We arrived in Wellington, the southern-most city on the north island of New Zealand. After a stressful travel day we really needed some down time so an afternoon nap was just perfect. As we headed out for dinner the streets in Wellington were a crazy clash of flags, music and revelers, as apparently Tonga and Australia both won their respective rugby matches and are playing each other for the Pacific Championship on Sunday!

It is a bit colder and grayer on Sunday, and we got lunch at St. John’s. St. John’s on a Sunday – we had to do it!

After lunch we walked along the harbor to the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. For a smaller city the size of Wellington the Te Papa (“our place” in Māori) is a phenomenal presentation of the Māori culture and the natural history of New Zealand.

Apparently a part of the Ineson clan emigrated from England to New Zealand around 1840 as we happened to discover at the museum…

The Te Papa museum also includes a Bush walk outside the building.

So there was no celebration parade tonight, so it seems that Tonga was not successful in their match against Australia (unfortunately Tonga lost 14-20 to Australia in Sydney).

Tomorrow morning we arrange for the rental car at the ferry terminal for a very short drive to load it onto the ferry for the 3-hour crossing of the Cook Strait to the South Island.