Let’s Sketch Wellington – Friday 16, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 March 2018

Here is the programme for the weekend.  Looking forward to reconnecting with familiar sketchers and meeting new ones.

Please email to let us know if you will be attending (so we can adjust the meal bookings accordingly) or if you have any questions.

Friday evening drink and draw

6.30pm – 8.30pm The Hop Garden, 13 Pirie St, Mount Victoria (for those who wish and have arrived).

An opportunity for people to meet, have a drink/meal, and draw if they want.  (Informal table booked in the downstairs bar area)

Saturday morning – Cuba Street Sketch Walk

Sketching in and around Cuba Street/Mall, in the lane between Leeds and Eva Streets, Marion Street, Glover Park, funky shop/cafes/bars restaurants, restored villas and cottages on Tonks Grove, and heritage buildings on Cuba Street.

9.00am Meet at the Bucket Fountain in Cuba Street. The fountain is located in the Cuba Mall, the pedestrian section of Cuba Street, just south of Dixon Street.

9.00 – 10.30am Sketching in Cuba Mall vicinity.

Demo – Andrew James will be doing a demo sketch at around 9.00am. He will demonstrate his sketching style using pen, ink and watercolour and is happy to take questions.

10.30 – 11.00am Suggested cafe options for morning coffee and to regroup. These cafes are are located close together just off Cuba Street. They are not huge but all have inside and outside tables. Milk Crate has a large table inside.

• Milk Crate Cafe, 35 Ghuznee St
• Customs Cafe, 39 Ghuznee St
• Leeds St Bakery, 14 Leeds St

11.00 – 12.30pm Sketching in Upper Cuba Street vicinity, between Ghuznee and Able Smith Streets.

If people prefer less busy locations...Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is approx 15 minutes walk from the Bucket Fountain, Glover Park is nice, Tonks Grove has restored villas and cottages and will be less busy.

Art supply shops located near Cuba Street:

• Gordon Harris, 182 Vivian St 
• French Art Shop, 70 Ghuznee St

Saturday lunch

12.30pm Suggested options to meet for lunch in the Cuba Mall vicinity:

• Rogue and Vagabond, 18 Garrett St / Glover Park, just off Cuba Mall. They have a good craft beer selection, pizza, burgers, salad, snacks. If the weather is good it could be nice to sit on the grass area out front.
• Floriditas Cafe, 161 Cuba St
• Scopa Italian cafe, 141 Cuba St
• Midnight Espresso, 178 Cuba St
• Fidels Cafe, 234 Cuba St

Many other nearby cafes/restaurants nearby in Cuba Street.

Saturday afternoon – Oriental Bay Sketch Walk

Sketching along Oriental Parade, Chaffers Marina and iconic boat-sheds, Freyberg beach area and playground, grand old villas/apartment buildings, etc along Oriental Parade, Great views of the harbour and Mount Victoria.

2.00pm Meet outside the front entrance to Te Papa Museum, 55 Cable St.

2.00 – 3.30pm Sketching on the waterfront near Te Papa, Chaffers Marina / boatsheds vicinity.

3.30 – 3.45pm Optional meeting point. On the footpath in front of Freyburg Pool. There is hole in the wall cafe at the pool if coffee is needed.

3.45 – 5.30pm Sketching in Oriental Parade east of Freyberg Pool. Beach on one side and grand old villas on the other side.

Saturday evening

5.30pm Finish at Coene's Bar and Eatery, 103 Oriental Parade. Near the boatsheds.  (Table booked)

Sunday morning – Aro Valley Sketch Walk

Aro Valley is a colourful and vibrant inner-city suburb, within walking distance from the city centre. There are good options for sketching around Aro Street shops including cafes, Aro Park, colourful cottages and shops.

9.00am Meet in Aro Park.

9.00 – 10.30am Sketch in the vicinity of Aro Street shops.

10.30 – 10.45am Meeting point outside Aro Cafe, grab a coffee if required.

10.45 – 12.00pm Continue sketching in the vicinity of Aro Street shops and start making your way to The Bresolin for 12.00 am. There are interesting old villas to sketch along the way, including the Inverlochy Art School.

Sunday lunch

12.00pm Finish with lunch at The Bresolin, 278 Willis Street.  (Table booked in the covered courtyard)

Wet weather plan

If the weather is bad, check either the Urban Sketchers Wellington Facebook page or Urban Sketchers NZ blog to find out if we are switching to one of the wet weather alternatives. We will post this info at least one hour before the sketch walk start time.

The Cuba Street sketch walk will take place regardless of the weather. The footpaths are mostly covered in Cuba Street and there are plenty cafes to take shelter. The outside seating areas at the suggested morning coffee locations are all under cover.

Oriental Parade alternative –Te Papa Museum, 55 Cable St. Meet in the foyer at 9.00am. Entry is free. There are two cafes inside.

Aro Valley alternative – Wellington Museum, 3 Jervois Quay. Meet in the foyer at 9.00am. Entry is free. NZ Portrait Gallery is also nearby, 11 Customhouse Quay. There are covered areas and places to eat/sit at nearby Queens wharf. We will still meet at The Bresolin for lunch at 12.00pm.

Getting around

Wellington’s centre is compact and walkable. However it is easy to catch a bus if you don’t want to walk. Most bus routes travel from the railway station along Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street and Courtenay Place. Adult fares within the city centre are $2.00. Pay the driver when you enter the bus.

Aro Valley is walking distance from the city centre. To walk from Cuba Mall to Aro Street shops takes approx 15 minutes. Alternatively bus number 9 travels along Lambton Quay and Willis Street before turning into Aro Street. Adult fare from the city centre to Aro Street is $3.50.

Oriental Parade is walkable from the city centre, however it is also easy to get a bus. Bus numbers 14 and 24 travel along Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Manners Street, Courtenay Place then onto Oriental Parade.

Accommodation

There are many accommodation options in Wellington. Here are some options:

•  Trek Global Backpackers, 9 O'Reily Ave, Te Aro
• Worldwide Backpackers - BBH, 291 The Terrace, Te Aro
• Bay Plaza Hotel, 40-44 Oriental Parade
• Apollo Lodge Motel, 49 Majoribanks Street, Mount Victoria.
• Halswell Lodge, 21 Kent Terrace, Mount Victoria
• Victoria Court Motor Lodge, 201 Victoria Street, Te Aro 
• CQ Hotels Wellington, 213-223 Cuba Street, Te Aro
• Just Hotel Wellington, 166 Willis St, Te Aro