Wellington Cable Car
Ride Wellington's historic red cable car for iconic city views and direct access to the beautiful Botanic Garden.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Fewer crowds, better photos
Wellington Cable Car
Best Time
Fewer crowds, better photos
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Ride Wellington's historic red cable car for iconic city views and direct access to the beautiful Botanic Garden.
"An absolute Wellington essential, delivering stunning views and seamless access to the Botanic Garden."
🎟️ Skip the Line
Buy tickets online or use a Snapper card to bypass the longest queues.
🚶♀️ Walk Downhill
Ride up and enjoy a scenic walk through the Botanic Garden back to the city.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Panoramic City Views
Ascending the hillside
Breathtaking vistas of Wellington city, harbor, and hills unfold as you climb. Perfect for photos!
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Wellington Botanic Garden
Top station
Step directly into lush trails, rose gardens, and unique attractions like Space Place.
Cable Car Museum
Top station
Discover the history of this iconic Wellington transport with free entry and interesting exhibits.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Beat the Crowds & Save
Combine with Gardens
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🎟️ Skip the Line
Buy tickets online or use a Snapper card to bypass the longest queues.
🚶♀️ Walk Downhill
Ride up and enjoy a scenic walk through the Botanic Garden back to the city.
📸 Best Views Downhill
Try to snag a forward-facing window seat for the best city vistas on the descent.
☔ All-Weather Activity
A covered ride, perfect for Wellington's famously changeable weather.
Tips
from all over the internet
🎟️ Skip the Line
Buy tickets online or use a Snapper card to bypass the longest queues.
🚶♀️ Walk Downhill
Ride up and enjoy a scenic walk through the Botanic Garden back to the city.
📸 Best Views Downhill
Try to snag a forward-facing window seat for the best city vistas on the descent.
☔ All-Weather Activity
A covered ride, perfect for Wellington's famously changeable weather.
💡 Visit the Museum
Don't miss the free Cable Car Museum at the top station for a dose of history.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Visitors consistently praise the Wellington Cable Car as an essential Wellington experience, highlighting its iconic status, stunning panoramic views, and seamless access to the beautiful Botanic Garden. The free museum is a bonus, and many recommend walking down through the gardens. Some reviewers noted that staff could be friendlier, and a few found the top station lacking in activities beyond the gardens.
"An Absolute Wellington Essential Iconic Views & Easy Access!
No trip to Wellington is complete without riding the iconic Cable Car! It’s a charming, efficient, and quintessential Wellington experience that delivered exactly what we hoped for: stunning views and seamless access to the Botanic Garden.
The journey itself is delightful. Boarding at the historic Lambton Quay station (easy to find!), the bright red car smoothly ascends through the cool hillside tunnel before bursting out to reveal breathtaking panoramic views over the city, harbour, and surrounding hills. It’s a short ride (approx. 5 minutes), but the vistas unfolding as you climb are genuinely special. We loved spotting landmarks like the Beehive and Te Papa from above. Great photo ops throughout!
The top station is more than just a viewpoint. It houses a small but interesting Cable Car Museum(free entry!) detailing the history, which we enjoyed. The real bonus? You step out directly into the stunning Wellington Botanic Garden.It’s the perfect starting point for exploring the lush trails, Lady Norwood Rose Garden, Peace Garden, and Space Place observatory (tickets required). You can easily spend hours wandering down.
Key Tips for Visitors:
Frequency:Runs every 10 minutes, very reliable. Check latest times online.
Tickets:Use the Snapper card (common on Wellington buses) for the cheapest fare, or buy a single/return ticket at the station. Consider a combo ticket with Space Place if interested.
Best Seats: For the best views downhill, try to get a forward-facing window seat.
All-Weather Fun:A perfect activity even on wet or windy Wellington days (it's covered!).
Walking Back:Many people ride up and enjoy a scenic walk down through the gardens highly recommended!
Accessibility: Modern cars and stations are wheelchair accessible.
The Wellington Cable Car is efficient, scenic, historically charming, and the perfect gateway to the beautiful Botanic Garden. It offers incredible value and iconic views packed into a short, enjoyable ride. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local showing friends around, it's an absolute must-do and earns its status as a top attraction. 5 stars! A highlight of our Wellington visit."
Joanne Lim
"It was a shite day weather wise but who cares when you have such a lovely visual experience going through the tunnel. The views were spectacular from the top. Beloved the museum/shop also.
Staff might want to smile and be a little friendly. 😃"
Catherine Anderson
"Whether you're going up or down or both. Great way to get into the city from the botanical gardens, can purchase your ticket from there. Very in expensive.
Amazing museum at the botanical gardens. Toilet facilities, coffee shop and pharmacy as well History of perfume at nearby store.
Great views from the botanical gardens over looking wellington city and surrounds.
Worth it."
Michelle Papman
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
The main boarding station is conveniently located at Lambton Quay in Wellington Central. It's easily accessible on foot from most city hotels and attractions.
Parking in Wellington Central can be challenging and expensive. It's recommended to use public transport or walk to the Lambton Quay station.
Yes, you can purchase tickets at the Kelburn Cable Car Station at the top and ride down through the gardens.
Most visitors walk to the Lambton Quay station. If coming from further afield, local buses are a good option.
Absolutely! The Lambton Quay station is in the heart of the city, served by numerous bus routes.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
Ticket prices vary for single and return journeys. Using a Snapper card offers the cheapest fare. Check the official website for current pricing.
Tickets can be purchased at the Lambton Quay station, the Kelburn station, or online in advance.
Using a Snapper card is the most common way to get a discounted fare. Combo tickets with attractions like Space Place may also be available.
The Cable Car typically operates daily, but hours can vary seasonally. It's best to check the official website for the most up-to-date opening times.
While not always mandatory, booking online in advance can save time, especially during busy periods or cruise ship days.
🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience
The journey is a quick and scenic 5-minute ride, offering continuous views as you ascend.
At the top, you'll find the Wellington Botanic Garden, the Cable Car Museum, and access to Space Place.
Yes, the modern cars and stations are designed to be wheelchair accessible.
Absolutely! The ride offers fantastic opportunities for photos of the city and harbor.
The museum is a small but interesting free exhibit detailing the history of the Wellington Cable Car.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
While there isn't extensive dining at the top station itself, there are cafes and restaurants at the bottom station on Lambton Quay and within the Botanic Garden.
Yes, there's a coffee shop located at the top station, near the Botanic Garden entrance.
There isn't a full-service restaurant at the top, but you can find cafes and snack options.
📸 📸 Photography
The entire ride offers great photo opportunities. For the best city views, aim for a window seat on the descent.
Yes, you can take photos from inside the car, capturing the journey and the views.
Late afternoons often provide beautiful golden hour light for cityscapes. Weekday mornings can offer clearer shots with fewer people.
The area around the top station, especially the entrance to the Botanic Garden, offers scenic backdrops.
A smartphone camera is perfectly adequate for capturing the views. If you have a camera with a good zoom, you can capture details of the city.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Consider combining your visit with Space Place, the science center located at the top, for an educational and engaging experience. The Cable Car Museum is also a hit with younger visitors, offering a glimpse into the history of this unique transport. Remember to bring snacks and drinks, as options at the very top are limited to cafes.
🚶 Budget Travelers
To save on fares, utilize a Snapper card for the cheapest rates. If you're not planning on using public transport extensively, a return ticket might be more cost-effective than buying two single tickets. Look out for any potential combo deals that might include other attractions.
couples
Consider visiting the Fragrifert perfumery at the top of the cable car for a unique and fragrant experience, as highlighted by some visitors.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
A Ride Through History
+1Today, the Cable Car offers a nostalgic journey that connects Lambton Quay with the Wellington Botanic Garden at Kelburn. The ride itself is a brief but memorable experience, providing stunning panoramic views of the city, the harbor, and beyond. It's a testament to Wellington's ability to blend its historical infrastructure with modern-day appeal, making it a must-do for visitors seeking a quintessential Wellington experience.
Inside the cars, you'll find information about the history, and at the top station, the Cable Car Museum offers a deeper dive into its past. This free museum showcases original equipment and tells the story of how the funicular has served Wellingtonians for over a century. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the city’s development and the enduring charm of this unique mode of transport.
Exploring the Botanic Garden
Visitors can spend hours wandering through the garden's many paths, discovering hidden glades, and enjoying the seasonal blooms. The garden also houses Space Place, an interactive science center and planetarium, which can be accessed with a separate ticket, making it a great option for families or science enthusiasts.
Many visitors choose to walk back down through the gardens to the city center. This offers a more leisurely way to experience the landscape, with numerous scenic viewpoints and points of interest along the way. It’s a highly recommended way to extend your visit and appreciate the natural beauty that Wellington has to offer, all accessible from the top of the Cable Car.
Practicalities: Tickets & Times
For those arriving during busy periods, such as cruise ship days, lines can become quite long. Pre-purchasing tickets online or having your Snapper card ready can significantly reduce your waiting time. The ticket purchasing line on the left at Lambton Quay is usually the longest, so head to the right if you already have your ticket or card.
The Wellington Cable Car operates on a regular schedule, typically running every 10 minutes. However, operating hours can vary depending on the season and day of the week. It's always advisable to check the official Wellington Cable Car website for the most current timetable and any potential service updates before your visit.
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