Australian Gourmet Traveller - (03)March 2019 (1)

GOURMET TRAVELLER 143

PHOTOGRAPHY BEN HANSEN.

EAT

DRINK

Ortega Fish Shack & BarAtasteof

terroir, aquatic-style. Decorated with a

giant fibreglass marlin and fishing-buoy

lights, this fine-diner in casual clobber

celebrates the bounty of New Zealand’s

waters. Te Matuku oysters, Bream Bay

scallops and a parade of local fish such

as tarakihi and warehou are treated with

reverence, and gastronomic landlubbers can

tuck into a celebrated version of steak frites.

16 Majoribanks St, Mount Victoria, ortega.co.nz

SHOP

The intersection of Cuba and Ghuznee

streetsisthecity’saxisofhip,whereindie

boutiques sell unique fashion, accessories

and homewares.Precinct 35(precinct35.

co.nz) features one-off ceramics and objets

d’art;Deadly Ponies(deadlyponies.com;

pictured) has a cult following for its leather

bags and wallets; andHunters and

Collectors(huntersandcollectors.net.nz)

is vintage-fashion heaven.

Craft beer breweryGarage Project

(garageproject.co.nz; above) is on

amissiontoexpanddrinkers’horizons.

Sample free tastings from eight taps of

unusual brews, such as chilli-chocolate

lager, or settle in for a pint at the Taproom

across the road. There’s fierce competition

for the city’s best coffee, butMilk Crate

(milkcrate.co.nz)onGhuzneeStreetisahot

contender – don’t miss their gluten-free

peanut butter and raspberry cakes.

Street artWellington’s art scene is access-all-

areas. Creative highlights of a city stroll include

artist Xoë Hall’s mural of David Bowie on Ghuznee

Street (above); a protest against shark finning on

Cable Street’s Shark Wall; and Wharehoka Smith’s

Jervois Quay mural that draws on Maori design.

It’s also worth popping indoors to Toi Art, the new

gallery within the Museum of New Zealand Te

Papa Tongarewa (tepapa.govt.nz); the new space

exhibits key works from the national art collection

and contemporary New Zealand artists.

Oriental Bay boatshedsThe white and

blue painted wooden sheds lining the inlet

of Oriental Bay are one of Wellington’s

most recognisable landmarks, and the

neo-gothic grandeur of St Gerard’s Church

and Monastery crowning the hill above makes

the scene pure Instagram bait. Sometimes

dubbed the “Wellington Riviera”, Oriental

Bayalsoofferstheclosestbeachesto

centralWellington,andisblessedwith

calm, family-friendly conditions.

QT Wellington has opened 25 rooms in its new Gallery 4, located on the fourth floor.

Each room is lavishly decorated by a roster of New Zealand artists, including Angus

Muir, D Side and Johnson Witehira. 90 Cable St, Te Aro, qthotelsandresorts.com

SEE

Don’t

miss

Chef Monique Fiso delves deep into Maori

cooking techniques and native ingredients

(pictured) atHiakai, featuring the likes of

a granita of the indigenous herb horopito

atop local oysters, and mamaku fronds

as petits fours. hiakai.co.nz