1. Take some time to enjoy the seasonal changes
Spending time in nature is great for our health and wellbeing. Why not head to one of our beautiful gardens. While out and about, look out for the dramatic changes to deciduous tree appearances over the next month or two. Noticing the change in leaf colour can be very rewarding. And don’t forget the cool wildlife you can spot on trees including native birds, stick insects and weta.
2. Plant a vegetable garden!
It's time to plant your winter veg. Growing your own vegetables and fruits is a great way to save money, eat healthily, reduce carbon emissions, and it's something the whole whānau can do. Check out our tips to get you started. And it can’t hurt to try growing from seed – gardening is all about experimentation. Some general rules are: remove seeds from fruit or husk before sowing, and sow them relative to their size. You can save seeds from your garden or pantry. Tomatoes, capsicum, beans, peas and pumpkins work well!
3. Listen out for kauri cones exploding
Did you know that kauri cones explode when they are ready? They make a crack/bang noise and the winged seed is blown away in the wind. Why not visit Otari-Wilton's Bush, where the team is currently working on kauri seed collection, and listen out for the bursts!
4. Photograph our beautiful city
Get creative using your old-school film camera, your digital camera, or even your phone, and appreciate nature through the lens. Wellington has heaps of stunning views, colourful characters, and artistic scenes. Why not capture some of them, and enter the Capital Magazine's Capital Photographer of the Year competition. The competition celebrates Wellington and different aspects of the region with an aim to showcase local talent. It's free to enter. Entries close on 27 April.
5. Check out the glow worms
It's set to start getting darker earlier, so from Friday 9 April, there will be glow worm tours taking place at Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā. Find out more about Glow In the Dark Titiwai Tours here.
Watch out each Friday for a fun list of five great activities to do, places to explore, or things to discover in our great city.