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Wellington (Pop: City/Metro 386,000) is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand. The urban area is situated on the south western tip of the country's North Island, and lies between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range.

Surrounded by steep hills giving views of a spectacular harbour, a rugged coastline combined with the often rough waters of the Cook Strait and variable winds interrupted by brilliant, beautiful calm days, the Wellington region forms the setting for New Zealand's cosmopolitan capital city, the geographical, cultural and political centre of New Zealand.

Named after the Duke of Wellington, who was interested in colonial development, and settled by the notorious New Zealand Company, Wellington was always planned as the nation's capital, though Auckland held this distinction until 1865.

Wellington is the geographical and political centre of New Zealand, this beautiful harbour capital combines city sophistication with the intimacy of a compact village. Jam-packed with national treasures, artistic flair, gastronomic delights, shopping sensations and scenic beauty.

The city boasts many fine museums, libraries, art galleries, and theatres, and parks in a greenbelt around the central city, as well as dining, shopping and entertainment and nightlife in the Courtenay Place area. New Zealand's only working cable car provides panoramic views.

Due to the surrounding hills and the harbour, Wellington central business district  is compact, where all major attractions, bars and restaurants are within walking distance with each other.

Discover the nation's identity in the Capital, where heritage treasures like Parliament Buildings, the National Archives and Te Papa offer you a unique insight into the stories of our country or experience heritage of a more natural kind throughout a region blessed with an astonishing variety of natural wonders. 

Wellington has become home to a range of high-profile events and cultural celebrations, including the biennial New Zealand International Arts Festival, biennial Wellington Jazz Festival, biennial Capital E National Arts Festival for Children and major events such as World of Wearable Art, Cuba Street Carnival, New Zealand Fringe Festival, New Zealand International Comedy Festival (also hosted in Auckland), Summer City, The Wellington Folk Festival (in Wainuiomata), New Zealand Affordable Art Show, the New Zealand Sevens Weekend and Parade, Out in the Square, Vodafone Homegrown, the Couch Soup theater festival, and numerous film festivals.

Wellington is home to Te Papa (the Museum of New Zealand), the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Museum, Colonial Cottage, the New Zealand Cricket Museum, the Cable Car Museum, Old Saint Paul's, and the Wellington Law school (largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere) and the Wellington City Art Gallery.

Wellington is also known as 'Wellywood' . The name - a conflation of Wellington and Hollywood -  a reference to the film production business established in the city by The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and King Kong director Peter Jackson, who's business operates a number of film-related facilities in the Wellington suburb of Miramar.

Wellington is the ultimate urban destination in New Zealand. Wellington region includes the Kapiti Coast and Hutt Valley. The Wairarapa region is just one hour's drive from Wellington city.

Wellington is the southern terminal for long distance passenger trains from Auckland, Hamilton, National Park, Palmerston North and major long passenger coach/bus services from cities and towns in the North Island.

Wellington is the terminal for Interislander and Bluebridge ferry services that operate between the North and South Islands crossing Cook Strait.

Wellington International Airport is one of the busiest airport's in New Zealand in relationship to domestic flights and also is served by international flights to and from Australia.