Sight guide · Wellington · New Zealand
Visiting Wellington Cable Car
Running since 1902, the red funicular climbs about 120 metres from Lambton Quay to Kelburn in roughly five minutes, ending at a lookout over the city and harbour.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Wellington Cable Car is an experience in Lambton Quay and CBD, Wellington. Allow 1 hour with the lookout; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Lambton Quay and CBD
- Time needed
- 1 hour with the lookout
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- views, kids and history
- Best months
- January, April and November
About Wellington Cable Car
Running since 1902, the red funicular climbs about 120 metres from Lambton Quay to Kelburn in roughly five minutes, ending at a lookout over the city and harbour. A small free museum at the top tells the line's history and displays an original car.
Tip: Ride up and walk back down through the Botanic Garden to Thorndon or the CBD.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour with the lookout.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Lambton Quay and CBD, the main shopping street, government buildings and the cable car terminal.
Best time to visit Wellington Cable Car
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- November: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- April: 17°C (63°F) highs, about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- January: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-November the sun sets at about 20:19 local time (calculated for Wellington).
When to visit Wellington has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Wellington itinerary visits Wellington Cable Car on day 2, together with Parliament and the Beehive, Wellington Museum and Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne.
- No. 2 of the 18 sights in our Wellington things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Wellington.
- A family favourite in Wellington with kids.
Near Wellington Cable Car
Also in Lambton Quay and CBD, so you can walk between them:
- Parliament and the Beehive — 1 hour, free
- Wellington Museum — 1 hour, free
If you like Wellington Cable Car
- Te Papa Tongarewa — Te Aro, 3–4 hours
- Wētā Cave and Wētā Workshop tours — Miramar, 1.5 hours with a tour
- Waterfront walk to Oriental Bay — Oriental Bay, 1–2 hours
Staying near Wellington Cable Car
Stay in Lambton Quay and CBD ($$$) to walk here: the main shopping street, government buildings and the cable car terminal. All areas to stay in Wellington.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Wellington Cable Car?
Plan 1 hour with the lookout. With Parliament and the Beehive nearby, it fits a half-day in Lambton Quay and CBD.
+Is Wellington Cable Car free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Wellington Cable Car?
January, April and November, the quietest of the good months. Ride up and walk back down through the Botanic Garden to Thorndon or the CBD.
+Do I need to book Wellington Cable Car in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Wellington Cable Car good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Wellington. Wellington is easy with children: Te Papa is free and highly interactive, the cable car and Space Place are fun, and Zealandia, the zoo and the waterfront fill a few days.