Business trip from 28-Jun-2008 to 06-Aug-2008

Wellington is capital of New Zealand, replacing Auckland since 1865. It is the windiest city in the southern hemisphere with the strongest wind speed recorded at 248km/h. Sometimes, you will have to lean forward to walk against the wind, else you may get blown off your feet. Temperature is very cold during winter, sometimes down to 3°C or 4°C.

Night life is dull, unless you like going to pubs. Normal business hour for shops is around 8am to 6pm. Saturday is 9am to 5pm and Sunday is 10am to 4pm. Borders opens up to 9pm on certain days and it quickly became my favorite night spot. Other than that, it is just TV all the way, from one rugby channel to another rugby channel. Only ‘The Dark Knight’ lured me to spend NZD15.50 for a cinema ticket.

An average meal price would be around NZD8-10. During lunch hour, you can find Chinese economy rice at NZD7 with 3 dishes (including rice). The only mamak you find there for supper is McDonald’s or Burger King.

View of Wellington CBD from Waterloo Quay

...

View of Oriental Bay and Mount Victoria from Lambton Harbour

Helicopter pad at Queens Wharf. The cheapest tour by HELiPRO is NZD95 for 8 minutes flightseeing per person

Parliament buildings and beehive

Railway station

Railway station

Junction of Willis Street and Lambton Quay

Lambton Quay - Shopping area

Courtenay Place - Night spot and happening area

Courtenay Place

Courtenay Place - A number of Chinese merchant concentrated on this block of shops

Courtenay Place - A giant robot sculpture created by Weta Workshop

Elizabeth Street - At far end is Mount Victoria

Civic Centre / Civic Square

Civic Centre / Civic Square

Houses on hill slope near Karori

Houses near Kelburn

Forgot to take note of this building. It is somewhere near Victoria University

Another view angle from Lambton Harbour

Sculpture at Lambton Harbour