The ‘Tramps’ of Greater Wellington...

A frosty Korokoro Valley, complete with native bush!

The tramps in question of course being of the type that tend to lead you through forest and moorland, along coast and up and down the Hobbiton like rolling green hills, of which there are many in the Wellington area.
I have now taken up residence in Victoria University’s equivalent of Grizedale College - not that I mean to say I’m living atop of a pile of rubble surrounded by a safety fence, as that wouldn't quite keep the Wellington wind and rain at bay very well, but I’m sure it would be far less warmer and less draughty if I were sleeping in my tent. Anyway it’s a nice corridor with fine Kiwi people and even a communal lounge/ dining room. The lack of central heating is quite interesting though as it seems more necessary to be wearing a down jacket when inside than out - as Wellington’s hills tend to do a good job of keeping you nice and warm when walking out and about.

So I moved in on Sunday 1 July, and spent much of last week being educated about what being an international student, and of course this meant standing in queues for hours on end to check that I did want to sign up for 3 whole courses! In the end I have a first, second and third year course this semester.


NZ Fur Seals hauled out at Sinclair Point

In between all the talks/ waiting there were days off - so I managed to get out and see some more of the sights of Wellington and around. Tuesday I headed south down to Island Bay where you can walk along the coast to the ‘Red Rocks’ and ‘Sinclair Head’, the former being the remnants of a submarine basalt eruption and the latter being home to New Zealand’s largest Fur Seal colony - which you literally just walk through. There are seals lying all over the beach, totally oblivious to the fact that you are taking photos, eating lunch etc. they merely opened an eye to a rather loopy dog that passed by, on a lead of course! The next significant event was Thursday evenings international quiz night - the first opportunity to try out one of the many ‘Irish Pubs’ of Wellington. It seems compulsory for any building that is remotely pub-like to be given the prefix ‘Irish’, I’m yet to discover why such a phenomenon should be so celebrated, and whether they have ever considered more exciting names such as “Ye Olde Fighting Cocks” (Arnside), or “The Drunken Duck” (Barngates). Incredible as it may seem there is one anomalous tavern that goes by the name of “Welsh Bar”, complete a massive Welsh dragon on the side, but this is yet to be investigated, watch this space. Anyway this particular Irish Pub, called JC Murphy’s was unfortunately rather lacking in leprechauns - I’m sure they must have done a runner when they found out there were hundreds of Americans, Germans and Chinese descending on their local. The quiz was actually pretty good, my team consisted of 4 British, 3 American, 1 Dutch - and seeing as the questions were not too taxing for anyone slightly British i.e. “What sport does Steve Redgrave do?”, we managed to sweep the board of prizes - firstly a free pint each, and secondly a $20 book voucher - all in all a very successful event!

Friday it was a tough decision between a 3 hour long ‘Study Skills and Communicating effectively in English’ session or more exploring of Wellington in driving rain and a strengthening southerly gale - it was a tough one but thought that I had learnt enough new phrases for one week, for example the highly complex ‘terms and conditions’ (courses in NZ have these by the way - and apparently you actually have to meet them to pass - unbelievable!), and headed for the waterfront and the National Museum, Te Papa, where I spent the afternoon discovering the geological history/ human settlement of New Zealand.
Saturday was another wet one so this time it was the Wellington Museum of City and Sea that was visited with lots of pictures and relics of Wellington’s maritime past.


Belmont Trig summit, looking East across Hutt Valley to the Rimutaka Range

Finally today, probably the finest winter’s day so far. Not a cloud in the sky and only a slight breath of a southerly wind. I jumped on an early ‘tranz-metro’ service up the Hutt Valley to Petone the start of the Puki Ariki, a fine ridge walk through the hills to the North of Wellington Harbour. The tops are up above the bush and you get great views of all of lower North Island from the snowy Tararuas right through to the Kaikouras and the Abel Tasman Coast of South Island.
Well thats it for this action packed first full week in Wellington, next week I’ll hopefully be able to report on who these people that call themselves ‘trampers’ are and maybe even become one myself by joining the Victoria University of Wellington Tramping Club or VUWTC...


North from Boulder Hill to the Tararuas