Windy Welly

Wellington truly is the Chicago of New Zealand. Windy, drizzly, windy, and more windy. We stayed here for some down time for three days in a nice, clean, sterile, yet helpful YHA in the downtown area. Parking was tough, but we had stupidly cheap noodles every night (8.00 for a huge nasi goreng), and plenty of local brew beer was had. Mac's brewery is probably the best I have seen in this country so far, they make an awesome cloudy wheat beer the is yeasty, well rounded, with a hint of banana. I tried a few other brews, including a supposedly cask-conditioned ale, but to no avail. Even Guinness here is a great big not good tasting beer like it is elsewhere. Alas, I digress.

The best beer in en zed

Wellington is a beautiful, very small, spread out city which lies mostly along the hilly coasts overlooking a choppy bay full of sailboats. We drove the perimeter coast road, which took about an hour with stops, driving thirty clicks most of the way. I think it would be a great bike ride. The city has hundreds of miles of walking trails, a large bird sanctuary / park, and stunning scenery. This is the home of Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it proves itself as the location of many film shots.

Welly from the harbour

It was great to have a few down days to plan the South Island trek, eat at dirty, cheap noodle houses, check out bookstores, wash laundry, get internet posting/communication done, and generally walk about town with no intentions whatsoever.

The next big adventure? Cross the sea with the car, and drive winding roads!