Wellington Guided City Tour with Cable Car Ride

Te Papa and Oriental Bay

The tour begins along the waterfront, where your guide introduces Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand, a striking building on the harbour that holds the country's great collections of Māori treasures, natural history and art. It is one of the most visited museums in the Southern Hemisphere and a good place to return to later in your stay.

From there the road curves around Oriental Bay, Wellington's inner-city beach, with its golden sand, art deco apartment blocks, palm trees and calm water. On sunny days locals stroll the promenade and swim off the beach. Your guide shares tips on what else to do during your stay, so this Wellington sightseeing tour also works as a practical introduction to the city.

Miramar Peninsula and the South Coast

The first photo stop is on the Miramar Peninsula, beside the famous hillside letters spelling the city's name, which look out over the airport and the harbour. Your guide explains how the film industry took up residence in Miramar and how the peninsula is at the forefront of conservation efforts to bring native birds back to the city.

The tour then follows Wellington's rugged South Coast, where the next photo stop looks out to the harbour entrance, Cape Palliser and, when the weather allows, the snowy mountains of the South Island across Cook Strait. The road passes the end of the airport runway on its way around the coast, one of the most unusual sections of any Wellington city tour.

Mount Victoria lookout

Mount Victoria rises about 196 metres above the city centre, and its summit lookout is the classic place to understand Wellington's layout. From the platform you see the entire harbour, the city centre packed between hills and sea, Oriental Bay, the airport and the suburbs climbing the surrounding slopes. On clear days the view stretches to the Hutt Valley and the Remutaka Range.

This is the third photo stop and a highlight of the tour. Your guide points out landmarks and explains how the city was shaped by earthquakes, land reclamation and its role as the capital since 1865. On the way down, the tour drives through the entertainment district of Courtenay Place and colourful Cuba Street, famous for cafés, street art and independent shops.

The Wellington Cable Car and Kelburn

Next the guide drops you at Lambton Quay to ride the Wellington Cable Car, the red funicular that has climbed to the hillside suburb of Kelburn since 1902. The ticket is included, so you simply step on board for the five-minute ride through historic tunnels and over bridges, while your guide drives up to meet you at the top.

At Kelburn you have time for the fourth photo stop at the cable car lookout, with sweeping views over the city and harbour. You can also pick up a souvenir or look around the small cable car museum, which displays historic cars and the old winding machinery. The Botanic Garden begins right next to the top station if you want to return later.

The Beehive, Parliament and Old St Paul's

The final part of the tour passes Wellington's parliamentary district. The Beehive, the circular, tiered building that houses the executive wing of Parliament, stands beside the stately stone Parliament House and the Gothic-style Parliamentary Library, together forming one of the most recognisable sights in New Zealand.

Close by is Old St Paul's, a beautiful Gothic Revival church completed in 1866 and built almost entirely from native timbers, with a soaring wooden interior. The tour drives past these landmarks before returning to your pickup point about three hours after starting, so cruise passengers have plenty of time to explore further or return to their ship. It is a fitting end to a tour that shows how Wellington combines its role as the capital with a relaxed harbour-side lifestyle.