The Summer Travel & Leisure Guide

Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.
Kyle Bell
Published on February 12, 2015
  • News

    The Future of Bike Parking is Here, and This is What It Looks Like

    It is kind of like a vending machine but for your bike.

  • Event

    Ocean Film Festival

    Tue, 31 Mar - Wed, 1 Apr 2015

    Paramount Cinema, Wellington

    The festival is a night of exploration and appreciation for the big blue - all from the comfort of a soft, dry seat.

  • Event

    Cosmic's 18th Birthday

    Sat, 21 Mar, 2015

    Bar Bodega, Wellington

    Cosmic has finally become a legal adult and wants everyone to know about it.

  • News

    The Eight Best Salads in Wellington

    No city for day-old supermarket bags of mesclun.

  • News

    The Best Gigs in Wellington This March

    Guitar-led earworms, mind bending white noise, indie-pop based around long-form journalism, playful/intelligent rock and shredding.

  • Event

    TWRK

    Thu, 26 Feb, 2015

    Boston on Blair, Te Aro

    Miley would be proud.

  • Event

    Just Bet/ween Us

    Mon, 2 Mar - Sat, 7 Mar 2015

    Bats Theatre, Te Aro

    Dancing takes a gamble.

  • Event

    I Predict a Riot

    Tue, 3 Mar - Wed, 11 Mar 2015

    Paintball Corporation, Wellington

    War with a PG rating attached.

  • Event

    Gorillaz Sound System

    Wed, 15 Apr - Thu, 16 Apr 2015

    James Caberet, Wellington

    Gorillaz the DJ set, not the band.

  • News

    KFC Are Rolling Out Edible Scented Coffee Cups

    Have your cup of coffee and eat it too.

  • News

    Ten Hotel Oases That Will Cool You Down in Summer

    The lowdown on where the trendsetters sleep.

  • News

    Concrete Playground's Summer Reading List

    Ten books from this year that no bibliophile should miss.

  • News

    Could This New Sky Garden Be The Workplace of the Future?

    Forget the tedium of the office cubicle. The future is harvesting your own lunch, wearable tech and abseiling during coffee breaks.

  • News

    Stoneleigh Latitude - The Award-Winning Wines from Marlborough's Golden Mile

    The Stoneleigh Latitude collection represents the unique terroir of what many consider to be the best vineyard region in the country.

  • News

    This Piggybacking Robot Feeds You Tomatoes As You Run

    Helping you ketchup to the competition.

  • Event

    Wake Up Tomorrow

    Sat, 21 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015

    Circa Theatre, Te Aro

    A theatrical collage aboard an aircraft.

  • Event

    Lady Liberty

    Mon, 2 Mar - Fri, 6 Mar 2015

    Whitireia New Zealand : Wellington Performing Arts Centre, Wellington

    The Lady of suburban folklore has her story told through dance.

  • Event

    10 Things I Hate About Us

    Tue, 24 Feb - Sat, 28 Feb 2015

    Gryphon Theatre, Te Aro

    A play with a less predictable ending than its namesake.

  • Event

    Perfume Genius

    Sat, 21 Feb, 2015

    Bar Bodega, Wellington

    Seattle's Mike Hadreas brings his boundary pushing alter-ego to Wellington.

  • Event

    Newtown Festival Fair Day 2015

    Sun, 8 Mar, 2015

    Newtown Centre, Newtown

    New Zealand's largest free outdoor street concert.

  • News

    The Five Best Vineyard Getaways in Australia

    Pop open a bottle of estate-grown wine at these stylish stays among the Australian vines.

  • News

    Summer Style Guide for Women

    Some of the season's best looks for every taste.

  • News

    Summer Style Guide for Men

    Because swim shorts 24-7 are not socially acceptable unless you live on the beach.

  • Event

    A Movement

    Thu, 12 Mar - Tue, 17 Mar 2015

    Various locations across Wellington, Wellington

    Blink, the 'A Low Hum' maverick, is going on tour - with 1000 photos of 300 bands, and a few live supporting acts too.

  • News

    The Bluffer's Guide to Summer Entertaining

    Be the host/hostess with the most/mostess

  • News

    How to Host the Perfect Barbeque

    We can't help you with meeting good people and making them like you, although inviting them over to eat meat and drink beer probably won't hurt.

  • News

    This Durable Cardboard Bike Costs Just $10 to Make

    A bike so cheap that it's not even worth the energy deployed in trying to steal it.

  • Guide

    The Summer Design & Style Guide

    Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.

  • Guide

    The Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide

    Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.

  • Guide

    The Summer Food & Drink Guide

    Because the year’s too long and summer’s too short to waste time on the mediocre.

  • News

    The Eight Best Mexican Restaurants in Wellington

    Great Mexican food, much like Wellington city, is a study of contrasts.

  • News

    New Web Comedy 'The Katering Show' Skewers Foodie Culture

    "The journey of a food intolerant, and an intolerable foodie."

  • Event

    Eddie Izzard

    Sat, 14 Feb - Sun, 15 Feb 2015

    Michael Fowler Centre, Te Aro

    A rambling, whimsical monologue delivered by an ex-accounting student now "executive transvestite".

  • News

    This Swing Table Just Made Meetings Way More Fun

    Swing your way through boring PowerPoint presentations.

  • News

    You Can Now Turn Your Tweets Into Poetry

    Computer-generated works of art from 140-character musings.

  • Event

    Wellington Free Outdoor Cinema

    Sat, 14 Feb - Tue, 31 Mar 2015

    Lagoon Lawn, Wellington

    Watch your favourite Hollywood films from the last decade or so out in the open air for free.

  • News

    Van Gogh Paintings Realised as Haute Couture

    Van Gogh's little straw hat has never looked so Bjork.

  • News

    Ten Films From Sundance We're Hoping Make It to New Zealand

    We've got a whole lot of brand new must-sees for 2015.

  • Event

    Freddie Gibbs

    Sat, 21 Feb, 2015

    James Caberet, Wellington

    Heartfelt rhymes from Indiana.

  • News

    A Look Back at Ten Years of Laneway Festival

    The last ten years have seen festival after festival launch and go under. How have Laneway managed to nail it?

  • News

    This New App Can Tell You Which Friend Stresses You Out Most

    Want to surround yourself with positive people? There's an app for that.

  • Event

    Sticky Fingers

    Wed, 18 Feb, 2015

    James Caberet, Wellington

    Get your fingers on some Sticky Fingers tickets before they sell out.

  • Restaurant

    House of Dumplings

    117 Taranaki Street, Wellington

    You will have your dumpling and eat it too.

  • Restaurant

    Five Boroughs - CLOSED

    4 Roxburgh Street, Mt Victoria

    You had us at bottomless coffee.

  • News

    Dutch Lottery Helps Sea Shephard Stop Illegal Fishing in the Southern Ocean

    New 8.3-million-Euro boat will help save the Antarctic eco-system.

  • News

    Your Weekend Driving Soundtrack

    A soundtrack that takes you places.

  • Bar

    MOON 1

    167 Riddiford Street, Newtown

    A gig seeker's sanctuary.

  • News

    Seven Days of Cheap Eats in Wellington

    The following is a list of places where tasty and cheap meet. Nobody knows how they do it. Don’t ask, just eat.

  • News

    The Ten Best Craft Beer Bars in Wellington

    Breweries housed within old petrol stations, pilsner served with a side of live music and resident English bulldogs patrolling the bar - these are just some of the things which make Wellington's local craft beer bar scene interesting.

  • News

    Twelve Films to Get Excited About in 2015

    A Lebowski-esque Pynchon adaptation, a sequel 30 years in the making and the Tarantino film that nearly got nixed - they've all made an impression long before they're released.

  • Event

    Homegrown 2015

    Sun, 8 Mar, 2015

    Wellington Waterfront, Wellington

    The only festival to shine a spotlight squarely in the eyes of New Zealand music.

  • News

    Eight Gadgets Attempting to Improve Your Life in 2015

    Post-CES 2015, we're keen for our belts to tighten, plants to water and kettles to boil themselves.

  • Event

    Lunice

    Wed, 25 Feb, 2015

    San Fran, Wellington

    The ex-TNGHT DJ hailing from Montreal is coming to San Fran for a night.

  • Bar

    Karaka Cafe

    1 Cable Street, Lambton

    Beanbags and beer, anyone?

  • Bar

    Southern Cross

    39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro

    The bar's ridiculously ‘gram-able courtyard is the perfect summer afternoon spot to sip on a cold one.

  • Bar

    Mac’s Brewbar

    4 Taranaki Street, Te Aro

    An excellent go-to when everyone in your group is too polite to say where they want to go.

  • Cafe

    Drexel’s Breakfast Restaurant

    23 Waring Taylor Street, Lambton

    US-style diner food to start your day.

  • Cafe

    Prefab

    14 Jessie Street, Te Aro

    Prefab is so perfect it’s almost painful.

  • Restaurant

    Duke Carvell’s Emporium - CLOSED

    3 Swan Lane, Te Aro

    This place is everything you wish your home could be.

  • Cafe

    Ti Kouka - CLOSED

    76 Willis Street, Te Aro

    Ti Kouka believes that local, seasonal produce is best, and based on the magic they create with it, we can’t help but agree. You can almost taste the ethics.

  • Restaurant

    Seaview Takeaways

    92 Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay

    They might not win any gourmet awards, but the line out the door on Friday night says you’re onto something good at Lyall Bay's Seaview Takeaways.

  • Bar

    Spruce Goose

    Cnr Moa Point Rd & Cochrane St, Lyall Bay

    An ex-WWII aircraft hangar-turned-cafe.

  • Cafe

    Maranui Cafe

    71 Lyall Parade, Lyall Bay

    Breakfast with a front row seat to the ocean.

  • Event

    Slash

    Wed, 18 Feb, 2015

    TSB Arena, Wellington Central

    The former lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses is considered one of the best in the world.

  • Event

    Billy Idol, Cheap Trick & The Angels

    Thu, 2 Apr, 2015

    TSB Arena, Wellington Central

    It's a nice day for a...rock show.

  • Restaurant

    Boulcott St Bistro

    99 Boulcott Street, Te Aro

    The fancy bistro typifies quaintness.

  • News

    The Ten Best Summer Music Festivals in New Zealand

    The best of the summer festival circuit.

  • Bar

    St John’s

    5 Cable Street, Wellington

    Bean bags with your beersies? Yeah, go on.

  • Event

    Beginners Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga

    Tue, 17 Feb, 2015

    Fergs Kayaks Wellington, Wellington

    Downward dog on water.

  • Bar

    Foxglove Bar and Kitchen

    33 Queens Wharf, Wellington

    180-degree harbour views and glamour.

  • Cafe

    Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli

    200 Queens Drive , Lyall Bay

    All beachside communities could do with a deli like this.

  • Restaurant

    Mexico

    41 Dixon Street, Te Aro

    A stylish, Westernised synecdoche of an entire country.

  • Restaurant

    Hippopotamus Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

    90 Cable Street

    One of Wellington's swishiest French restaurants.

  • Cafe

    Baobab

    152 Riddiford St, Newtown

    A Newtown cultural institution.

  • Cafe

    Loretta

    181 Cuba Street, Wellington

    Loretta exemplifies industrial chic.

  • Restaurant

    Ekim Burgers

    257 Cuba St, Te Aro

    The best homemade burgers that you can’t actually make at home.

  • Cafe

    Olive

    170 Cuba Street, Te Aro

    The best garden courtyard in the country.

  • Bar

    Hop Garden - CLOSED

    13 Pirie Street, Mount Victoria

    The garden bar is a staple bar for any Wellingtonian craft beer aficionado.

  • News

    The Eight Best Breakfasts in Wellington

    Set yourself up for the day with Wellington's finest fast-breakers.

  • Restaurant

    Logan Brown

    192 Cuba St, Te Aro

    Eating at Logan Brown feels like eating a five star meal at your best friend's place.

  • Cafe

    Enigma

    128 Courtenay Place, Te Aro

    Goliath-sized burgers and laid-back staff make Enigma a great late night haunt.

  • Restaurant

    Mt Vic Chippery

    5 Marjoribanks Street, Wellington

    Fish and chips never looked this good.

  • Bar

    Monterey

    4 Rintoul Street

    A bar for the aspiring Van Gogh, or those who just like a good burger.

  • Cafe

    Gipsy Kitchen Delicatessen

    4 Glamis Avenue

    Accurately self-described as "a special wee diddy, tucked away and ready for you to discover".

  • News

    Ten Outdoor Accessories to Make Your Next Camping Trip the Ultimate

    Summer is here, which means that it's time to leave the den. Might as well do it in style.

  • Cafe

    Fidel’s Cafe

    234 Cuba Street, Wellington

    Cuba Street's Cuban icon.

  • Cafe

    Scopa

    141 Cuba Street, Wellington

    They're known for their pizza, but this is only the tip of the menu iceberg.

  • Cafe

    Six Barrel Soda Co.- CLOSED

    Level 1, 33-35 Dixon Street

    As refreshing as the soda they pump out.

  • Restaurant

    The Crab Shack

    Queens Wharf, Wellington

    Like transporting yourself to Cape Cod.

  • Cafe

    Sweet Mother's Kitchen

    5 Courtenay Place, Wellington

    New Orleans staples fused with Mexican snack food.

  • Cafe

    Floraditas Cafe and Restaurant

    161 Cuba Street, Wellington

    If porridge is your thing, you’ll love Floraditas.

  • Restaurant

    Tommy Millions

    Cnr Courtenay Place And Taranaki Street, Wellington

    Big fans of Tommy.

  • Cafe

    Flight Coffee Hangar

    171-177 Willis Street, Wellington

    A big open space which you can fly in and out of (pun obviously intended) for your morning fix.

  • News

    The Ten Best Swings Ever

    Things have come a long way since your ma or pa tied a threadbare rope to a used tyre.

  • News

    Ten Film-Inspired Luxury Getaways

    We've reviewed the new releases and flipped through the DVD cabinet to bring you ten jaw-dropping locations.

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