We were back on the train today, with a short 25min journey into Wellington from our B&B in Silverstream for an organised walking tour of the downtown.

This is something we try to do whenever we arrive at a new city, as it helps to introduce the place and gives us a bearing of what to see and do from a local’s perspective.

Thankfully it was a sunnier day than yesterday, although still a little fresh in the windy parts of downtown Wellington.

Our local guide was keen to highlight that the easiest way to discover the ‘heart and soul’ of Wellington was on a walking tour.

We got to know Wellington’s waterfront, downtown area, and parliamentary precinct. Over the next couple of hours we were introduced to a slice of the city’s history, key sights, the landscape, along with the culture of Wellington’s vibrant inner city.

As we’ve experienced from other parts of New Zealand, they have increasingly embraced the Maori history and culture, in this case a Maori gate, close by to the parliament building.

The Beehive (Māori: Te Whare Mīere) is the common name for the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. It is so-called because its shape is reminiscent of that of a traditional woven form of beehive known as a skep. We thought it reminded us of a tiered birthday cake!

From there we passed a number of memorial statues recognising NZ contribution in the two world wars.

The architecture in the city, is a real mix, with a number of original Victorian buildings still standing, alongside more modern office and retail spaces.

Wellington has a bohemian feel to it, being a relatively modest sized city and we came across a number of murals, street art and creative hoardings.

Our last stop on our walking tour took us past more heritage buildings on to Cuba Street. Here there are eclectic shops and a wide selection of bars and restaurants which we first visited when we arrived the day before.

Again we stopped at Cuba Street’s iconic Bucket Fountain. An unofficial symbol of the capital, the quirky, interactive sculpture has splashed many a visitor snapping a picture in front of it.

With the walking tour finished, which sadly wasn’t one of the best as it was the guide’s first tour (!), we carried on our own improvised adventure, taking in the city’s cathedral, more murals and a small Victorian Arcade where the Xmas decorations were out in force.

We then made our way to one of the city’s most iconic experiences, Wellington Cable Car that leads to some of the best views of the capital.

For over 120 years, the Cable Car has trundled up and down the Kelburn hillside. Ferrying commuters, students, and tourists between Lambton Quay, Victoria University, and the Botanic Gardens. The five-minute trip is a definite must-do!

To add a little extra to the journey you pass through small tunnels lit with red lights that create a little theatre to the whole experience.

Once at the top it became clear that we just take a moment to enjoy the views over a glass of NZ rose!

After a short break, we headed to the Wellington Cable Car Museum. Housed in the original winding house, the museum extends over three floors. It tells the story of how Wellington’s most iconic transport system developed.

From there we entered Wellington’s Botanic Garden (ki Paekākā) which encompasses 25 hectares of specialised plant collections, colourful botanical displays, a protected native forest, and views over Wellington City.

The clever planting and walkways helped to make the gardens feel even more special as we slowly descended back down into the city.

Continuing with our cultural enlightenment, we popped into the Portrait Gallery to view one of the first local NZ artist Toss Woollaston Figures of Life exhibition.

With the days sunshine returning, we decided to go for a walk along the waterfront and on to the marina and city beach.

Whilst the sunshine was welcomed, it still felt a little cool, although this didn’t appear to stop a number of locals taking a dip in the harbour waters.

After an enjoyable day in Wellington, we returned for a relaxing evening in our comfortable B&B where we popped open our Rose from the previous day in Martinborough wineries.

Tomorrow we are heading to the ferry terminal for our 4hr crossing to the South Island and then on to Blenheim, where we will be continuing with our wine tasting as well as getting to explore the Marlborough region.