Visiting Government House.

On Tuesday our caravan club was very privileged in having a private tour of the Governor General’s House by the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Up early we were to drive the near one hundred kilometres to be there before 10.15am. We had to consider peak hour traffic but had enough time to check out our lunch venue before arriving.  We were all on time to meet up with our tour guide Owen  and had to wait at the gates for the Police Security Guard to open them for us.

Our entrance to the visitor centre , once the garage to the Governmental cars.

Heretaunga Caravan members in front of Government House.

The house was closed for 3 years in 2008 for major strengthening and refurbishing to bring it up to todays standard at a cost of over $40million.

Relaxing in the Conservatory.

Native Rimu Timbers in the Hallway

Maori Carving by the staircase.

The Levin ladies behind the Levin Chair. From Left, Dot, Jenny and Lorraine.

Anyone for dinner?

Beautiful Mosaic table of unknown origin.

Built between 1908 and 1910 the property consisting of nearly 12 hectares bordering Alexandra Park and the town belt below Mt Victoria on land that was previously Mt View Lunatic Asylum.

The remains of the wall to the Lunatic Asylum with early graffiti.

Early Graffiti.

The tours are free of charge and bookings can be made online or by phone. Information at www.gg.govt.nz/tours.

Tours can only be arranged when the Governor General (the Queens Representative in New Zealand) is not in residence.

We couldn't have picked a better day to visit as the tour had been organised months in advance.