Wellington City to Coast Highlights Tour with Lunch

See Wellington's landmarks and coast in one morning, then eat by the water.

A five-hour guided tour of Wellington covering Mount Victoria Lookout, the Wellington Cable Car, the Wētā Cave, Parliament Grounds, Old St Paul's Cathedral, and a scenic drive along the south coast to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine. The tour includes a local driver-guide with live commentary, hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off, and a seaside lunch with one main meal and one drink. The Cable Car ride and Old St Paul's Cathedral entry are optional at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Wellington city and coast highlights

• Enjoy views from Mount Victoria Lookout
• Visit Weta Cave museum and retail space
• Have lunch at seaside café
• Learn about local history and Cook Strait views
• See views and history at Brooklyn Wind Turbine
• Ride Wellington Cable Car and visit museum
• Walk through Botanic Gardens to Rose Garden
• Explore Old St. Paul's Cathedral

The Experience

How do you fit Wellington's best sights into one morning without renting a car or piecing together separate bookings? This tour starts with hotel or cruise ship pickup and moves through the city's landmarks on a fixed schedule—Mount Victoria Lookout for panoramic views across the harbour, the Wētā Cave retail and museum space, the historic Wellington Cable Car up from Lambton Quay, and Old St Paul's Cathedral, a native hardwood timber structure built in 1856. The guide provides live commentary throughout, so you learn the history and geography as you move between stops.

The coastal stretch is what sets this tour apart. After the city centre, you drive south along Wellington's dramatic coastline to the Brooklyn Wind Turbine—the first one built in New Zealand—where you have time to stand in the views across the Cook Strait toward the South Island. Lunch happens at a seaside café partway through the day: one main meal and one drink are included, so you're not hunting for a place to eat or deciding what to order. If you take the Cable Car, you have the option to walk down through the Botanic Gardens to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden (weather permitting) and the guide will meet you at the bottom to continue the tour.

The whole experience runs five hours. Small groups mean you're not on a coach with fifty people, and because pickup is included, you don't need to navigate to a meeting point or arrange your own transport to the start. Old St Paul's Cathedral entry is optional and costs NZD $5 per person if you want to go inside; the Cable Car tickets are also optional. The tour suits all fitness levels and is wheelchair accessible, though you do need to be able to enter and exit the van using steps and grab rails.

What’s included

• Local driver-guide with live commentary.
• small group tour.
• hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
• lunch with one main meal and one drink at a seaside café.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Zozo Travel - Tours of Wellington. Scenic, Winery, Brewery and Foodie Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Wellington for a day and want the main sights plus the coast without arranging separate transport or deciding where to eat—the schedule and inclusions hold the whole morning together.

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Top questions

What is the Wētā Cave and why is it on the tour?

The Wētā Cave is a retail and museum space dedicated to the creatures and the filmmaking legacy they represent in New Zealand. It's included as a cultural stop that gives you insight into local interests and craftsmanship; an optional behind-the-scenes documentary may be available depending on time and availability.

Do I have to take the Cable Car, or can I skip it?

The Wellington Cable Car is optional, so you can choose to ride it or not. If you do take it, you'll ride from Lambton Quay up to Kelburn, see the Cable Car Museum, and have the option to walk down through the Botanic Gardens to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, where the guide will pick you up again.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Yes, lunch is included at a seaside café partway through the tour. One main meal and one drink are provided; the café is a popular local spot, so you get a sense of where Wellingtonians actually eat rather than a tourist restaurant.

What does the Brooklyn Wind Turbine stop involve?

At the Brooklyn Wind Turbine on Wellington's south coast, you have time to take in panoramic views across the Cook Strait toward the South Island and learn about the history of New Zealand's first wind turbine. It's a viewpoint stop rather than a museum or attraction with entry fees.

Does the tour pick me up from my hotel or cruise ship?

Yes, hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off are included. The tour is five hours total, so timing depends on where you're staying and when the tour departs; confirm your pickup location and time when you book.