PUBLISHED October 17th, 2017 05:41 pm | UPDATED January 6th, 2020 06:08 pm
Always wanted to visit New Zealand? Now you can, with exclusive and very attractive travel deals offered by the acclaimed Singapore Airlines in partnership with DBS – which brings you off the beaten path with interesting destinations that offer a unique experience like no other. This time, we’re giving a shoutout to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand known for its film industry, award-winning restaurants, hidden bars, excellent coffee, and mindblowing landscapes. Find out what you just can’t miss when you’re in Wellington!
Eat your way through the city’s top restaurants and bars
It’s difficult to go hungry in Wellington – in fact, the city is said to have more restaurants and bars per capita than New York City. Crazy, right? With a surplus of ocean bounty from the south coast and sprawling farmlands to the north, the restaurants here are spectacular, from the iconic Hippopotamus Restaurant at Wellington Harbor, known for their French gastronomy, to the perpetually fun Ortega Fish Shack and Bar that’s all about the ocean. And have we mentioned how it’s been nicknamed the craft beer capital of New Zealand?
Enjoy Wellington’s best views from the Mount Victoria Lookout
At 196 metres above sea level, Mount Victoria boasts a splendid 360° panoramic view of Wellington and the expansive harbour. Located east of the city centre, you can take a bus up or walk through the town as the locals do, but just remember to bring up a good bag of fish and chips to munch while you lie on the grass and enjoy a fantastic sunset. You’ll see planes flying into Wellington Airport, large ferries sailing out, and so much more. What better way to get your bearings of the city?
Do a wine tasting at award-winning Martinborough Vineyards
If vino is your kind of thing, the nearby town of Martinborough is home to over 20 renowned family-owned wineries packed with a colonial charm. Most are within cycling distance of each other, so grab a bike and go crazy over some of New Zealand’s best pinot noir, or join one of the many gourmet wine tours which you can register for in the village – enjoy wine tasting sessions and meet the passionate winemakers before indulging in an idyllic antipasto lunch.
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Take a magical Lord of the Rings tour
Its breathtaking scenery and landscape has made New Zealand known for movie-making magic – in particular, Peter Jackson’s fantasy blockbuster The Lord of the Rings. As you might expect, many of the scenes in the movie were filmed right around Wellington, including the Hutt Vallery and the Green Belt. A tour also brings you through a forest walk in Tolkien’s magical Rivendell, the Shire, and into Weta Studios for a movie production tour complete with digital special effects. Think you’re the ultimate Lord of the Rings fan? Wait till you meet your guide.
Walk down the bohemian haven of Cuba Street
Wellington’s Cuba Street is a must visit, if only for its impressive collection of street performers playing traditional Māori instruments, dancing with fire, and putting on a marionette show. This is where the city’s hipsters, artists, and subculture congregate in a vibrant street of cafes, bars, clothing, and souvenir shops. And don’t forget to get a selfie with the iconic Bucket Fountain sculpture inside Cuba Mall.
Ride the iconic Wellington Cable Car
Forget cable cars hanging precariously on wires – the Wellington Cable Car is a national icon and New Zealand’s only public cable car, running from Lambton Quay all the way to the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Midway, you’ll arrive up top to the Cable Car Museum and Space Place at Carter Observatory, and you’ll want to get off and immerse in the state-of-the-art digital planetarium and antique telescopes as you travel to the stars for a minute.
Enjoy the nostalgic Zealandia sanctuary
Imagine walking down 225 hectares of flourishing bush in its pre-human state, with native birds singing their songs – that is Zealandia, the world’s first fully-fenced wildlife safe heaven right on the doorstep of Wellington. There are daily tours in the mornings and afternoons, where you’ll get a chance to see some of New Zealand’s most endangered native creatures, including the tuatara, kaka hihi, and saddleback. You can even book a night tour for some kiwi spotting!
Make your way to Wellington and back with Singapore Airlines from just $600 when you make your bookings with DBS/POSB Cards from now till 6 November 2017, for travel between November 2017 to June 2018. Flight is inclusive of a stopover in Canberra, Australia. To view the promotion, visit the Singapore Airlines website and enter the promo code ‘DBSSIA‘ before selecting your dates.
This post is sponsored by DBS.
Top Image: Courtesy of Andrea Schaffer