Miramar Peninsula (A Local's Guide to Wellington)

Located very near the airport, Miramar Peninsula is accessible via 'the Cutting'. Below you can see a hill, beyond which is Miramar. What you can't see is that a big chunk has been cut out to allow a road to pass through. Quite a simple solution to a hilly city.

The Wellington sign has been a subject of some controversy, especially as it was originally suggested to read 'Wellywood'. Pretty much everyone hated that idea, and now we're left with an accurate  representation of Wellington being blown away in the wind.

They occasionally change the sign to reflect current events, such as when the W was swapped for a red V in honour of the release of 'What We Do in the Shadows', a film set in Vellington (as a vampire might say).

Since living in Miramar, there are a few places that have stood out. Knowing me, you might guess that they are places in which to eat (and you'd be correct).

Alamir's Bakery

This Lebanese kebab shop has delicious kebabs and also sell their own bread and other foodstuffs. I usually get the falafel kebab, but the Shish Tawook deserves a mention (a chicken kebab, but be warned that you will have garlic breath for three days after you eat one). I would share a photo, but kebabs and kebab shops are rarely photogenic. As my mum says: the messier it is, the better it tastes!

La Boca Loca

Speaking of messy, that's how Mexican food should be. At this tacqueria, you are served fresh food that is packed full of flavour. Here, they provide refried beans made the proper way, "with lard" as my dad puts it. 

Their decor is almost as colourful as the food!

If you're anything like me, sometimes all you want is queso, queso and more queso. Their starter of four types of cheese melted together is arguably the most satisfying of comfort foods.

Merkato

Granted this is not a great photo, it needs to be shown as this tiramisu is amazing. In my list of tiramisus of Wellington, this one is a contender for Scopa. And what's even better is that they come in handy takeaway pottles so if you get full, you can save it for later. It's not fine dining, just great simple Italian lunch fare. I'll also recommend the pizza al taglio and the meatball sub. 

Cafe Polo

I was lucky enough to come here at Easter time and tried their hot cross buns. Super sticky and fruity, I  became jealous that I had not ordered it and kept stealing nibbles from Yannick's plate. He also had the doughnut. 

But what I did order was excellent as well - toasted banana bread with vanilla mascarpone and poached plums.

The Weta Cave

Moving away from food, the Weta Cave showcases some poignant props and costumes from films produced by Weta Digital and Weta Workshop. You can see swords and armour from the Lord of the Rings, and even grotesque puppets from Peter Jackson's earlier gore films. 

Outside shows a familiar scene - the trolls that turn to stone at the touch of daylight. 

As I live a ten minute walk from the Weta Cave, I thought that getting this photo would be the perfect opportunity to test out my backpack that I'll be sporting on our upcoming trip. Having completed my second test pack the night before, I donned the backpack and set off. As it was Easter Monday and I had the day off, I felt confident that the Weta Cave would be closed and there would be no one around the trolls to spoil my picture. This did not turn out to be the case. People everywhere. Children, children's parents, tourists, tourist children, you get the idea. So I did what anyone would do in the situation - I went home. This may have looked a little odd to the people clustered around, as in their eyes, a fellow tourist with telltale backpack walked up to the attraction, saw them and then turned right around and left the way she had come. 

At home, I consulted my best friend the internet for advice. It told me that the Weta Cave closed that day at 5:30pm. I returned after that time (without backpack) and got a nice photo without anyone in the way. The things I do for this blog! That's a forty minute walk altogether, that is. 

You can follow the road most of the way around the coast of the peninsula, which is a pleasant drive that provides beautiful sea views. 

In Seatoun, (on the south end of the peninsula) we came across Franco's Trattoria, which had taken over from a nice little cafe which specialised in paninis.

I have to admit that I hoped the food would be better. It was average, and with all the other great italian food around, I probably won't be back. 

Scorching Bay is a tiny beach that is always crammed with people on fine days. The bay's position means that it is buffeted by slightly less wind than many other spots in Wellington, and it's also one of a small number of beaches close to the city. Lyall Bay is larger, but less sheltered and known for its surf. If all you want to do is lie in the sun and maybe go for a swim, you can try your luck at finding a carpark here. 

The bay's cafe, Scorch-o-Rama, makes customisable milkshakes where you chose the syrup, ice cream, chocolate bar, and a shot of liquor (if you're so inclined) to be blended together. I often go for a caramel, chocolate and Crunchie Bar combo. Maybe an ice cold beer is more your style, but for me there's no better way to cool down on a scorching hot beach.