Fodor's Expert Review Civic Square

Wellington's Civic Square is reminiscent of an Italian piazza; its artwork, benches, lawns, and harbor viewpoints make it both a social hub and a delightful sanctuary from traffic. The City Gallery, the library, and the Town Hall concert venue are just steps apart. Architect Ian Athfield's steel sculptures of nikau palms are a marvel, and Māori artist Para Matchitt contributed the impressionistic sculptures flanking the wide wooden bridge that connects the square to the harbor. With its sweeping water views, this bridge is a popular place to enjoy a picnic or just sit down and dream.