书城外语英语PARTY——绿色花园之国·新西兰
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第3章 城市导航City Guide(1)

Wellington

港湾之乡——惠灵顿

惠灵顿是来新西兰旅行时不能错过的旅游目的地之一。

惠灵顿位于新西兰北岛的西南部,是新西兰的首都。惠灵顿的地理位置非常优越,三面环山,一面临海,拥有全国第二大海港。优越的地理位置为其发展奠定了基础,使其成为新西兰最现代化的大都市和全国政治、文化和经济中心。因其地势较高,依山傍水,紧靠库克海峡,常有海风侵袭。故惠灵顿又有“风都”之称,但刮风有一定的季节性,除了风季,并不是任何季节都刮风。

惠灵顿是一个充满活力的城市,有很多的购物商场、餐馆、剧院和娱乐场所及夜生活区。同时惠灵顿也是新西兰最着名的艺术之都,艺术生活和各类活动丰富多彩,全年有不断的节日和各种欢庆活动,如葡萄酒和食品节、龙舟节和国际艺术节等。惠灵顿还是新西兰最重要的港口之一,也是世界上难度最大的快艇比赛地。

惠灵顿可适合进行的户外活动项目很多,包括骑山地车、航海、帆伞、远足和其他更多的活动。

市区以外的地区,包括哈特山谷、普罗鲁阿市和帕拉帕拉乌姆都非常值得去游览一下。还有北部的塔拉鲁瓦山,是短途自然丛林散步和野营的最好去处。在这里可以一边远足跋涉,一边欣赏自然丛林的风景。如果您喜欢海岸和沙滩,在帕卡克凯和和帕拉帕拉乌姆之间就有适合游泳和冲浪的海滩。此外,惠灵顿的周边还有很多葡萄种植园和葡萄酒酿造场,到酒场去品尝淳美的葡萄酒是惠灵顿一个非常受欢迎的观光项目。

不仅如此,惠灵顿还是一个商业发达和商务活动很频繁的城市。这里还有很舒适的酒店和各种完善的基础设施,以确保来这里商务旅行和度假观光的客人在这里度过一段美妙、难忘的时光。

The capital city of New Zealand, WellingtonWellington n. 惠灵顿(新西兰首都) is situated on a splendidsplendid adj.壮丽的, 辉煌的, 极好的 harbour at the southern tip of the North Island. Wellington is a lively city of culture and arts with festivals almost every month and great ethnic restaurants and cafes. It is also home to the country,s government and national treasures. Buildings of interest include the modernist Beehive, the executive wing of Parliament, the old Government Building, (one of the largest allwooden buildings in the world), the National Library (housing the most comprehensivecomprehensive adj.全面的, 广泛的, 能充分理解的, 包容的 collection of books in the country), and the Katherine Mansfield Memorials (the property where the famous author was born in 1888). In addition, there are museums including the excellent Te Papa Museum, a zoo and stunning views of the city from the top of Mt Victoria. Cuba Street has great shopping, Thorndon has historic sites of interest, Lambton Quay is the primary business street and Mt Victoria is the place to go for accommodation and dining. The treetop walk at the Native Plant Museum is also worth the time. All in all there is a lot more to se and do in this city.

Since Wellington is pretty compact (good luck trying to find parking), the best way to explore the city center is on foot. The hilly terrainterrain n.地形 can make this a challenge, but the bus system and cable car help. The best place to start exploring the city from is the Civic Square. It,s at the heart of the city, and contains the Visitor Information Center where you can get all sorts of information on what,s happening and where things are. It,s also a great point of reference for managing trips around the city.

Civic Square

The new Civiccivic adj.市的, 市民的, 公民的 Square is situated squarely in the heart of the city. It is made up of an architecturally adventurousadventurous adj.喜欢冒险的, 敢做敢为的, 充满危险的 complex of buildings with a large public space in the center, and a bridge linking it to the waterfront and to Frank Kitts park.

The buildings surrounding the square are: the Michael Fowler centre, a circular building where concerts and performing arts are held . There is also the central library, the City Gallery, Capital Discovery Place (a science and technology museum for kids), the Council buildings and the Visitor Information Center.

The big public space in the middle of these buildings is a great place to hang out. You can see outside exhibits, street theatre, concerts, buskersbusker n.<英> (尤指伦敦街头)卖艺人(歌手或奏乐者), and there are cafes from which to view everything. The Square also contains some wild carvings and artwork (check out the giant metal palm trees). In midNovember the New Zealand Wine & Food Festival is held in the Square, where you can sample some of the best food and drink in the country.

The Civic Square is linked to Lambton Harbour by the Sea Bridge link. The bridge itself is worth visiting as its wonderfully crafted with Maori carving and artwork. The park provides a nice view of the harbour and hills,and is a good place to go to eat lunch and watch the sea.

The Beehive

The building housing the ministerialministerial adj.部的 offices is called the Beehive. The reason for the name is pretty obvious, although many Wellingtonians think that the building looks as much like an alien spaceship as it does a beehivebeehive n.蜂窝, 蜂箱.

It,s located near the railway station where Bowen Street meets Lambton Quay (it,s about 10 minutes walk from the Civic Square). In the debating chambers you can watch politicians discuss important matters of state, address crucialcrucial adj.至关紧要的 parliamentary issues, and occasionally witness some entertaining tizzyfits, petty tirades and childish outbursts. A great spectator sport used to be to spot the ones absently picking their noses or throwing darts around the building, but since the debates have begun being televised such behaviour has sadly become more closely guarded. Organized tours of the building are given each day.

If you are interested in watching some kiwi politicians in their native habitat, you might try strolling over to Backbenchers Pub, located near the corner of Molesworth St. and Sydney St. A common watering hole for politicians, this salubrious establishment has some interesting political cartoons, pictures, puppetspuppet n.傀儡, 木偶 and memorabilia on its walls. The fish and chip shop on Molesworth St. is also frequented by Beehive people, and does a pretty mean potato fritter. It is also located in a historic building, built in 1870.

The Cable Car & Botanical Gardens

There are cable cars that service private residences all over Wellington, since these make a handy way of getting up some of the steep terrain. The cable car on Lambton Quay has been hauling Wellingtonians up the steep, 610 meter incline to Kelburn since 1902, and is one of the few such vehicles left in the world. Lots of people use it to get to and from work.

The cable car provides some of the best views of the city, and you can ride it up past Victoria University to the Botanical Gardens. From both stops you can get a great view of the landscapelandscape n.风景, 山水画, 地形, 前景 v.美化 below.