Wellington: The Portland of the Southern Hemisphere?

As the capital of a major tourist destination, Wellington often gets skipped—it’s far from NZ’s big attractions and lacks the South Island’s jaw-dropping landscapes. But after two weeks here? Total surprise package! 🌆 A Quirky, Progressive Gem If this city were in the U.S., it’d be deep blue—think Portland circa 2015 🏳️‍🌈: artsy, diverse, and proudly weird (minus the homelessness, crime, or 🍃 smell). Downsides? Brutal hills + hurricane-level winds (RIP baseball caps at Cape Palliser 🧢💨). ☕ Coffee Culture = Next Level Espresso stands on every corner—even food trucks use La Marzocco + Mazzer rigs with local beans! Fancy a brew? Hangar or Customs offer single-origin flights. 🍽️ Food Scene Slays Ombra: Killer pasta & tiramisu 🍝 Crab Shack: Fresh-caught crustaceans 🦀 Ba Bai Li: Authentic Chinese liangpi & burgers 🥙 FJ Noodle House: Hand-pulled chili oil noodles 🌶️ 🌿 Nature’s a Mood By NZ standards? "Meh." By global standards? Stunning. Within 1-2 hours: seals, alpacas, and happy-as livestock (ignoring their eventual fate 🐑➡️🍖). #Wellington #NZTravel #VUW #HiddenGems #WeirdAndWonderful