Day 107 Wellington (Waitangi Day, Ta Papa Museum)

I checked out the civic centre area in Wellington today with its excellant street sculpture including this floating steel sphere...how do they do that?

It seemed uncannily quiet as I drove into Wellington and I was surprised how easy it was to find a parking spot when the Lonely Planet had said it was difficult. It then dawned on me is a national holiday today to commerate the treaty between the British Crown and the Maori leaders back in 1840 which is still in dispute today over its meaning.

So what better day to visit the incredible Ta Papa Museum of New Zealand to learn a bit more about it. I left more confused over the treaty (probably why its under dispute) but the museum was a credit to the Country. I liked the room of a house that simulates an earthquake by shaking you all about and also all the displays about the earths tectonic plates and volcanoes. New Zealand sits right on the Australia and Pacific plate join and thats why its had over eighteen earthquakes/eruptions in the last hundred years.

After the city gallery I took the short journey on the cable car to the botanic gardens and the observatories unusual interactive sundial. You stand on the dial with your back to the sun and hold your arms up. The shadow then casts onto the correct timestone. These people proved it and appreciated my comment its too heavy to carry and much easier to wear a watch.

A busy day and off back to the campsite to in wait for another visit tomorrow to Wellington so I could research my Australia and Southeast Asia trips i.e pick the brains off the excellant STA travel agents. Lets face it these countries are just too big for me to just wander in with the hands in the pockets going where to now then?