Weta Workshop and Weta Cave
Weta Workshop is a renowned special effects and prop company celebrated for its contributions to films such as The Lord of the Rings, and Avatar. Visitors to the workshop can learn about the artistry behind these epic films through guided tours and interactive exhibits at the workshop. The Weta cave is a combination mini-museum and retail space where visitors may view original props and models from various films. It also offers a behind-the-scenes video featuring exclusive interviews with the founder of the workshop, and offers insights into their creative processes. Below is a 360-degree video of the Workshop and Cave, produced by WellingtonNZ,



Taking the Cable Car to the Wellington Botanical Gardens

Wellington's Botanical Gardens offer a breathtaking escape into nature, perched on the hills above the city with sweeping views of the harbor. A visit begins with the iconic red Wellington Cable Car, which whisks visitors from the heart of the city up to the gardens in just a few minutes. The ride itself is a treat, offering panoramic views of Wellington's skyline as the cable car ascends through tunnels and lush greenery. Upon arrival, the gardens unfold in a vibrant display of native and exotic flora, with winding paths leading through themed gardens, tranquil duck ponds, and towering ancient trees.




Wellington Botanic Gardens
The Wellington Botanic Garden is one of New Zealand's most historic and beautiful green spaces. Established in 1868, it originally was managed by the New Zealand Institute under the direction of the Colonial Botanic Garden. The purpose was to cultivate and acclimatize plants from overseas, including those useful for timber and agriculture. In 1891, the Wellington City Council took over management, transforming it into a more public friendly botanical space. Over the years, the garden has expanded with new plant collections, sculptures, and recreational spaces. It covers 63 acres and is situated on a hillside with scenic views of the city and harbor. Features of the botanic gardens include

• Lady Rosewood Rose Garden: the garden features over 1,000 roses representing 110 varieties of roses
  
• Begonia House: a tropic greenhouse showcasing exotic plants, ferns, and seasonal floral displays
• The Dell: an area behid the Begonia house use for picnics, private functions and performances.
  
• Space Place: the Carter heritage astronomical observatory offers interactive space exhibits as well as planetarium shows
• Duck Pond: a peaceful spot with gazebo, surrounded by ducks, water lilies, and native bush
• Sundial of Human Involvement: next to the observatory, this is an interactive sundial where visitors use their own shadows to tell the time.

The gardens also are crisscrossed with a number of walking trails, among them:

• Bush Walk: a trail that meanders through native New Zealand bush from the cable car down hill or, taken in the opposite direction leads to a harbor vista ad the top. Along the route, it is easy to spot a ranges of native birds in garden's sky.
• Sculpture Walk: a trail consisting of 6 bronze sculptures, including Henry Moore's bronze Inner Form.
  
  
  

  Features of Wellington's Botanic Gardens
  Lady Rosewood Rose Garden	Space Place (Carter Observatory)	Begonia House
  The Dell	Duck Pond	Sundial of Human Involvement

  
  
  

  Wellington Botanic Garden Sculpture Walk
  Body to Soul (Mary Louise Brown)	Bronze Form (Henry Moore)	Green Islands (Regan Gentry)
  Peacemaker (Chris Booth)	Viewing and Listening Device (Andrew Drummond)	Rudderstone (Denis O'Connor)

  
  

Mount Victoria Lookout
Mount Victoria Lookout is southeast of the Wellington Botanic Gardens, situated on a promontory, it overlooks Wellington City, the Harbor, and the ocean to the south. Pedestrians may access the summit by following a 4.5km walkway (approximately and hour and a half climb), or taking the number 20 bus. Near the top is a signal cannon used between 1877 and 1900 as a 12 noon signal time so mariners and citizens could "sync" their watches. Where the trail gives way to a series of concrete stairs leading to the summit is a monument to the America Antarctic explorer Rear Admiral Robert Byrd. The memorial consists of a monument in the form of a polar tent, the front of which is build up with rock from Antartica. Underneath the bust are three plaques that commemorate his achievements. Byrd used New Zealand as a base for his Antarctic expeditions for 27 years and came to regard the country as his second home. From the monument a final set of steps leads to the lookout proper.

Video of Mt. Victoria Lookout