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

Monday 21 September 2009

You can’t beat Wellington on a good day

You can’t beat Wellington on a good day – or so the song goes.  It’s true of course.  We were to meet our SLG friends on Sunday morning but had arrived early.  So while we waited we sat and enjoyed the comings and goings of the Wellington waterfront.  The sun was shining, people were out walking, running or skating, and there was lots of activity on the water.  In the “old” days the wharves were a hive of activity with ships loading and unloading, wharfies scurrying around, trains and trucks coming onto the wharf.  With the advent of containerisation, the wharf traffic reduced considerably.  Wellington waterfront has now been opened up as a recreational area for the public. 

DSCF1869 Snoozing in the morning sun on the waterfront

Across the water the we noticed the Oriental Bay fountain playing.  The small beach at Oriental Bay has an interesting history.  The beach in front of the band rotunda was made up of sand used as ballast on British ships. The ships that came to New Zealand made the sea voyage with sand as ballast and returned with frozen meat and other goods for Britain. Over time this sand has been gradually washed away, the sand has now been supplemented by a replacement program with shipment of sand from Golden Bay in the South Island.

P9200012 Oriental Bay Fountain

 

P9200014 Rowers practising and yachts in the background

The high-rise apartment buildings over in Oriental Bay command very high prices.  With their sea views and just a short drive to the city, living here is very desirable, and expensive.

P9200018East West Ferry on a trip to Soames Island and Day’s Bay

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