Yesterday was a free day for us in Wellington with no matches to attend which allowed time for sightseeing. Our friend Paula went to university in Portugal with Luis who happens to live in Wellington with his husband Colin. This is the first time these two friends have seen each other in 24 years. Colin is a volunteer and guides tours at Zealandia which is a protected urban sanctuary and he offered us a personalized tour. It is home to some of New Zealand’s most rare wildlife and is set on a picturesque reservoir surrounded by trees.
Colin led us through the sanctuary and the trails are covered in a canopy of trees, plants and ferns which was reminiscent of walking in the rainforest in the South Island when we hiked The Milford Track in 2008. He taught us about the species of birds that live in the sanctuary including some that have been restored from the brink of extinction. The location was in the hills above the city and it was quiet and a welcome break from city traffic and noise.
After our tour of Zealandia Luis and Colin suggested we use the Wellington Cable Car to get back into the city. It is a running funicular railway in the heart of the central business district and provides a unique form of public transport. The landing at the top of the cable car route has a museum, observatory, cafe and an amazing view.
The day turned to evening and we capped it off with a nice dinner, drinks and plenty of questions answered by our local guides, Luis and Colin, about this special island nation.