Wellington LUX

As if the dog walk didn’t already make my day, Andy and I went out  that night to Garage Project Brewery’s “Milk Bar,” which paired desserts with beer. Afterwards, we went to check out LUX. In its second year, the website describes it as “a free public light festival that turns Wellington’s waterfront and laneways into a captivating celebration of light, art, technology and design.”

What a surreal experience. I loved every minute of it and was so happy I had brought my camera along. We made it into a bar crawl too and stopped in at some different spots along the waterfront. The pictures really speak for themselves here, so the words will be brief.

Let’s start out with a giant kaleidoscope.

Loved this stairwell.

We followed the lights down an alleyway towards the waterfront.

This next one consisted of lights coordinated to fill in graffiti that was already on the wall, along with music.

Hidden gems were everywhere.

When we made it to the waterfront, we came upon a crystal forrest.

Wellington’s waterfront is already vibrant, so Lux only added to the beauty of it.

The lunchbox tree was up next. Who would’ve thought they could be so pretty?

We stopped to watch another light show that went along with music. It’s impossible to capture it all with a camera, so you’ll just have to take my word that it was incredible.

This next one was driven by a stationary bike that made the lights brighten and change colors when people rode it.

Even shipping cranes along the harbor were illuminated by color-changing lights.

Further along the waterfront, there was an interactive display where you could see yourself projected onto an overhead canopy.

Andy was up first.

Then me, in the middle.

We stopped for a drink before visiting the last couple installations.

We had to wait a few minutes for the next one to start, but we certainly weren’t let down. It was a video from Wellington’s Footnote Dance Studio projected onto mist over the harbor.

Creepy and otherworldly.

Here’s me on the left and Andy on the right. Very appropriate.

And last of all, some jellyfish.

Such an unforgettably cool experience, and not to mention free. We didn’t have a chance to stop for the glow-in-the-dark (radium?) ice cream, but I’m sure it tasted much the same.

Tomorrow, I fly down to Nelson (top of the South Island), and Andy and I will be driving out to Golden Bay to stay in a bach on the coast for three nights. I’m sure I’ll get at least a few blogs out of the adventures to come. Until then!