Wellington

The Museum of New Zealand combines interactive technology with world-class displays that tell the whole New Zealand story—the country's history, art, her people, and natural environment. — Frommer's

When Weta Workshop created the special effects for the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and many other movies), they initiated an enduring phenomenon. — Frommer's

Zealandia is a wildlife sanctuary right in the heart of Wellington that's open to the public. — Afar Magazine

Connecting busy Lambton Quay and the tranquil Botanic Garden, Wellington's cable car has been a popular mode of transport for over 100 years. — Afar Magazine

Mansfield left to pursue her career in Europe when she was 20, but many of her short stories take place in Wellington. — Fodor's

These buildings include Parliament House with its Debating Chamber, a copy of the one in the British House of Commons right down to the Speakers Mace. — Fodor's

This second-largest wooden structure in the world is now home to Victoria University's law faculty. — Fodor's

Committed to conservation, research and captive breeding programs, Wellington Zoo is home to a menagerie of native and exotic wildlife, including lions and tamarins. — Lonely Planet

For an imaginative, interactive experience of Wellington’s social and maritime history, swing into the Wellington Museum, occupying an 1892 Bond Store. — Lonely Planet

Meander through the Botanic Gardens to the Rose Garden (follow the pink flowers painted on the ground), which are at their best in Spring. — Afar Magazine

A beacon of culture and delight, the excellent Dowse is worth visiting for its jaunty architecture alone. — Lonely Planet

The city's most accessible view point is atop 196m-high Mt Victoria, east of the city centre. — Lonely Planet

Opposite the Parliament Buildings is the country's national library. The Alexander Turnbull Library, a "library within a library," specializes in archival materials about New Zealand and the Pacific. — Fodor's

Consecrated in 1866, the church is a splendid example of the English Gothic Revival style executed entirely in native timbers. — Fodor's

About 3km west of the city is Otari-Wilton’s Bush, the only botanic gardens in NZ specialising in native flora. — Lonely Planet

In the Planetarium lie back and watch an almost limitless range of virtual space journeys. — Fodor's

Staglands offers visitors the opportunity to feed and freely interact with wildlife in a beautiful natural environment. — Fodor's