Child of the Planet

Yep, another venue that lives up a flight of stairs. Recently refurbished with a series of booths along the Wall and a long padded seat up against the rear window. Triple cooked chips Really getting irritated with eateries posting these tasty treats on the menu, but not getting the prep right. Instead of chunky lengths of crunchy with soft center potato, I was served up a bowl of limp potato strings. It's the only place I've found where I can drink  Eve's-cider  and they served up a potent Long Island Iced Tea. Entertainment Both times I've visited this joint, it's been to see a night of comedy. Comedy can be a hard thing so I tend to want to give the comedian a sympathetic ear, but I've decided I'm pretty board with sexiest or raciest humour unless it's of an insanely high level of talent. Prefer comedians that tell a story. There was one Dutch comedian whose act consisted of an involved story that climaxed with him having a shit in a canal...

Drunken Pirates Tropical Grog Jazz inspired lounge bar, Highly recommended if you visit Wellington! I'm not really a fan of generic parquetry floors and stainless steel type bars that seem to be in Vogue these days. A bit of character is much more of a draw for me and the Library bar has character 'in spades'. It's one of my favorite hangouts in Wellington. Just like the Mighty Mighty , the Library is hidden away up a flight of stairs. It's quite hard to spot the entrance which give the establishment a 'speak easy' feel. Male toilets are situated just outside the front door, so you can spruce up before making an entrance. Split into sections. The main bar lounge, a set of slightly cramped cubicles, and a function area which overlooks the streets below and sports a bathtub. Drinks are great but the food is a bit pricey for the size of the servings. But The library all about drinking and socialising in a cosy cloister. Not about food

Bulletin board outside the toilets Located near the top of Cuba street, this modern pub (what I label as a 'parquetry floor and stainless steel' type) makes an big effort to bring punters in through the door... Beer garden Free sausage sizzle on Sunday Live music ... and plays host to several local Meetup groups such as... Adventure Wellington Creative Young Professionals This venue will try anything to get warm bodies in through the door. One rainy Sunday afternoon I was meeting some folk here and discovered that a large chunk of the floorspace had been transformed into a children's creche. A wide variety of perching points such as couches, stools, bench tables, and  featuring a 360 gas fire. Friendly staff in a inoffensive environment. 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro, Wellington Monday - Fridays 8am - Late Weekends 9am - Late http://www.thecross.co.nz/ View Larger Map

Scrap yards have always interested me so I loved this outdoor art gallery of rusty iron and stone work. There is the connivance of free 'on site' parking and a bus stop right out the front, which is handy as it's a bit 'off the beaten track'. Iron sculptures, bright orange under a coat of rust lurking on the side of the road give you an early warning that you're arriving at Carlucciland The property is crammed full of strange creatures and constructions fashioned from metal, stone, and wood. Exploring and discovering is the joy of this out door gallery. While you're there, make sure you visit the mirror-ball bathroom. Mini Golf It's hard to tell where the gallery finishes and the mini golf park starts. Rent a ball-putter combo, and venture out onto the coarse which hugs the hill side. Ph: 04 383 7054 or 04 971 8618 (after hours) Fax 04 971 8618 281 Happy Valley Road Happy Valley, Wellington www.carlucciland.co.nz

Napier is known as New Zealand's Art Deco center. I've discovered that the Hutt Valley of Wellington city, also has many great examples of Art Deco buildings. These buildings are all constructed out of brick and concrete, so I reckon we need a record these examples of architecture before the next big quake knocks them all down Move around map below and examine the photos... View Deco in the Hutt in a larger map

Brilliant location, makes up for barely acceptable food. I had a bacon fajita and a Monteith's cider. Laid back beach shack style ambiance inside. Sun splashed balcony outside. Great view of the snow topped mountains of the South Island far off on the other side of Cook Straight.

Martinborough is a trendy 'sea change' rural sort of community, situated close enough to the city that the urbane can visit for a weekend of sanitised country living. I had a really nice lunch of tasty Moroccan lamb, threaded with shreds of lemon peel, and   a tender tabbouleh 'side'. The walls are covered with old surfing photos taken by a friend of the owner in Byron Bay, Australia. It feels like we are enjoying our food next to a beach somewhere in Oz, rather then out in the middle of rural Wairarapa. Cool Change Bar & Eatery 8 Memorial Square MARTINBOROUGH P: 06 306 9665 M: 021 966537 Jimmy or 021 966539 Karina E: coolc@coolc.co.nz Hours: Tuesday - Sunday ... Open from 4pm til late www.coolc.co.nz View Larger Map

Wellington is choc full of great sculpture, just lying around in the streets... www.sculpture.org.nz