Page 35 - Inspired 2016 - Issue 3

By Claire Volkman
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
There’s a reason Welly is known as New Zealand’s gastronomic capital – every corner hosts exciting restaurants and cocktail bars for people from all walks of life. For fine dining complete with white linens, head to Logan Brown in Te Aro, a staple since 1996, and order
the seven-course chef’s menu to taste what others have dubbed “the best meal of their lives.” For something a bit more low-key, stop by the maritime-influenced Ortega Fish Shack and Bar, where you can nosh on fried fish sandwiches or clusters of fresh caught oysters. If you prefer your cocktails littered with things like orange-infused bitters or fresh hibiscus flowers, head to the Hippopotamus Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, set in the art-coated walls of the Museum Art Hotel.
Fueled by tattooed artists commuting by skateboard, the culture of Wellington is wonderfully cultural, which is represented in the
sheer number of art galleries, parks, museums and lively
theatres. You’ll walk by small galleries bathed in natural light, like City Gallery, where you can sit and watch the artisans splatter paint on canvases in front of you. If you came to Welly for its outdoor allure, book a rigorous bike tour
with Switched on Bikes and pedal past the cascading, timber rooftops of residential homes speckled against the lush green hills. If you’d prefer to walk, hike up the Pencarrow Coastal Trail for amazing views of the city. For an activity a bit more leisurely, wander along the famed Wellington Harbor and watch the ferry boats come and go, or take in the sunset at quiet Lyall Bay.
If you ask any local where the best place to stay in downtown Wellington is, they’ll respond without the bat of an eye—the Museum Art Hotel on Cable Street.
Luxurious but not stuffy, quirky but not uncomfortable,
this boutique property houses one of the best contemporary
art collections in the city. Plus, it’s home to the before-
mentioned Hippopotamus, so you can order a prohibition style
libation from the cozy comfort of your room. Another favorite is the Intercontinental on Grey Street, which can’t be missed due to the neon
art sculptures decorating the contemporary façade of this monumental hotel.
TURN TO PAGE 36 FOR A CRUISE ITINERARY THAT VISITS WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND.
INSPIRED 2016 • ISSUE 3§34