Wellington 101

Wellington 101

The Weather

Look, Wellington has a reputation. YOU CAN'T BEAT WELLY ON A GOOD DAY but damn you can definitely beat it on a bad day. Umbrellas will not work. We know that sounds like a Wellington meme, but they’ll break. Get a cool raincoat –you'll thank us in the long run.

To reverse that, the sun will burn you. Yes, it’s windy and cloudy, but in the summer months, you’ll burn. Seriously, keep sunscreen and a warm jersey with you at all times for safety’s sake.

Out and About

Sometimes you’ve got to escape uni life and get outside for a bit. Fortunately, Wellington is chocka with green space. Within walking distance from all of the campuses there’s trees and parks where you can have your lunch, hang with mates, or pretend you’re going to study in the sun. Try Katherine Mansfield Park in Thorndon, Polhill Reserve in Brooklyn, the Botanical Gardens (the Botans) in Kelburn, or even Mt Vic. If you want to stretch a little further than Oriental Parade then jump on a bus to Island Bay or Lyall Bay. Whether it's surfing, swimming, cafes, takeaways or a cold pint, you'll find a new go-to spot.

Snapper

It’s real weird to end up in a new place and not know what to do or where to go. Here are some top tips if you’re new to Wellington – or even if you’re just new to Te Herenga Waka!

Get yourself a Snapper card as soon as you can. You might promise yourself that you’ll walk every day, but soon enough it’ll be raining, and you’ll be facing a slow and damp trek up the hill, which no-one enjoys. The Snapper card works on Wellington buses and trains, and its sweet student price will save you a bunch of money in the long run. If you’ve got classes at more than one campus, you can even get a bus pass from VUWSA that gives you FREE TRAVEL between campuses!

Getting Around

Look, we’ve got options here. Perhaps they don’t always run all the time, but there’s a bunch of ways to get about the city. Use your Snapper on the trains, buses and cable car. The city itself is also quite walkable if that’s your vibe, otherwise we love e-scooters. All current e-scooter companies in the city have student deals, and they’re a fast and environmentally friendly way to get about the city. Just make sure you wear your helmet and park them responsibly!

City Eats

Get away from that hall food and try out some of the diverse food options scattered about the city. We’ve got more eateries per capita than New York, and these ones won’t break the bank. Now’s your time to branch out and try something new.

TGIF - Splash out on a $12 bottle of wine and get your BYO on at Oriental Kingdom or Red Hill.

DIETARY NEEDS -Sweet Release, Lord of the Fries and Nolita have some of the best food out there for those eating vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free!

BURGS - Burger Liquor is a Wellington staple along with the new kid on the block with their gravy fries, Lucky Chicken (vegetarian options too).

SUSHI TIME - If you haven't tried a rice ball then next time you're feeling hungry order a salmon, chicken or veggie rice-ball at any of the local sushi places around town.

P.S Maki Mono (and almost all other sushi stores in Welly) has half-priced sushi after 4pm.