Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, sits near the north island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. It is a compact city that encompasses a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on the surrounding hills.

The hilly capital has an inordinately high number of incline lifts or personal cable cars. Some look like glass lifts and others resemble giant fiberglass buckets, but in Wellington cable cars snaking up suburban slopes are a common sight!