Annex 3 - Useful information

Getting around

Wellington's I-SITE Visitor Centre, located on the corner of Wakefield St. and Victoria St., is the main information centre in the Wellington region.

The conference venue is located in Wellington’s downtown area. 

• Wellington’s Airport has connections to all national and most international airports. 
• By taxi the fare to Wellington from the Airport is approximately NZD$25. 
• The Orange City Flyer bus also goes directly to and from the airport daily, every half hour. 
• Shuttles are available for pick ups and drop offs for the entire Wellington region. Costs vary according to distance. Good option for large groups.

Trolley buses

Wellington City has its very own, environmentally friendly trolley buses as part of our public transport service. This service is an icon of the Wellington region. We are one of the few cities in the world to operate this service for the public.

Wellington prides itself on its clean green image so walking is very popular with Wellingtonians. To get from one side of the city to the other is just a short stroll with many shops, cafes and restaurants along the way. Wellington is the only capital city in the world to be designated a World Health Organisation Safe Community.

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Discover Wellington

Walk Wellington
Speciality walks taking you to shops, galleries and bars off the beaten track. Get an eye-opening tour of Wellington’s heritage and nature and hear many stories about Wellington’s past, present, people and places.
For more information visit http://www.walk.wellington.net.nz/

The City has been split into Quarters
Lambton Quarter, Cuba Quarter, Courtenay Quarter and Willis Quarter, and each Quarter has its own special flavour.

Mount Victoria
This is Wellington’s main lookout with a 360 degree view of Wellington city and harbour. It is a great spot for photo opportunities and has a wonderful walking track. While close to the city, it has a very peaceful feel to it.

Two Hours
Try a quick journey upwards with Wellington’s Cable Car with some great views and photo opportunities at the top. The Cable Car Museum is another must visit place to get a good feel for the city and the Cable Car’s history. Also at the top is the Carter Observatory where you can take a night tour and look into space. A nice leisurely stroll back to the city via the Botanical Gardens will compete your trip.

Half a day
Smithy’s Tours and Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences deliver unforgettable experiences around the Wellington region. They offer a complete range of sightseeing tours, from wine tours to wildlife, Māori legends to Middle Earth, covering Wellington’s best known sights and little known secrets.
To discover more go to: http://www.flatearth.co.nz/index.php

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Free Day Friday

If you are in Wellington on Friday 20 March, and you want to make the most of this ‘free’ day, we are happy to recommend some suggested itineraries for you and your family.

Martinborough Wine Tour $295 per adult
The Wairarapa area is home to numerous wineries, cafés and vineyards. Experience the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail with a Flat Earth tour to the Martinborough region.

Indulge in a day of tasting some of New Zealand's leading wines leaving the worries of driving behind. Enjoy the specialist knowledge of some of Wairarapa's leading wine makers and experience wines that are uniquely Martinborough.

Your guide will meet you at your city hotel and drive you through the picturesque Hutt Valley, over the impressive Rimutaka Hills and into sunny Martinborough. The journey to the Martinborough vineyards takes approximately 1.5 hours from Wellington city. You will have the opportunity to stop along the way to enjoy the charming countryside and lovely scenery.

Martinborough's boutique wineries, internationally renowned for Pinot Noir, are located in the heart of the Wairarapa wine region between a rugged coastline and bush clad hills. This personal tour includes tastings at award-winning boutique wineries, such as Murdoch James, Te Kairanga, Palliser, Muirlea Rise, Tirohana, Alana Estate and Martinborough, an opportunity to talk with local winemakers, a superb bistro lunch at a vineyard and the option of visiting an olive processing estate. To book see http://www.flatearth.co.nz/tours/wine---martinborough/book-tour/

Lord of the Rings Tours - Middle Earth Tour of Filming Locations $ NZ$132 Adult / NZ$99 per child
A wonderful half day film locations experience with your own expert guide in a small group. The tour runs for half a day and takes you to the filming locations for Rivendell where Frodo recovered from his knife attack; the Anduin River where Aragorn was washed ashore after the attack of the Wargs; the Gardens of Isengard, the site of the Orcs Felling the Trees and where Gandalf rode to see Saruman; go to the Mount Victoria lookout and Hobbiton Woods where you can race to the Ferry and get off the Road; Buckland Forest where the Hobbits hid from the Nazgul/Black Riders and where they found the mushrooms on the Road; Dunharrow Rohirrim encampment; visit the quarry for the filming of Helms Deep, the fortified ravine in Rohan and Minas Tirith. 

• Half Day 
• Four hours duration, pick up 9.00am or 1.30pm 
• Return: 1.00pm or 5.30pm 
• Hotel or Wellington Airport pick ups 
• Refreshments, morning or afternoon tea 
• Entry fees and GST included 
• Air-conditioned luxury vehicles 
• Departure: 9.00am or 1.30pm 
• Minimum: 2 guests per tour 
• Full day tours available

To book visit http://www.flatearth.co.nz/tours/middle-earth-film-locations/book-tour/.

Wellington Capital Food Tour $230 per adult
Explore Wellington’s lively food scene with a Zest Walking Gourmet tour. The experienced gourmet guides will take you behind the scenes to introduce you to new tastes, local food heroes and places that are hard to find. Visit a boutique coffee roaster and café. Enjoy tastings at three of Wellington’s best specialist gourmet food destinations. Along the way you will be introduced to many of Wellington's cafés, restaurants and bars. Savour a delicious, light, three course tasting lunch with matched New Zealand wines at a top Wellington restaurant or café.

Tour starts at I-SITE Visitor Centre at 9:30am

To book visit http://www.flatearth.co.nz/tours/capital-food---zest-walking-gourmet-tour/book-tour/

Wild Wellington Tour - Whales of Kaikoura $620 per adult
A day tour to the beautiful South Island to see the famous whales of Kaikoura. Enjoy a scenic flight across the Cook Strait to Kaikoura before taking another flight to see the majestic whales and the playful dolphins in the Pacific Ocean. Visit the local galleries before enjoying a boat cruise to view albatross, petrels, shearwaters and gulls OR cruise down the coastline to see the dusky dolphins. The return flight takes in the scenic Marlborough Sounds.

To book visit http://www.flatearth.co.nz/tours/whales-of-kaikoura/book-tour/