Martyn P.'s
Public Outdoor Spaces In The City
- 16Central ParkMount CookNature trails, a flying fox, an overbridge and more nature trails. This place is nice for a picnic, or just a brief wander through.
- 23Glover ParkTe AroOn a sunny day, Glover Park is a wonderful lunchtime escape from the indoor environment of the 9-5 grind. Two good cafes, Superfino and August are closeby as well, so grab a coffee and maybe a snack for the sun. You deserve it.
- 33Frank Kitts ParkWellington CentralThis is one of those wonderful waterfront parks, where after picnicing on the grass, you can wander around waterside, which is especially amazing by night. They like to hold free concerts here. Sometimes really good ones.
- 41Waitangi Park CafeWellington CentralGrab your coffee, grab something to eat, consume said items, now lie down in the Waitangi Park sun. Maybe play a game of rugby or soccer. If you're lucky they might have a concert or public event on!
- 55Oriental BayWellington CentralThis parade can be the worst in the rain/cold of winter. However, when the weather dies down, it's an incredibly beautiful walk with a couple of beaches, plenty of nice grassy green spots and a whole lot of vibes. In summertime A+.
Martyn P.'s
Fun ways to keep fit
- 112Freyberg Pool & Fitness CentreOriental BayOlympic length swimming lanes, steamroom, sauna and spa, plus an on-site gym, and massage therapists! This place is great! Even better, before and after your swim you can walk around Oriental Bay! Such a good walk on a sunny day!
- 24Hangdog Climbing AdventuresAlicetownYou like climbing up rock walls right? With all the equipment on hand? And versions for all manner/level of participant? Imagine you're in James Bond movie, or just enjoy it for what it is, amazing exercise! Hangdog Climbing Adventures got it going on.
- 31Wellington Badminton ClubHataitaiBadminton is a fun and interesting sport, and it's great exercise. If you want to get involved, get in touch with these guys and find out where you fit in.
- 44Indoor Netball, Cricket, Football, Touch and Futsall are all good social sports for exercise, team building and developing new friendships. This place has it all happening. Get involved.
- 54Bikram's Hot YogaTe AroIt might seem like torture or interrogation on the first attempt, but Hot Yoga is an incredible, if somewhat stressful form of exercise. You'll see the results. You'll feel better. But please, just make sure you drink a lot of water if you're going to go down this marvelous road.
Martyn P.'s
Relax Yourself in Wellington: The Daily Plan
- 112Light House CubaWellington CentralQuality cinema is yet another rainy day standard, and Light House Cuba’s opulent-but-affordable surrounds make it the perfect spot for such an activity.
- 215Arty Bee's BooksWellington CentralSomething about the rain always makes me want to read, and when you’re reading, there is nothing like cracking into a book you’ve never explored before. Arty Bee’s has one of the best selections in the city. You could easily daydream through a rainy hour or two browsing the books there.
- 312Freyberg Pool & Fitness CentreOriental BayOlympic length swimming lanes, steamroom, sauna and spa, plus an on-site gym, and massage therapists! This place is great! Even better, before and after your swim you can walk around Oriental Bay! Such a good walk on a sunny day!
- 420My gosh… If you’re vegetarian/vegan and you haven’t had the vege ball laska at Aunty Mena’s, your tastebuds kind of haven’t lived. This place has been the go-to on Cuba Street for cheap and cheerful vege/vegan meals for what feels like over a decade now. Try the mock meats out, delicious!
- 59East Day Spa - WellingtonPipiteaPicture this... You arrive, and are invited to lie down on a mattress inside a silky tent while ambient music plays in the background. They offer you a cup of green tea; bliss. Ten minutes later, you're inside a chamber having a massage or chilling out in the steam room. And hour later, you feel better than you've felt in months, just make sure you drink enough water the rest of the day. East Day Spa is amazing.
Martyn P.'s
Great Wellington Markets
- 13Wellington Underground MarketWellington CentralEvery Saturday between 10am-4pm in Wellington you can check out a range of designer stalls. Guess where? At the Wellington Underground Market. Clothing, health and beauty, toys and games, music, artwork, baby & child products, food, homeware and craft supplies. It's all happening.
- 214City MarketTe AroBetween The Ramen Shop serving up the best ramen in town, and The House of Dumplings serving up the best dumplings in town, you could call The City Market a win just off these two alone, but no, an incredible selection of boutique food supplies, deli items, ethnic delights, and Martin Bosley's Bacon and Egg sandwiches await.
- 311Mighty MightyWellington CentralThese monthly markets have been religion at Mighty Mighty for years now. On the first Saturday of every month, vintage clothing retailers, specialty stalls and delicious food outlets take over what it normally one of the most fun live music venues in town. With DJ Don Luchito serving up the tunes, it's always a good afternoon. And ladies, leave your dudefriend, husband or partner at the bar for a drink while you try on clothes. Of course women aren't the only ones buying clothing, so it might be a role reversal as well. We're egalitarian here.
- 417Harbourside Market WellingtonWellington CentralAffordable veges and fruit, fish, dairy products, nuts, breads, and all ranges of hot/cold food to eat on the spot. The vibes and atmosphere at Harbourside Market Wellington is second to none. Check it out every Sunday morning.
- 54Located within the ground of Newtown School, this fruit and vegetable market is a wonderful community experience. Pick up what you need for the week, and grab something warm to snack on while you're there.
Martyn P.'s
Fun ways to expand your mind
- 112Light House CubaWellington CentralQuality cinema is yet another rainy day standard, and Light House Cuba’s opulent-but-affordable surrounds make it the perfect spot for such an activity.
- 213Slow Boat Records ShopTe AroYou "could" describe Slow Boat as one of the best record stores in New Zealand, but comparatively speaking, it might be one of the best record stores in the world. For early 20th century music, classic jazz, country, rock, soul, folk and beyond, Slow Boat has an amazing selection of both vinyl and CDs. The staff are extremely sharp and knowledgeable as well. This is one of those places where taking a recommendation is well recommended.
- 37Graphic ComicsTe AroI've been a regular at Graphic Comics for a few years now. I originally ended up there after backtracking from AMC's The Walking Dead television show to the graphic novel series of the same name it's based on. Graphic Comics just have the most remarkable collection of stock, and crucially for me, a whole bunch of amazing stuff that doesn't involve men in tights fighting other men in tights and masks (ie: superhero comics). Graphic Comics introduced me to incredible graphic novels like Scalped, Love and Rockets, DMZ, The Boys, and the remarkable Humanoids, Pantheon and Cinebooks publishing lines. Incredible storylines and incredible art, what's not to love? The staff are fantastic as well; considered and knowledgeable.
- 430Unity Books WellingtonWellington CentralUnity Books is a truly world class bookstore. Between their amazingly curated specialist sections, the impressively well read staff, and the regularity with which they throw important local literature events in-store, it's pretty easy to fall in love with the place. Unity Book's fiction and music book sections have always been a go-to for me. I got familiar with the works of Murakami, Lauren Beukes, Paolo Bacigalupi and plenty of other crucial authors here. I look forward to discovering more on my next visit.
- 56The Aro Street Video ShopAro ValleyThis place is the best video rental store in the capital. Sure, that doesn’t seem like much of a claim in the diminished video rental store world, but even at the peak of things they had the craziest selection. The world cinema section is out of this world, literally.
Martyn P.'s
Eating Gluten Free in Wellington
- 15Nicolini's has some gluten free Italian food. How about that? Wonderful ambiance, staff and decor as well. A+
- 218Ti Kouka CafeWellington CentralTriple cooked hot chips. Yes, triple cooked. I have no idea how they actually do that, but yes, it tastes as good as it sounds!
- 38Boat CafeOriental BayFruit with yoghurt, toast and spreads, eggs on toast, omelettes, eggs benedict, pancake stacks, salads, curries, pies, fish dishes and soup, all gluten free! Yes, a cafe environment where ya'll gluten-free types can have a normal brunch. Even better, you're on a boat, at the same damn time!
- 44Hell Pizza Mt CookMt CookHell Pizza do great gluten free pizza's and have a bunch of excellent vegetarian/vegan options. If you're looking for something erring on the healthier side of a takeaway gluten free meal, this might be it.
- 55Panama Bakery Gluten FreeWaterlooLocated down a side street off Lambton Quay, this old school bakery has gluten free afghans, caramel slices, chocolate biscuits and so much more. For that gluten free treat that takes you back to childhood, look no further.