Friday, 15 March 2013

Wellington and Te Papa- Sat 16th



It's not too windy - an unfortuate tendency of Wellington's. It's a good day for exploring- and there seems to be a lot going on. From Cuba street with it's coffee shops there's buskers, morris dancers and a group of people in wetsuits with cardboard fins (I assume) strapped to their arms pretending to be whales maybe, I'm not sure.

Heading up a steep path to Mount Victoria lookout for a view of the city I see racing boats out on the harbour, people swimming and later see paddle boarders too.


Te Papa museum is great- laid back feeling (you don't even have to leave your back pack and it's free) in a great building. A shaking house in the earthquake/ volcano section - for this is a big part of Wellington life. Then there's fibreglass trolls from the Hobbit looking a bit too lifelike and there's also, rather curiously, a preserved giant squid.

However on enquiring about the surfboard made of paua shell I hear that it's in storage. Still it's a cool museum, cafe sat next to a Maori canoe and a singing troup wandering about (it's a crazily lively place). Outside on the harbour young men are taking it turns to jump into the water from a platform and the Rainbow Warrier III is docked in harbour. There's nice public spaces and a clean, open feel to it all.

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