Wellington’s location at the centre of New Zealand had the role of capital since 1865. Today, Parliament and the Beehive building alongside it are national icons. Wellington is approximately 8½ hours from Auckland by road, about an hour by air. The South Island is a three hour scenic ferry ride away across Cook Strait.Wellington City is wedged between steep hills and the sea. Rugged mountain ranges (the Rimutakas and the Tararuas) loom beyond the harbour. The diversity of natural resources means within 10-15 minutes, you can be walking or mountain biking in native bush, or kayaking around the coastline.The capital's location has created a walkable central business district that encourages a now-famous café and craft beer culture. The creative, IT, education and government sectors combine in a way that means it always does feel like there’s something going on.
When looking for places to eat in Wellington it’s hard to put a singular label on Amok - but perhaps that’s for the best. A mish-mash of cultures and influences (much like its famed steak tartare and fried potato dish), the Majoribanks Street joint is a melting pot of flavours, stirred by some seasoned industry hands.The Wilson Barbecue story is widely known and admired within Wellingtonian food circles. And if you ever need reminding, just stop by Blair and Casey’s flashy Johnsonville restaurant - the whole journey is laid out in a beautiful mural by the kitchen.Charting the pair’s path from their food truck beginnings to their pop-up stints right through to their now permanent base, it’s an eye-catching attraction that easily stands out in the spacious, well laid-out interior. Take your time perusing inside and you’ll notice other mementos from the Wilsons’ journey - see if you can spot the 1,900kg Yoder smoker they imported straight from Kansas, which they’ve been firing up since day one.Mason is a small neighbourhood restaurant masquerading as a bar. A sign above the jet black entrance at Mason invites you to come as you are, and it’s a tempting proposal.Tucked away on a quiet one-way street, just off the main Newtown strip, Mason is helmed by Matt Hawkes, formerly of Rita fame. If you’re wondering, Mason is also Matt’s middle name. The place is dark, the music is loud, and it’s busy. All of the staff are friendly, and you can tell they’re having a good time. Ask any Wellingtonian where to get the best fried chicken and chances are they’ll point you in Soul Shack’s direction. Rick Unuia’s Nashville-style outfit is both a David and a Goliath in the capital’s takeaway scene - a small scrapper housed in a cosy central city nook, but with a fierce, formidable fan base that belies its size.The shop front’s cute neon signage invites punters in from those chilly Wellington nights, before they’re immediately embraced by the waft of fried chicken against the backdrop of lively kitchen banter. It’s a space that has been purposefully designed to be intimate and interactive, with the crew and the customers separated only by the countertop. There’s a decent amount of seats inside if you want to dine-in or grab-and-go type if that’s your agenda.
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