Thanks to some changes in the bus timetables I only had one day to spend in Wellington rather than the two I'd planned. But the sudden change in plans just made sure I was up bright and early to make the most of the day.

My first destination was the cable car (looked more like a tram to me!) to ride up to the top of the city for great views and a stroll through the botanic gardens (yes, another botanic gardens I can tick off my list!). I was lucky as the morning was beautiful with a?clear blue sky so you got a fantastic view all around the city. I walked back down the hill, through the gardens and into town, towards the old quarter where I went for a tour around Parliament house and over to Old St Paul's church for my bit of history and culture.

I stopped for lunch down by the waterfront and enjoyed an ice cream along the wharf until I'd strolled right along to the far end and eventually came across the beach. It's a city with everything, from lush green parks, to historical architecture, a marina and a beach! To be fair it wasn't the most impressive of beaches however and the weather in the afternoon wasn't so nice so it was hardly bustling with people. Instead of paddling and getting my feet wet I went for the warmer and dryer option of the Te Papa museum (meaning Our Place). This is pretty famous in Wellingtonian circles as it's a free museum with displays and exhibitions about everything you can think of that's New Zealand over six floors. There was almost too much to see really and it was all laid out in a bit of a random order, but you could nearly spend a whole day if you wanted to see everything and?if you had enough time. A few hours was enough for me before some dinner in one of the nicest hostel kitchens I've come across so far; even the lonely planet describes it as one Jamie Oliver would be proud of! Then it was out to sample the nightlife of Wellington for a few hours before I had to wave goodbye and board yet another bus...