One of the first things that happened when I moved to Pōneke in 2015 was the Big Egg Hunt. From March to April 2015 100 giant eggs were hidden around Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, with the eggs being auctioned off to fundraise for Starship at the end of the quest.

I think this one was in the foyer of the Wellington Central Library? Long may it reign.

I love a little quest, and I loved a little quest back then.

Though the giant eggs do not remain, I took part in another egg quest this year – Wellington Chocolate Factory’s Easter Egg Hunt, which is a madcap dash around the Cuba Quarter to several hidden locations (on now until the 17th of April, but not on Good Friday).

In 2025, I’m doing ten things to celebrate living in Pōneke for ten years. There’ll be stories. Pics. Nonsense. Check out the series here.

#3 – Sometimes you just gotta hunt down some eggs.

The 2015 egg hunt was wonderful as it dragged me kicking and screaming out of my comfort zone, and brought me to a bunch of places in the city I’d never been before.

I vaguely remember one day where me and my best friend since kindergarten walked up the hill from uni to ‘capture’ the egg in Space Place – to be thwarted by the fact that Space Place wasn’t open that day. We swore to come back – and I’ve not been there since. These days, we don’t talk. I’m sure she’s well, but sometimes you just can’t keep a conversation going via distance.

The Space Place egg from 2015.

2025’s egg hunt starts from Iko Iko on Cuba Street, where I buy some stickers and pick up an egg hunt card. I feel morally weird about not buying anything from the retail locations I’ll end up in, which, as I’ll soon discover, is a terrible omen for my bank balance.

Cuba Street – what a place. Two days ago a comedian I know was folding a fitted sheet there and drew quite a crowd. Today it’s free ice cream day at Ben & Jerry’s and a line stretches all the way down the pavement.

During my last egg hunt I definitely hadn’t performed live theatre on Cuba Street with a broken leg, but these days I have. I hope to bring that show back, actually – street theatre is a joy you simply can’t understand ’til you’ve done it.

DETECTED! 2021. Photography by Chris Hobbs.

In the interests of not spoiling the Wellington Egg Hunt, I’ll obscure the details of where I actually ended up going for you. The hunt takes you around the Cuba Quarter and slightly further afield. I did it in just over an hour, but I was on an escooter for a chunk of it, and it’ll take longer if you linger in certain retailers.

An egg, from 2015, in Begonia House.

Eggs are on the mind as I walk. I think of this one, from 2015, which was at Begonia House – a place which has become surprisingly controversial of late.

There were giant eggs in Capital E, the Wellington Central Library, and many, many retailers that have since shut all across the city. It’s kinda funny. Out of the 20+ photos I took, only a few of those places still exist.

It’s not like I’m expecting a city to not change after ten years, but it’s still something to think about.

But back in 2025, I’m still egg hunting. I stop for a sweet treat and to get Clue #2, and head off on a scooter to a place I presumed would be easy to find, but instead I have to dip into two retailers until I find the final location, which is high up above the central street and a place I had no idea even existed.

Though, I suppose that’s the point of the egg hunt.

This egg was at the top of the cable car in 2015! Only went to the cable car museum for the first time last year.

Clue #3 is an easy solve, though in a place that’s not so easy for me to park my scooter in. I wander around the retailer for a bit, marveling – it’s another place I’ve never been into, and it’s huge. You’d never know from the street.

Cue #4 makes my heart sink, as I fear I’m going to have to spend money at a certain local retailer who’s got deigns on the mayoralty (you don’t have to spend money at these places, but it’s the thing of the thing) but fortunately I misread the clue and instead find myself at a lovely little iced treats place I’ve never heard of before, down a certain side street.

They give me Clue #5 and I’m off, immediately certain of where this quest will end. It’s another place I’ve never been, despite having sampled their wares, and I’m greeted behind the desk by someone I know, which is nice!

The ending prize for the Egg Hunt is well-worth my time spent doing it, and I leave the retailer, feeling remarkably pleased with myself, and with my mum’s Mother’s Day gift sussed several weeks out.

Little quests like this really open the city up for a person like me. I’m very one with my routines, and it takes a lot for me to try new things.

Having a reason to go places opens the world up more, and I’m really pleased I got to explore this city via the onus of doing a quest. Being down on the street and actively walking around, rather than bee-lining from A to B like I so often do brought me out of my head and I began noticing things. Certain graffiti art on the walls. Little restaurants I’ve only heard of by name. Pedestrians and fashion and art.

This year’s Egg Hunt cards.

Our city has its foibles, and I feel them every day, but we’re so privileged to live here. There’s so few places that have the vibrancy of Cuba Street, the personality, and the people. I feel very warmed in my heart today.

Ten years ago I found my way via an egg quest, and ten years later I’ve done it again. What an Eastery delight.

The Wellington Egg Hunt is on until 17 April. Learn more here.