Even with only two hundred thousand inhabitants, Wellington manages to boast a lot of cafés, bars, parks and museums. The city center has a lot of art around on the streets as well as nice places to meet, have a picnic or just relax. One of the days, despite winds and only 10 degrees in the air, we went swimming on the city harbour front where there was also dive boards and towers free for everyone to use.
Wellington also attracts Lord of the Rings fans from all over the World as most of the movies were filmed in studios around the city. Together with some British I met in my hostel I took the local bus (as it was much cheaper than doing a tour!) out to the Weta Workshop where they had made the effects for the LOTR and other blockbuster movies as well working on future films. It was quite interesting to see how they work as well as get an understanding of all the work behind making the perfect outfits and items for the movies. As it was Halloween they were also doing professional make up of scars, bulletholes etc for those willing to pay enough for it..
Halloween night was also the night for the Rugby World Championship Finals between Australia and New Zealand. Some people pulled an all nighter and went straight from Halloween celebration to the sports pubs to watch the games, but I found it easier going early to sleep, then waking up at four am and then just have a couple of beers for breakfast while watching the game fully rested.
The Weta Workshop has made sculptures, make up and items for all kinds of movies and even for private events