Location: Wellington
Top Things to do in Wellington
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What to do and see in Wellington, North Island: The Best Government Buildings
Wellington boasts a compact downtown area that’s easy to explore on foot and a wealth of architectural styles, from 19th-century wooden cottages to Art Deco masterpieces. Discover the city’s Maori roots at the Museum of Wellington City & Sea and the Museum of New Zealand. Sip coffee and people-watch in lively Courtney Place, or survey the city from scenic Mount Victoria. When the sun goes down on Windy Wellington, take a nocturnal tour of Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to meet some colorful inhabitants.
Restaurants in Wellington
1. Government House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 99 reviews
A beautiful heritage building, Government House in Wellington is the principal residence for New Zealand's Governor-General. Designed in the office of the Government Architect, John Campbell, the designer of Parliament Buildings,the house was built between 1908 and 1910. A major strengthening and refurbishment project was undertaken in 2008,with the official reopening taking place in March 2011. Built mostly of wood, Government House has eight guest suites and a self-contained apartment for the Governor-General, as well as a ballroom, conservatory, sitting rooms, service rooms, kitchens and offices. The formal rooms can be visited by the public,schools and community groups Visitors may also tour the gardens if the weather is fine.
Reviewed By dpr8 - San Francisco, United States
Took the free tour the government house offers, and it was quite impressive and informative. You will be asked to leave all personal items at the front desk, so if you have separation anxiety with your phone, do be aware that, too, is not allowed to be with you.
2. New Zealand Parliament
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,919 reviews
Take a tour with one of our trained guides to visit key parts of Parliament's buildings. Learn about our parliamentary processes and New Zealand’s history while looking through our iconic buildings. Free public tours operate seven days a week with the first tour at 10am, last tour 4pm. Public tour group size is limited to 25 people, therefore bookings are advisable. Bookings can be made by either email or phone. Specialist tours are available on request but must be booked in advance. We recommend you arrive least 15 minutes before the tour departs so you have time to check in your belongings. Everyone must leave their bags, coats, phones, cameras and other electronic devices in secure storage at the Visitor Centre in the Beehive.
Reviewed By garrylid - Mornington, Australia
FREE tour a must Extremely well done, enriched with the New Zealand history where early settlers came together with the Polynesian Maori to form one nation democratically Beautiful buildings some built outside the box, but such is architecture Well worth it and the NZ put this on for free and takes all of 1 hour to do, get there early and book a suitable time as can get busy
3. The Supreme Court of New Zealand
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By adennislai - Auckland, New Zealand
Booked the tour and the tour guide was very informative. Chamber with the glass skylight which was created to help with the acoustics was a surprise.
4. National Archives
5. Old Government Buildings
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 135 reviews
In its heyday New Zealand’s largest and grandest wooden building housed our entire public service. Government Buildings is an outstanding example of New Zealand’s architectural heritage and one of the great wooden buildings of the world. Like many colonial buildings of the era, it was built to resemble a stone palace. This was to convey strength and stability in a young country undergoing rapid growth and change. To avoid being seen as extravagant, the new government chose to build in timber including extensive use of kauri, and it remains probably the world's largest timber office building. The constant threat of fire meant that it also became one of New Zealand’s first smoke-free buildings. Today, the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington occupies most of the building. Visitors may view the displays on the ground floor and the Cabinet room on the first floor. Contact us to arrange a tour
Reviewed By CarolDM1900 - Montpelier, United States
This building, dating from 1876, once housed the entire NZ civil service as well as government ministers and the cabinet. Now the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington, it is open to weekend visitors curious to see one of the world's largest wooden buildings and to learn the details of its original construction and its 1994-1996 restoration using native woods, especially kauri. This is no ordinary timber. One of the oldest woods in the world, it can be dug up from where the trees fell thousands of years ago and then reworked to shimmering and durable beauty, almost as if newly harvested. Cut down in huge numbers during early settlement and now endangered by a fungus-like pathogen causing dieback, kauri is precious to Kiwis and great efforts are being made to protect remaining forests. Even during the 1990s restoration, no new kauri trees were felled. Instead, old wood was salvaged and repurposed. Some of it came from Whangerei -- from the old post office and the hotel there -- and some from the Devonport naval base. You may also notice that two kauri trees flank the main entrance. Planted decades ago, they are now of pretty good size, but of course nothing compared to all the giant, thousand year old trees felled to create the building. You will see other beautiful native woods too, such as rimu, used for baluster railings and trim, and totara, used for pilings. The interior woodwork in this building is stunning, especially the famous multi-story "hanging staircase," beautifully if impractically designed by William Clayton. You can walk 3 flights up and back down. Not to worry: the staircase was propped up almost from the time it was built in 1876. In the 1990s restoration, it was greatly strengthened using steel beams that are hidden from view. The beauty is enhanced by a gorgeous, custom-made carpet featuring the old "Victoria Regina" logo in dark blue and gold. The interpretation here, including cut-away sections to show interior construction, is easy-to-follow and interesting whether you know about such things or not. And there are fascinating small touches, like the "Little Lion," originally part of the coat of arms over the building's main entrance. Removed for restoration in 1980, it was found too fragile for replacement, so it is on display here, with its original paints removed and "1876" carved into the base to indicate its inclusion in the original building. I found it quite charming. It all adds up to what someone who knows more than I do called a "triumph in timber." You can enjoy a very pleasant hour here, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Let me mention that there's also a small, but very interesting, exhibition on women's suffrage, including appropriate recognition given to "allies" like Sir John Hall, a rich, conservative politician from Canterbury who presented the successful 1893 petition for women's voting rights. You can see a mock-up of his desk, with the draft petition on it. Hall argued that women should have the vote because their concern for home and children would, in his view, promote legislation to reduce suffering, improve lives, and lead to better government. Maybe he was onto something. Highly recommended.
6. Premier House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
