Advertisement
Wellington Cable Car

Wellington Cable Car

Wellington Cable Car
4.5
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The highlight to any visit to Wellington is a trip on Wellington Cable Car. In just 5 minutes you will reach the top of the Botanic Garden where panoramic views of the city and harbour are the reward. You can also visit the Space Place Observatory here. Before you head back down make sure to visit the Cable Car Museum (free entry), which provides a history of the city's symbolic mode of transport and see the original cars and winding machinery on display. There are walking tracks that start at the top of the Cable Car if you're keen on a stroll back to the city. The Cable Cars leave every 10 minutes and evry 15 minutes before 8pm.
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Wellington Cable Car

See what travelers are saying

  • MikeFo
    Brighton, United Kingdom1,097 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for a view or shuttle to Zealandia
    Cable car running up about 190m, has 2 stops en route, $6 single or $11 return, all very quaint. Good view from the top. You can also catch a free shuttle to Zealandia from here.
    Kia ora and thank you for your comment. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience on the Cable Car and the views at the end of the journey. Take care - Letetia :)
    Written January 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 10, 2023
  • mdh969
    Canberra, Australia1,039 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wellington Cable Car
    We took the cable car whilst in Wellington today. For $11 per person, it will take you to the top of the botanical gardens. You can also catch a free bus to Zealandia. This is well worth a visit if it is not raining. Well worth a visit if in Wellington.
    Kia ora and thank you for your comment. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience on the Cable Car and found the convenience of the free shuttle to Zealandia. Take care - Letetia :)
    Written January 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 7, 2023
  • Alan
    Berkhamsted, United Kingdom67 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must-see in Wellington.
    Visited the cable car & museum on a flying visit to Wellington and decided it was one of two things one must do in the N.Z. capital. The ride is charming and views from the top of the city are spectacular. Cafe at the summit is good value and there’s a nature walk, observatory and museum to see as well. All in all good value.
    Kia ora and thank you for your lovely comment. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience on the Cable Car and found great joy in all the attractions at the top of the hill. Take care - Letetia :)
    Written January 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 10, 2023
  • Paul Phillips
    Alloa, United Kingdom125 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent views for a cheap ride up
    This is a great way to get to the Botanical Gardens if you don’t like, or can’t, walk uphill. It costs NZD6 for a single fare and NZD11 for a return. If you wander through the gardens then you are already most of the way down so I’d recommend a single in most cases. The views are spectacular and you can get off at several different places to see other sights. Well worth the 10 minute wait between each car.
    Kia ora and thank you for your lovely comment. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your experience on the Cable Car and the walk through the gardens. Take care - Letetia :)
    Written January 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 14, 2023
  • Joel K
    Vancouver, Canada3,735 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fun start to a super day. Take the Wellington Cable Car - you will love it.
    We got free tickets from our hotel for the Cable Car. The ride was efficient and fun with great views. Getting to the top was great. We went to the Cable Car museum and watched several movie clips about public and private cable cars. We then walked down thru the Wellington Public Gardens and the Cemetery and arrived at our hotel. what a great day.
    Kia ora and thank you for your lovely comment. We are pleased to hear that you found the entire experience with ease and pleasure from the Hotel, to the end of the Cable Car journey, through the gardens and back. Take care - Letetia :)
    Written January 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 15, 2023
  • Connie A
    West Fargo, North Dakota102 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great views, beautiful walk thru Botanical Gardens, nice history of cable car at top
    This was a highlight of our Wellington trip. The cable car was a fun way to get to the top of the hill. There is a nice mini-museum of the cable car history at the top. We then walked through the LOVELY Botanical Gardens and rode the car back down. We went on the cable car as soon as it opened for the day and were glad we did as there was a long line mid-day when we came back down.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 10, 2024
  • Susie813
    252 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic value added visit
    Our visit coincided with cruise passengers visit day so it was crowded. There is a little cable car museum free to the public at the Hill Top. The lookout views reached far beyond the city, including the cruise ship. There is a nice restaurant that offers coffee and meals. My family loved the Botanic garden walk, it has well laid out walking paths. We also visited the nearby Space place and bought a family ticket to watch the Observary show. Overall, it was a nice break from the central shopping district.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 14, 2024
  • Sarah C
    Ashtead, United Kingdom1,323 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic and iconic ride
    A trip to Wellington isn't complete without a cable car ride. We opted for the up journey only (entrance hidden between shops) and then walked back down from the top at our leisure. It's such a cute an iconic mode of transport
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 31, 2024
  • ND F
    Vancouver, Canada818 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Spend time at the top, there’s a lot to see and do.
    Much easier to ride up in the cable car versus walking. Buy tickets online to avoid the line up at the ticket kiosk; bypass that line direct to entrance. Spectacular view of Wellington and the harbour. Two trams running so any wait is minimal. A number of other ‘touristy’ activities once at the top.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 31, 2024
  • Judy
    Whangamata, New Zealand9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cable car accessible trip
    My friend was in a wheelchair. We found the staff excellent and very helpful on a very busy day. Easy access on the cable car with someone in a wheelchair. The museum at the top was well worth a visit. Free to use the cable car with your gold card.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles6,687 reviews
Excellent
2,914
Very good
2,804
Average
834
Poor
96
Terrible
41

Liz H
Lichfield, UK912 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
One of the things that a visitor to Wellington wants to do, but it’s quite a short ride, and you don’t get a particularly good view from the cable car. However, The views from the top over the city and the bay are excellent.
We rode up before 0900 and the museum wasn’t open, but we walked back to the city through the Botanic Garden, which I would highly recommend.
Written April 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora, thank you for your visit. Wellington Cable Car is well-known for its quick historic journey between the city centre and the Suburb of Kelburn. Locals use the Cable Car as a transport, as it runs every 10 minutes and every 15 minutes after 8pm. The main view is at the top of the Cable Car, Kelburn Lookout. Cable Car travels through three historic tunnels, the view will appear after the Salamanca Station if you are travelling to the top. Hope we will see you again soon!
Written April 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Dee ce
Oamaru, New Zealand209 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Cable car goes through tunnels, not a scenic trip up as we Expected. Cafe, museum and observatory all closed by 5.30 pm, although cable car runs until 10.00 pm. Botanic Gardens are not actually in evidence at the top, need a bit of a walk to see them. Some views of city, but again, not quite what I was expecting. Dissmapointed really.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apologies for your unpleasant experience. Wellington Cable Car operated since 1902, being one of the only funicular railways that are still running in New Zealand, it is no longer just a local transport but also an historic attraction. The best place for view is the Kelburn Lookout. It is unlikely to have scenic views before the Salamanca Station. The Cable Car starts its journey from the middle of the CBD (many buildings and highways), Lambton Quay and moves slowly towards the Kelburn Suburb. Therefore, light shows were added to two of the tunnels to enhance the experience.
Written February 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Melissa
Buckingham, UK80 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Suits it’s purpose, nice simple ride with a lovely view. Only issue was the attitude of the man who greeted us. We’d bought a city pass at the information centre for three attractions, one being the cable car. The older gentlemen behind the kiosk didn’t recognise this voucher, was really sarcastic and unhelpful, said we’d have to wait for someone else to deal with us and ushered us aside so he could deal with the next customer. We told him where we’d got them from and all he said was ‘that doesn’t mean we’re going to accept them’ and then walked away from us??? Then he kept the vouchers behind the desk to the side so we had to ask for them back. Then a nice young lady came and immediately checked off the vouchers and gave us our tickets. As simple and friendly as it should have been.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great picture! Thank you for visiting and apologies for any unpleasant experience. We are glad you were assisted by one of our staff at the end. This is definitely not our usual standard of service and please contact us at info@wellingtoncablecar.co.nz for further assistance.
Written February 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

LoveToTravel
Los Angeles399 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is a MUST-DO activity when in Wellington, NZ. But, at only $5NZ (US$3) you can go up to the top for the best photos in the city! I'd recommend the 20 minute easy walk down back to town.

On a clear day, you can see forever! This is highly recommended tourist activity for a great price.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your amazing review too!
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Bea T
Wellington, New Zealand393 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
When we have friends over we take them on a scenic Wellington tour and the cable car is where we start. It is a quick ride up, but I think it is nice and I like the lights in the tunnels. On the top, the cable car museum is worth a visit and of course you need to take the photo with the cable car and the view. Walk down via the botanical garden, the rose garden and the cemetery. Great fun and you only pay for the cable car. ( using the snapper it is only 3 dollar pp )
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your little tours and include the Cable Car! Starting the journey from Cable Car is definitely a great way to discover the city. Yes, Snapper cards and multi-trip cards are great value for regular users.
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Perwf
London, UK48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Solo
This is an easy place to visit on the main Street, and is a cheap $5 trip to an excellent view over the city. You can also go on to Zealandia eco park, or walk down through the botanical gardens. Nice half day out.
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erlend A
Sunningdale, UK102 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
A quirky mode of transport but like the disco lights in the tunnels and the view from the top was lovely. We bought a one-way ticket and walked back down through the Botanical gardens which were stunning. The museum is worth a visit and has a restored original streetcar on display
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LCL-travels
Chicago, IL554 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The Wellington Cable Car is land-based, not an aerial gondola. When you arrive at the top in the suburb of Kelburn, there are beautiful views of Wellington. There, you may visit the free cable car museum and/or the free botanic garden.

The cable car museum is rather small. Features include a film about the cable car's history and a gift shop.

The botanic garden is lovely and signage provides the estimated walking time to different sections. However, the area is very hilly, making the walks challenging.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. Wellington Cable Car is one of the only funicular railways that are still operating in New Zealand. If you are planning to go one way and walk down through the Botanic Gardens, we recommend everyone to wear comfortable shoes.
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Joanne R
Cape May, NJ173 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
We had a great day riding around Christchurch. Each driver did a very good job driving and tell all the passengers about different areas we were passing. And one of the drivers told us about a wonderful restaurant Casa Publica which had very delicious food and great waiter and they gave us a discount since the driver told us to show them the ticket we had from the tram car.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora, thank you for the review. I am afraid this is the Wellington Cable Car, you are probably looking for the Christchurch Tram. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Written March 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Familie M
Germany117 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The starting point of the cable car is hidden in a ugly shopping center like area and you find it easy when you follow the queue.
The way upwards with the light effects is a nice start.
Arriving at the top in the botanic gardens you will be welcome from multiple city volunteers to give you guidance what to see and handout maps you can take for free.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. The Cable Car Lane is hidden in the busy streets of Lambton Quay, the shopping centre.
Written February 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 6,029
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Wellington Cable Car - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Wellington HotelsWellington Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Wellington
All things to do in Wellington
Day Trips in Wellington
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars