New Zealand Self Drive (Part 5 - North Island - Wellington, Napier, Taupo, Rotorua)

Continue from New Zealand Self Drive (Part 4)
 

Day 14: Picton - Wellington

We arrive Wellington in the evening. North Island is very different from South Island from the scenery, buildings, people and "feel". Wellington is just another a city to me, surrounded with buildings, busy streets and people and most importantly we need to pay for the parking here.

Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand. It is often called Windy Wellington because it is the windiest city in New Zealand. The urban area is situated on the southwestern tip of the country's North Island, and lies between Cook Strait Rimutaka Range and the It is home to 386,000 residents, with an additional 3,700 residents living in the surrounding rural areas.

Our itinerary for the night is just strolling around the city nearby our hostel and hunting for dinner. Some of the buildings are Harbour City Shopping Centre, National Library, Parliament Buildings, Executive Office Building @ the Beehive, Original Government Buildings, Museum of Wellington, City and Sea, Civic Square, City Gallery of Wellington and etc.

Day 15: Wellington - Napier

Driving around central Wellington can be frustrating, because of the many narrow one-way streets, but it's an easy place to get around on foot. Early in the morning, we being our journey at Kelburn Cable Car terminus in Cable Car Lane. Taking the cable car, which is NZ$1.80 one way, to get up high to see the city's layout and to the Wellington Botanic Garden.

 After passing a Henry Moore bronze, we reach the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. l

 Te Papa Tongarewa-Museum of New Zealand

We leave Wellington after lunch to Napier and Hawke's Bay.
Napier is a popular tourist city, with a unique concentration of 1930s Art Deco architecture.
Criterion Hotel is typical of the Spanish Mission style. The Daily Telegraph Building is another Napier classic, used today as a real-estate office. ASB Bank has The Maori theme on the lintels.

Day 16: Napier - Taupo -  Rotorua
On the way from Napier to Taupo.

Huka Falls / Lake Taupo

Craters of the Moon - thermal activity, mud pools, steam vents and lunar landscapes. Entrance NZ$5.

Sceneries that you can't find it elsewhere.

Aratiatia Dam & Rapids

Arrival in Rotorua. At the entrance of Te Puia (New Zealand's Maori Cultural Centre). We did not visit Te Puia, because we plan to go to Wai-O-Tapu tomorrow morning.
Photo below is at Mc Donald's Rotorua, very unique design.

More activies in Rotorua and Auckland in Part 6.