The Summer Guide to Wellington

The spirit of summer is a celebration of what it means to be alive. We rediscover our joie de vivre with sandy toes, burnished skin, BBQs by the beach, and one too many daiquiris.

But with so much going on at this time of year it's hard to know where to begin, and what is supposed to be some well-deserved chill time can become a full-blown panic attack. So, what do you do when overwhelmed with options?

Welcome to the inaugural Concrete Playground Summer Guide, a comprehensive shortlist of the best this city has to oðer over the next three months, from rooftop bars to beaches to picnic spots to outdoor dining and much more. You'll never be without access to the best of everything, because the year's too long and summer's too short to waste time on the mediocre.

Now slap on your invisible zinc and get out there, blue skies wait for no one (and don't we know it). Summer, we salute you.

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FOOD & DRINK

Summer hasn't truly arrived until you've licked the salt off hot-chip fingers at the beach, dripped peach juice into the crook of your arm, breathed in smoky barbecues and clinked glasses over a sinking sun at one of the city's finest establishments. You've not a care in the world besides finding that new cabana bar and staying there.

View the Summer Food & Drink Guide

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The nights are long; savour them. Festivals call out for your dance moves, outdoor cinemas flicker invitingly in oasis-like parks, the circus comes to town and art galleries proffer the balm of air conditioning with their summer blockbusters. Whether you've got the hot ticket of the season or are meandering down to something free and loose, there's plenty to inspire.

View the Summer Arts & Entertainment Guide

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DESIGN & STYLE

Plimsolls, seersucker, gold leather sandals, Miami-neon swim shorts and crisp white cotton for miles. Forget layers; summer and style go hand in hand, and its greatest hits are never disposable. Mindfulness is the accessory you need to see summer's real possibilities — in community solar projects, rooftop beehives, pocket gardens and life-enhancing tech.

View the Summer Design & Style Guide

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TRAVEL & LEISURE

You can pack your suitcase for a sybaritic resort holiday. You can pack the car boot for a day away from the city. You can pack your picnic basket for a lunchtime escape, or pack your bag for a winding jog along the coastal track less travelled by. But you cannot stay parked on the couch and miss the adventures, and when someone says 'so what did you do over summer?' answer blankly.

View the Summer Travel & Leisure Guide

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