We arrived into the “big city” late in the afternoon on Easter. We stopped by a brewery but almost everything was closed down. We did find a few restaurants open but there’s a law on certain holidays that prohibits the sale of alcohol unless it is purchased with a meal. Keeping to our plan of cooking all meals, we were not able to find to try new beers while the law was in effect.
Owhiro Bay freedom camping with South Island is in the distance
We were happy to find that the Wellington city council’s park in Owhiro Bay right outside the city permits freedom camping! This was great because all the other campsites we found near the city were very expensive with poor facilities. The free camping is actually a scenic parking lot on Owhiro Bay where we had good views of sunrise and even the South Island when it wasn’t raining. We stayed there every night we were in town and every night it was packed! The only restriction is a limit on staying there for 4 nights max each month.
The next morning we drove into the city in search of showers and free wifi. Our useful app (Campermate) told us that there are free hot showers at the botanical gardens; two things which are pretty rare, free and hot! After a nice shower we headed to the library. It was another holiday (Easter Monday) so parking was free but the library was closed. We had to sit outside on the sidewalk while we worked. We also made phone calls home and it was nice to talk to everyone. On the way back to the campsite we drove by a brewery to scope out its location.
Garage Project Brewery – our favorite in NZ!
Much to our surprise, it was actually open – lucky us! Garage Project Brewery is located in an old gas station/garage and they pump out fantastic beer at an amazing rate. They are only 2 years old and have made over 200 varieties of craft beer. We could even try all their beers on tap for free! After enjoying the tastings and chatting with the nice bartenders, we bought a few bottles of varieties they didn’t have on tap. My favorite was the Breakfast Stout made with real cereal. Sara’s favorite was “Death From Above” a very hoppy IPA.
Playing a brewing board-game at Black Dog Brewing Company as is rains
We awoke the next morning to the sound of crashing waves in the bay. After our morning breakfast, we headed into the city. Along the way we stopped at the botanical gardens to exercise and shower. Sara wasn’t too happy with me as we accidentally found the steepest hills to run up. As we left the park it started to rain, which was ok because the only plans for the day were to visit breweries. In total we found three more; Fork & Brewer, Black Dog Brewery, and ParrotDog Brewery. At Black Dog, they had board games for us to play which completed our rainy day!
That night we decided to take a break from cooking and enjoy a date night. The bartenders at ParrotDog told us of a new resturant we should try, The Bresolin. Thanks to him we had an awesome dinner. One item on the menu was an entire lamb shoulder! Sara convinced me to get something a bit smaller since the lamb was meant for 4-6 people. Our meal of steak and vegetables was wonderful. It was a great way to end the rainy day.
All throughout that night our van shook because it was so windy at the campsite! In the morning, the weather had not improved. There was one other thing we wanted to do in Wellington and the rain wasn’t going to stop us: mini golf. We put on our rain jackets and headed to Carlucci-Land. The owner wasn’t around but we knew it was open 24 hours a day so we put our money in the honesty box and picked our clubs. It was a fun way to spend the wet morning, and we had the course all to ourselves. By far the neatest mini golf that I had ever played. There were different chutes that would lead your ball to or away from the hole, and there were neat metal sculptures everywhere you looked. As we were finishing up, we saw a small bus of tourists stop on the side of the road to look, but I guess we were the only people crazy enough to play in the rain.
Thoroughly soaked, we hopped in the van to drive to the southernmost point on the North Island.
Patea Beach Lookout - wreckage of SS Waitangi not visible
DC3 flying over Owhiro Bay freedom camping
Wellington streets
Carlucci-Land Mini Golf honesty box allowing for playing at any time (or in any weather)
Carlucci-Land Mini Golf
Will watching his put right down the chutes
Sara putting towards the chutes
PS: you even look cute in the rain!!
Will you can build the mini golf at the farm “and they will come”! Right after you build the tree house and porch swing!!
Now the newlywed test has begun..3 months of beautiful weather reduced to a week of rainy weather in a “camper/car”. I vote they will survive and become a stronger team!
I see the wheels turning in Will’s head, designing a crazy mini golf course combined with a microbrewery! (Without the rain of course!)
You two moms are pretty funny.
Good idea! I hadn’t thought about a mini golf/brewery combo. It could be fun!