Photos taken in Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand, and on the Cook Strait, between the two islands.
Wellington
From Wikipedia
Wellington /ˈwɛlɪŋtən/ is the capital city and second most populous urban area of New Zealand, with 397,900 residents. It is located at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It is the major population centre of the southern North Island, and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region, which also includes the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa. Wellington is the world’s southernmost capital city of a sovereign state.
[…]The 2014 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Wellington 12th in the world. In 2011 Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011 named Wellington as fourth in its Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2011, referring to it as the “coolest little capital in the world”.
I enjoyed Wellington. I found that people were generally laid-back, and that the city was clean. The air was fresh and clear, almost un-citylike. It was the last stop before heading to the South Island.
Photos of Wellington
Cook Strait
From Wikipedia
Cook Strait lies between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast, and runs next to the capital city, Wellington. It is 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide at its narrowest point, and is considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world.
The strait is named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it, in 1770. In Māori it has the name Raukawa or Raukawa Moana. Raukawa may mean “bitter leaves”
The Interislander ferry will take you and your car across the water. This is where the Ooohs and Aaahs really started. I spent most of my time outside, gazing at what was going on around me. Try to spot the boats in the photos below, they will give an idea of how vast it all is.
Photos of the Cook Strait
Everyone looking this way was quiet.
Shot from the top deck down to the water. Love the colors.
All photos and video: © Dick Hoebée All rights reserved