Wellington Franchisee

ABOUT WELLINGTON

Wellington is a bustling, cosmopolitan city, with a population of around 217,000. For two years running in 2017 and 2018, Wellington was named the most liveable global city by Deutsche Bank. Wellington has a thriving cultural scene, top-class dining options, a renowned wine and craft beer industry and stunning rural scenery close to the city. The area has 497km of coastline and 363km of mountain bike and walking tracks around the city.

There are over 80 primary and high schools in Wellington and tertiary options include the Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec), Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, University of Otago Wellington and Te Auaha – home of the arts and creative programmes of Whitireia and WelTec.

Wellington has a median house price of $809,000 as at July 2022. Masterton District is the most affordable in the region at $645,000, while Wellington City is the most expensive at $935,000.

Kapiti Coast District’s median house price is $875,000, Lower Hutt City $692,000, Porirua City $900,000, South Wairarapa District $750,000, Upper Hutt City $775,000 respectively.

Hutt Valley

With around 3,000 hectares of parks, reserves, bush-clad hills, beaches, walkways and tracks, the Hutt Valley offers it all for both residents and day-trippers. Just 20 minutes from the Wellington CBD, Hutt Valley activities are endless.

The 115km Remutaka Cycle Trail takes riders along the Hutt River along a disused railway line, through to Wairarapa’s vineyards and along the rugged Wairarapa Coast. Lord of the Rings fans can go in search of filming locations – scenes from Rivendell, Helm’s Deep, Isengard and the River Anduin were all filmed in the area. The Staglands Wildlife Reserve in the Akatarawa Valley is a must-see for nature-lovers and families, featuring farmyard animals and native birds.

History buffs can visit the Petone Settlers Museum and discover the stories of the early Te Ati Awa Maori tribes and the first European pioneers, or Golder Cottage, built in 1876andfeaturing displays of relics commonly found in New Zealand households throughout the 1800s. At the Hetet Art Space in Waiwhetu, visitors can watch the master carvers and weavers at work, as well as their Maori art displays. In Lower Hutt, the Dowse Art Museum holds one of the largest public art collections in New Zealand.

Porirua

Just 20 minutes from Wellington, Porirua is a harbour city bordered by rolling hills that offers stunning hiking and biking trails, including the Rangituhi/Colonial Knob, a 1.7 km native bush walk with spectacular views at the top. Te Araroa, which is part of the national trail that stretches from Cape Reinga to Bluff, also runs through Porirua, as the Pukerua Bay to Paekakariki Escarpment Trail. Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour itself is a popular spot for windsurfing, water skiing and jet skiing.Porirua City is home to the lower North Island’s only outdoor adventure park – Adrenalin Forest, where you can take to the trees along pathways up to 31m off the ground or fly through the sky on a flying fox.

For art lovers, the Pātaka Art + Museum is a must-see, specialising in Maori and Pacific Island art.The Porirua Saturday Market is also a popular stop for residents and visitors alike and has a strong Polynesian and Asian flavour.