WAY TO GO WELLY
Take the kids to the capital, there’s plenty to do, writes
Everyone loves a family trip to Wellington. It’s such a walkable, easy, harbourside city with great food and activities for kids of all ages, many indoors (helpful if the weather is not in your favour). Of course, there’s also excellent coffee, wine, chocolate and craft beer if the kids are testing your patience. What more could a family need these school holidays?
Thunderbirds are Go: Miniatures stage tour
If you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan, you may think there’s nothing for you at Weta Workshop; but anyone of any age,
Thunderbirds fan or not, will love the Miniatures stage tour. Watch the series online before you visit, to make it even more interesting. You can see the full-scale working model of Tracy Island and Lady Penelope’s mansion that they use for the current series and learn all about how they created some of the elements (less high-tech than you think). There’s just something about teeny tiny versions of real life that bring out the child in all of us, and if you’re a fan of the modern, or original series, this will be all your F.A.B dreams come true. wetaworkshop.com
Food
There are numerous child-friendly food options in Wellington, which don’t all involve parents consuming chicken nuggets twice a day. Head to the Night Markets in Cuba St if you’re there on a Friday night, or the Harbourside Markets if you’re around on Sunday morning. Both have super tasty options for an international or local bite. Capital Market isn’t flash but is a great food-court sort of place if you’re looking for sushi, curries, noodles, dumplings and some of the best banh mi in town. Breweries are another option — Hey Day has board games and family-friendly food, and Whistling Sisters is a large space where you can have a tasting flight and they can have bar food. Recently opened 1154 Pastaria is great if your family loves pasta, and make sure not to miss the gigantic salted caramel cookies from Leed St Bakery in Hannah’s Lane (the kids won’t be the only ones disgracing
themselves around those).
Wellington Museum
The Wellington Museum is a great space for kids, giving them (and you) a delightful insight into Wellington’s fascinating history, all inside a beautiful 1892 heritage building. Head directly to The Attic and plonk yourself down in front of Ngā Hau, a whirring, spinning multi-screened “time machine” that will take you through Wellington’s past. Other highlights are props and costumes from What We Do
in the Shadows, Māori creation legends narrated by a hologram, a heartbreaking insight into the Wahine disaster, and The Attic itself with all its weird and wonderful paraphernalia. museumswellington.org. nz/wellington-museum