I will have the best part of 3 days and evenings in Wellington and wonder whether you have any special suggestions of things to do or places to visit. I would like to visit Te Papa museum, walk up to Mount Victoria, take the cable car to the Botanical Gardens, stroll along Cuba Street, and walk along the harbour front. One thing I like to do on visiting a town I've never been to before is take a guided walk. Do you have a recommendation for this? If I decide to get out of town for a half day or so, is there anywhere that you would particularly recommend that is accessible by public transport (although could hire a car if necessary). I'm not overly interested in zoos or places where films were shot. I am interested in cooking and food, nice wine bars (especially outside ones), gardens, art and architecture. I have no doubt that I will easily fill my time there but if there is something which you'd particularly recommend, would love to hear from you. btw I will also be visiting Nelson and Marlborough Sounds during this trip, before Wellington. Thank you.

Hi dreamon -

No idea about guided walks, but we're walkers who like to eat, so my TR from last year might give you a few ideas. Just scroll down a bit to Wellington.

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ew-zealand.cfm

And some other suggestions here:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...on-TG-C-1.html

10am daily from the iSite and for $20 are guided walks: http://www.walkwellington.org.nz

I liked this site for a do-it-yourself kind of walk, involving some neat sculptures: http://www.sculptures.org.nz

And if you want an app, there's WellyWalks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/well...360068285?mt=8

Te Papa can take all day and it's on the waterfront. Then another day you can do Lambton Quay to the Cable car and descend the botanical gardens. Go to Cuba Street for dinner (we loved Scoppa's - fantastic food, reasonable prices, we had window side seats on the corner!). Then maybe a driving tour to incorporate Mount Victoria, the waterfront bays on the east/southeast of Wellington and visit the Red Rocks seal colony. http://www.newzealandunwrapped.com/r...gton-day-walk/

http://scopa.co.nz

Thank you so much. Lots there for me to do and great to see some things which don't make it into the guidebooks that I've been reading. Scopa menu looks yum!