There’s also a bar and a pizza/pasta affair at the Mediterranean Food Warehouse – don’t find the fare here as nice as our local though. Aubergine – looks good, we haven’t tried, but we haven’t found great numbers of people going there either. Our favourite ‘affordable’ Cafes – for coffee and small bites – once we find somewhere consistent we tend to stick with it in Cuba Street –Floriditas. in Courtney Place – Bangalore Polo Club – special meals, Hummingbird – bar-cafe, Public – Roasts! in Thorndon Quay – probably more of a drive – A good French bakery – whose name at this stage I can’t recall! Anything on the City to Sea walkway is good and great for the evening experience – although we’d avoid One Red Dog pizzas etc. However the other Pizza place (forgotten its name) the big white one, is great. Above Foxglove is a lovely balcony with really relaxing lounges which is also a great spot. Lambton Quay – Midland Park – Astoria – usually in summer there is music in the park. Smith the Grocer in the old bank arcade on Lambton is great too. Up on the Terrace, Ray’s preference is Atlanta – you can hide away in there! Oriental Parade –Beach Babylon is a bit retro nice food though. The Parade Cafe – on the boat just out past the childrens playground – OK reasonably priced used to be fantastic, haven’t been there a lot lately. Greta Point Cafe, continuing along Oriental Parade and Evans Bay Parade is a great popular mid range spot with very friendly owners and unbeatable value for standard breakfast/brunch/small bite fare. Soi, just over from it sitting on the wharf is good too Special Experiences – an old surf club building with lovely food and coffee is the Maranui Cafe out at Lyall Bay. To die for views as well – but go early for lunch or during the week on the weekends its just so popular you might be disappointed with a wait for a table. Best to book before going. The Spruce Goose – is great, maybe book if you can. Sorry, Spruce Goose doesn’t take bookings. Around Shelley Bay for a BBQ style fish sandwich, crayfish sandwich and so on is the Chocolate Fish, good for families, all sorts of bikes and trikes to ride for children and space, can be exposed some days and has some limitations but a great experience. Has a sister cafe, more consistent and more variety in food and really nice baked goods – the Chocolate Frog in Miramar – Palmers Garden Centre. Mirarmar – the Roxy Theatre and Cocos and the Mexican Restaurant are popular. Seatoun – well Scorching Bay – Scorcharama is the favoured place – very busy though. There’s also a newer café in Seatoun which is apparently very good. That’s enough in town! About an hour’s drive from Wellington north along Highway 1 are Paraparaumu (shopping mall/beach) Waikanae (beach)– you’ll find 3 really nice cafes at the beach here Waimea – sea views,Tapas, Pizzas and al la carte Long Beach – fantastic Pizzas and the Front Room are all worth a refreshment stop. About 10 mins further north is Otaki which has a range of outlet stores including Icebreaker (most popular!) A short drive out to Petone on the Hutt motorway– yields some interesting shops and Cafes – the Empire Tavern is reincarnated, Caffiened is nice. Going around past Seaview to Eastbourne is a great drive too with plenty of refreshment stops on your way and ultimately a lovely wild beach on which residents are planting wildflowers. Going further afield to Lower Hutt yields a Westfield shopping mall and the Dowse Gallery which has a great cafe. This is then on the way to the Wairarapa and in Greytown there is lady shopping cafes and further on Martinborough – wineries, lady shops and cafes. This is a biased view we expect! Walking to the Wellington Stadium, Walk down Pitarua Street, turning right down Harriett. Cross Tinakori Road at the lights, and across again to the small walkway just beside the planting bay where the motorway exit comes out onto Tinakori Road. This small walkway terminates on Hill Street. If you miss this, continue along Tinakori Rd (turning to the right after crossing over at the lights). Hill street will appear on your left. Continue along Hill Street passing Sacred Heart and St Pauls Catherdrals – both on your left and the House of Representatives on your right, across Molesworth St along into Aitken Street (Court of Appeal is on the Corner) into Mulgrave St. Continue downhill down Mulgrave St, across in Thorndon Quay, you should see an entrance to the Westpac Stadium. At some time you’ll find a lot of other people just doing the same thing! Estimated walk time ?10 mins or so.