30 December 2025 Steps: 11,023 Today we finally got the rainy day in Wellington that the forecast had been promising us . Luckily, we had a plan! The Wellington Climbing Wall at Fergs Jessica had spotted a climbing wall on the waterfront the day before, so we headed decided that if it was raining, we would go back so she could give it a go. Fergs isn't the only climbing wall in Wellington, but it's a great location on the waterfront, plus if it wasn't possible for her to cli

29 December 2025 Steps: 11,398 Today was the day we had all been looking forward to – a guided tour of the Te Papa Museum in Wellington , where Michael works. We were incredibly lucky. Michael not only arranged free entry for us, but also organised a one hour guided tour, which made the visit even more special. The Te Papa Museum Guided Tour Our tour guide Angela was Māori herself and she shared so much insight into Māori life , their deep connection to the land, and how that

28 December 2025 Steps: 18,715 The Wellington Cable Car The sun was out this morning and the wind had eased, so we took advantage and hopped on the Wellington Cable Car up to the lookout above the city. As you’d expect, the views were fantastic. The Botanical Gardens At the top, we spent some time walking around the botanical gardens , which is one of the best free things to do in Wellington. There’s a fun kids’ play area, some lovely wild walking trails , and a rose garden

27 December 2025 Steps: 9,767 Mount Victoria For our first full day in Wellington , we started by driving up to the top of Mount Victoria . You can walk up, but with an afternoon planned at Wellington Zoo, we wanted to save the kids’ legs. The v iews from the top are fantastic, with panoramas in every direction . Looking down over the harbour is especially iconic, and you can clearly spot the huge Te Papa museum . We’ll be visiting later in the week for a tour led by a Māori

26 December 2025 Steps: 7,436 This morning we said goodbye to Paradise Bay in the Pelorus Sound and caught the ferry from Picton over to Wellington, where Susie’s brother lives. We’ll be staying here for the next five nights, so it will be nice to have a home base for a while. Leaving the Pelorus Sound and the Drive to Picton Boxing Day looked a little different for us this year, as we caught a water taxi directly the off grid house we were staying in (which can only be acces