Cuba Street, Wellington (must see)
Cuba Street is a major city street and one of the best known streets in Wellington. It is often thought of as the cultural center of the city. The street and its surrounding area offer numerous music venues, bookshops, record shops, restaurants and cafes.
Cuba street runs from Te Ngakau Civic Square to Webb Street. It is fully pedestrian between Ghuznee and Manners Streets. Cuba Street was originally a street full of basic homes that evolved over time. The historic buildings, built in the 19th and 20th centuries, are in Edwardian and Art Deco styles.
The street was developed when the land was colonized. It was named for the settler ship, the Cuba, which arrived at the harbor in 1840. It was named by Captain William Mein Smith, the first Surveyor General.
In the 1970s and 1980s, a portion of Cuba Street was in the city's red-light district. Peep shows, strip clubs and gay bars populated the street. There were also numerous street prostitutes in the area. New Zealand's most famous drag queen and activist, Carmen Rupe, ran a coffee lounge in the red light district. Her likeness is now on pedestrian light signals in the four intersections along Cuba Street.
Cuba Street was registered as a historic area in 1995. It has over 40 buildings that are deemed to be historically significant. Two of these buildings include the Bank of New Zealand Building and the National Bank Building.
Today, you will find shopping, dining and plenty of art on Cuba Street. You will also find public art, like the Bucket Fountain, which is located on Cuba Street's Commonwealth Walkway.
Cuba street runs from Te Ngakau Civic Square to Webb Street. It is fully pedestrian between Ghuznee and Manners Streets. Cuba Street was originally a street full of basic homes that evolved over time. The historic buildings, built in the 19th and 20th centuries, are in Edwardian and Art Deco styles.
The street was developed when the land was colonized. It was named for the settler ship, the Cuba, which arrived at the harbor in 1840. It was named by Captain William Mein Smith, the first Surveyor General.
In the 1970s and 1980s, a portion of Cuba Street was in the city's red-light district. Peep shows, strip clubs and gay bars populated the street. There were also numerous street prostitutes in the area. New Zealand's most famous drag queen and activist, Carmen Rupe, ran a coffee lounge in the red light district. Her likeness is now on pedestrian light signals in the four intersections along Cuba Street.
Cuba Street was registered as a historic area in 1995. It has over 40 buildings that are deemed to be historically significant. Two of these buildings include the Bank of New Zealand Building and the National Bank Building.
Today, you will find shopping, dining and plenty of art on Cuba Street. You will also find public art, like the Bucket Fountain, which is located on Cuba Street's Commonwealth Walkway.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Wellington. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Cuba Street on Map
Sight Name: Cuba Street
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Wellington, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Wellington
Creating your own self-guided walk in Wellington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
The first immigrants to New Zealand brought along their sense of style. Most of the country's first settlers, if not all of them, were Britishers; the capital city was no exception. The latter fact is duly reflected in Wellington's historical architecture. These buildings offer a glimpse into the city's past and add a great deal of charm to the cityscape. Let's take a quick... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Wellington Introduction Walking Tour
Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country's second-largest city after Auckland. It also has the distinction of being the world's windiest city by average wind speed.
The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles