Wellington and Aukland have been locked in an age-old struggle for supremacy for years! With a relatively small population 'Welly' has an astounding assortment of galleries, shops, theaters, cafes, bars, and exquisite restaurants, but what will impress you most is the timbered Victorian houses that sit on the sides of steep hills that cascade to the waterfront below. It is somewhat reminiscent of San Francisco, but much more beautiful and rugged. Amazingly, the architectural symbol of the country is the Beehive, which looks exactly like one and which is part of New Zealand's parliamentary complex. Built between 1969 and 1980, Sir Basil Spence was its designer. You will either love it or loathe it, but it's worth the photo op, regardless. Like San Francisco, Wellington her own Cable Car for traversing the steep hill from Lambton Quay to Kelburn, and one well-known and adored spot is the Botanic Gardens. Get acquainted with the native plants, but don't miss the Lady Norwood Rose Garden with over 100 species of roses. A teahouse in the gardens serves as a rest stop if you tire. If you wish, make a day of it and visit the Carter Observatory, the Skyline Cafe and the free Cable Car Museum at the apex of the cable car's journey. And don't miss a trip to Days Bay, where you can sunbathe or swim off the beautiful beaches, enjoy the park or rent a rowboat or canoe. The 30-minute trip across the harbor on the Dominion Post Ferry is an adventure of itself!

Peak season, during the months of December, January and February, may not always be the best time to grab cheap flights to Wellington so if you plan to fly during this time, book well in advance to take advantage of the 'cheap seats'. Air New Zealand regularly offers discount fares and promotions like "grab a seat" where airfares are advertised at much cheaper prices, especially for domestic flights. Off peak season in New Zealand is during July and August. During these times you can easily find cheap flights to Wellington. Shouldering season is also another recommended time to get cheap flights to Wellington. Shouldering season means to fly to the place at a time when peak season has just ended so you do not miss out on the latest activities of the place and yet, it is not too crowded for companies to offer cheap fares. In New Zealand, autumn is the best time to do this, around March until May. Spring season during September to November would also be a great time to get cheap flights to Wellington. You will have to connect in Australia, so look to Jetconnect or Pacific Blue operated by Qantas and Virgin Blue, respectively, for the cheapest flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane, or Christchurch. Air New Zealand and Air New Zealand operated by Air Nelson, Eagel Airways and Mount Cook Airlines will offer flights from smaller Australian cities. Try booking in reverse to find your best fares and the required connections.

Airports Serving Wellington

Wellington International Airport (WLG) is a major domestic hub in New Zealand although it also has direct flights to major cities in Australia. The airport used to be known as the Rongotai Airport since it is located on the Rongotai isthmus. Taxi stands are located right outside the baggage claim area on level 0 of the main terminal. There are two taxi ranks, one being a dedicated line for Wellington Combined Taxis and another for the remainder of the taxi companies. You can select any taxi of your choice, and no driver can refuse to carry you under normal circumstances. The shortest trek to Seatoun, one of the popular tourist destinations is somewhere around USD$15-18.00, while the excursion to Upper Hutt will cost you between USD$85-95.00. In comparison, a door-to-door shuttle will cost you about USD$12-15.00 and the long haul to Upper Hutt will cost about USD$48-50.00. The advantage of using the shuttle is that if you are traveling in a party, and you tell the shuttle driver, then each passenger is only an additional USD$5.00. The Airport Flyer bus is another option, and the cheapest. For only USD$8.00, you can go from the airport to the city. The Flyer also has free Wi-Fi access on board and you can purchase a STARPass that gives you unlimited transfers and service on Airport Flyer, Valley Flyer and GO Wellington busses, for one full day. Most travelers will prefer rental cars though. Avis, Budget, Europcar New Zealand, Hertz, and Thrifty all have rental counters on level 0 of the main terminal building.