Rise above it all in one of Wellington's iconic red cable cars for stunning views and easy access to some of the city's best attractions.
The Wellington Cable Car is one of the capital's oldest attractions, and has been ferrying passengers between Lambton Quay and the Botanic Garden for over a hundred years. Stretching for 610 metres, the journey takes about eight minutes and is a great alternative to get to some of the city's most popular tourist attractions.Originally built in 1902 to transport workers from Lambton Quay to the newly developing suburbs in the hills, the first cable cars were steam-powered. This system was decommissioned in 1978, when the new electrical system was introduced. Nowadays, there are two cable cars running in opposite directions, each with capacity for approximately 100 people.Starting at Lambton Quay, the cars climb 119 metres through three different tunnels. There are three possible stops along the way, and the views over Wellington's skyline and out across the harbour and Hutt Valley make even a straightforward round trip worth your while.Located at the top of the route you'll find the Cable Car Museum. This museum is free to enter and will teach you a lot about the entwined history of Wellington and the cable car. Also at the top is Kelburn lookout, offering even better views across the city and harbour, while just nearby are the Botanic Garden and the Carter Observatory. Alternatively, you could hop aboard the free shuttle which runs from here to the nearby conservation attraction, Zealandia.When you feel like heading back to the city, you can either jump back on the cable car, or wander at your leisure through the Botanic Garden – a walk of about 40 minutes will bring you back to the centre.Cars run every 10 minutes each day except Christmas Day. When there are cruise ships docked in Wellington Harbour, queues for the cable car tend to be longer, especially in the morning. On such days, the cars tend to run more regularly – every six to eight minutes.
