Highlights of My Trip to Wellington & Queenstown (Part 1)

As I mentioned previously, I am doing research at the University of Auckland this summer. To make the most of our time in New Zealand, my friend Hanadi and I took a six-day trip to Wellington, the capital, and Queenstown. I want to share my experiences and takeaways for anyone who’s interested in visiting, especially if you’re on a budget. 

Wellington

Day 1

After grabbing lunch at BurgerFuel, we toured the Beehive, the Executive Wing of Parliament. As a political science major, I was really looking forward to learning more about how their government works and how it compares to the US. Our tour guide was very engaging. A few insights that I found especially interesting include the distinction between party and conscience votes and the abolition of the Upper House. 

Inside the Chamber

Day 2

Our host mom, Deborah, recommended visiting Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, so we decided to check it out. Two exhibits that stood out to me were the Gallipoli exhibit for its compelling larger-than-life human sculptures and The Mixing Room: Stories from Young Refugees in New Zealand because it closely resonates with my current research, comparing the rights and services asylum seekers have access to across the OECD. Afterwards, we hung out at Oriental Bay Beach and had dinner at Taste of Home. 

Delicious but spicier than expected; glad I chose mild!

Day 3

We rented out E-Scooters from Flamingo (check out their student discount) and explored! I gained a new respect for scooter riders because it’s not as easy as it looks. Getting my balance was tricky, but after I got the hang of it, I had so much fun. We rode along the water, and the cool breeze felt amazing! Afterwards, we took a break. I had a breakfast smoothie, ham and brioche sandwich and chocolate lamington cake at Sixes & Sevens. Later that night, we walked around the city and rode the Cable Car. By that time, the Cable Car Museum was closed, and it was too dark to enjoy the Wellington Botanic Gardens. If I did it over again, I definitely would have made more time for that!

Check out Part 2 for Queenstown and my takeaways of the entire experience.

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