A tui bird hangs on a flax bush in downtown Wellington

I can only imagine what the first settlers thought arriving in Wellington harbour in the early 1800s. Looking at the sales brochure, promising sun and flat land, ideal for farming… they would have been hard pressed to dream of any pastures when facing a bunch of steep hills with gale force winds funnelling through the harbour. And let’s not forget the city was located right smack over the meeting point of two tectonic plates, giving it lively seismic little surprises.

But not all was bad for those early settlers and decades of development have shown this little capital delivers some awesome experiences.

Historically, Wellington grew from a small settlement established by the New Zealand Company in 1840. It then became the capital in 1865, replacing Auckland, largely because of its central location and access to both islands. The city has long been a hub for politics and culture, housing our Parliament nicknamed “the Beehive” (due to its distinctive shaped executive wing) where national decisions (good and bad) are made. Several national institutions are also located in the downtown area like the National Library and Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand. Quirky facts add to Wellington’s charm: it is often called the “windy city,” with gusts that can sweep unsuspecting visitors off their feet on the few windy days. It also boasts more cafés and restaurants per capita than New York, reflecting its strong coffee culture. Wellington’s iconic cable car, running from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Gardens, is both practical and beloved.

Over the years I have found an affinity to Wellington, it has very cool local breweries and restaurants, my all-time favourite bookshop and a superb waterfront with wide biking and walking paths.

For our travellers we also arrange private tours of the National Museum and Parliament and host an impromptu cocktail with an historian. We also arrange for a private tour of Weta Workshops for movie fans (the conference room with all those Oscars and Emmys is pretty impressive) and an evening private guided walk in Zealandia, a wildlife reserve to look for kiwi birds is pretty magical. All of this makes a stop in the windy capital a great city break during a New Zealand holiday.