Travel destinations: Wellington, New Zealand

Located at the southern end of the North island of New Zealand is Wellington, the capital city of this beautiful country. A city of culture, open green spaces, vibrant restaurants and bars, sporting venues and an amazing harbour, Wellington really does have it all. Many visitors to New Zealand simply pass through Wellington on-route to, or from the South Island, and unfortunately few stop more than a night or two to enjoy all that the city has to offer. In fact, you could easily spend a week or more exploring this little gem of a city, and still want more.

Maybe begin your time in Wellington with a trip to the top of Mount Victoria. From here, you can take in a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and surrounding area; great for orientation in what can be a tricky city to navigate.

If the weather is favourable then a stroll along oriental parade and back towards the city will take you past the door of the city’s museum, Te Papa. With long opening hours, this is a fantastic museum and you could easily while away a day learning about New Zealand culture, Maori history and the Treaty of Waitangi. Further along the waterfront you could maybe take a harbour cruise or stop for a spot of lunch at Shed 5; one of Wellington’s finest restaurants.

After lunch, why not stroll along Lambton Quay for a spot of leisurely shopping or a coffee; something Wellington does particularly well. From Lambton Quay you could then take a cable car up to Kelburn. This will give you access to the top of the Botanical Gardens, with its amazing rose garden and view of the harbour. In the summer months, you may be lucky to catch one of the fabulous open-air concerts held within the gardens.

If sport is your thing then maybe venture to the Westpac stadium to see New Zealand take on the opposition at rugby; the Haka is quite amazing when experienced first hand. If you prefer cricket, at the other end of the city is the international cricket ground.

Being the Capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is the home of the parliament buildings. The famous Beehive stands proud in the Thorndon area of the city, and guided tours of the parliament building can be arranged. Across the road from the Beehive is the” Back Bencher”, a great little pub that serves good food, a good pint of ale and is adorned with cartoon sculptures of various politicians.

If nightlife is what you are after then you will not be disappointed in Wellington. Head to the Cuba Street area of the city and you can party the night away in a variety of pubs, bars and clubs, visit the cinema or theatre and delight in the company of those who also enjoy the thrills of this fabulous city.

Top five tourist attractions in the USA – Part 10

America is a vast country that offers such a diverse range of attractive and mysterious travel destinations. From Disney World in Florida, to the hills of California. Depending on what Americans desire to travel our beautiful country may be. There is so much to see and learn about.

The first of the top five tourist attractions is Times Square, New York. A major intersection in the Manhattan area that is home to upscale hotels, Broadway theatres, famous restaurants, and shopping centers, which are mainly geared towards tourists. If shopping, fine dining, and theatre are some of your secret passions. Then visiting Times Square, may be just the right destination for you.

Another popular attraction is the National Mall located in Washington, D.C. The National Mall is an open-area national park. Home to historic places such as: the Washington monument, the Capitol building, Lincoln memorial, as well as the Constitutional Gardens. The National Mall is also where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech in 1963. If you enjoy learning about our American history, or admire art and culture. Then this should is a great travel destination for you.

The Grand Canyon located in Arizona, is just yet another beautiful and highly visited tourist area. Attracting over five million tourists a year to the well-known Grand Canyon National Park. Many travelers go to the Grand Canyon to enjoy such activities ranging from hiking the steep gorge, to white water rafting the Colorado River, and camping in the great outdoors. Visiting this place, will definitely put you much closer to Mother Nature.

The next highly toured area in America is the Las Vegas Strip. Home to many of the worlds largest hotels, resorts, and casinos. Many Americans visit “The Strip” for other attractions such as: M&M World, Adventuredome and many other family friendly locations. For approximately a four mile stretch of road, the Las Vegas Strip offers all the lights, action and entertainment everyone can enjoy.

Finally, the top fifth tourist area in the U.S. is the Golden Gate National recreation area. With over 13 million visitors a year, the national recreation area is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Home to the infamous Alcatraz Island and many army bases and forts, makes the Golden Gate National Park such a historical place to visit. The Golden Gate bridge is just another magnificent landmark that millions enjoy each and every year. The San Francisco area offers such a serene beauty, you can not go wrong choosing this as your travel destination.

There are so many places that you and your family can travel and tour in America. Our country offers such beauty, mystery, diverse cultures, as well as history. So many places to explore and take in. Traveling is the best way to learn all you can about us a country. Where we have been and what we have created as Americans. Traveling isn’t about just taking another vacation, it’s about creating memories and taking adventures.