Success is getting what you want; happiness is liking what you get

Friday 8 June 2012

You can’t beat Wellington on a Good Day!

What a difference a day makes.  After battling with wind, rain, and freezing temperatures one day, the Wellington region then puts on a day to be proud of.  We drove into the big smoke to do a couple of chores, and passed through Oriental Bay.  The sun was shining, and the fountain was playing, and everything looked well with the world.

DSCF1884 Oriental Bay fountain

Oriental Bay is a stone’s throw from the city centre, and is a popular lunch spot for office workers, attracted by the crescent of sandy beach.  But it wasn’t always like this, ballast sand from ships has been added to the beach to make it the attractive place it is today.  The sand arrived as ships ballast in vessels from England, found a new use and was tipped over the sea wall.  The ships would then make the return trip  full of frozen meat for Britain.  The beach was later restored in the early 2000s, when over 22,000 tonnes of sand was barged over Cook Strait from Golden Bay.

DSCF1886 The beach at Oriental Bay
DSCF1887Expensive real estate at Oriental Bay

Our travels took us around the coast line to Evans Bay, overlooking the marina full of pricey boats.  If you look really hard, you can just make out the large white letters on the opposite hill, spelling out “All Blacks”, installed by Wellington Airport to show its support for the team during the Rugby World Cup. 

DSCF1891 Evans Bay

Wellington Airport is close by and as we sat enjoying the view, several planes dropped down low as they started their descent  as they came in to land.  The passengers would have enjoyed a glorious view of Wellington City on such a fine day.  You certainly can’t beat Wellington on a good day!

DSCF1897 Coming in to land

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