A compact, windy capital between hills and harbour
Wellington squeezes between steep green hills and a deep harbour at the southern tip of the North Island. It's compact and walkable, with a lively waterfront, the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa and the Beehive parliament building. The red cable car climbs from Lambton Quay to the Botanic Garden, and Mount Victoria gives the view over it all. The city has a reputation for coffee, craft beer and film: the Weta Workshop in Miramar makes props and effects for Hollywood. Zealandia is a fenced urban sanctuary for native birds.