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Cable car and garden · Wellington, Wellington
Wellington Cable Car and Botanic Garden
The red cable car that has run since 1902 from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn, with a viewpoint over the city, a cable car museum, an observatory and the Botanic Garden, which you can walk down to return to the center.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Wellington Cable Car and Botanic Garden
The Wellington Cable Car links Lambton Quay in the city center with the Kelburn neighborhood up the hill. The roughly 600‑meter ride goes through tunnels and over residential streets and takes about five minutes. The line has operated since 1902 and is one of the city’s icons.
At the top station there is a lookout with views of the center, the harbor and the hills across the water. Next to it, the Cable Car Museum houses one of the old carriages and tells the history of the line. Nearby, Space Place at the former Carter Observatory offers a planetarium and a telescope open to the public on some nights.
The Botanic Garden begins at the station and covers about 25 hectares of native forest, mature conifers, flower beds and glasshouses. Paths descend the slope to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, a formal rose garden, and to the Begonia House glasshouse, down at Thorndon level, close to Parliament.
The cable car requires a fare; check the current rates. The garden has free entry.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1½ to 2 hours, riding up on the cable car and walking down through the garden.
Best time
In the morning, with light over the harbor, or late afternoon. The rose garden typically blooms from November to April.
How to get there
The lower station is on Cable Car Lane off Lambton Quay in central Wellington, a few minutes’ walk from the waterfront.
Tip
Buy only the uphill ticket and walk down through the Botanic Garden to the rose garden; from there Parliament is about a 15‑minute walk.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Wellington Cable Car and Botanic Garden
How long does the Wellington Cable Car take?
About five minutes from Lambton Quay to Kelburn.
Can you walk down from the cable car to the city center?
Yes, via the Botanic Garden, in about 30 to 45 minutes, passing the rose garden to Thorndon.
Is the Wellington Botanic Garden paid?
No. There is no admission fee for the garden; only the cable car is charged.
What is at the top of the Wellington Cable Car?
A lookout, the Cable Car Museum, the Space Place observatory, and the entrance to the Botanic Garden.