Wellington guided tour with Cable Car: Mount Victoria & Weta Cave

See Wellington from three vantage points in one morning: the lookout, the coastline, and the Cable Car.

A half-day guided tour of Wellington with a local driver, including Cable Car admission. The van collects you from your hotel, cruise port or the iSite and stops at Mount Victoria lookout for 360-degree views, Lyall Bay beach on the south coast, Weta Cave (the Lord of the Rings effects studio), Oriental Bay, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden and Parliament grounds before dropping you at Te Papa or your chosen location. The Cable Car ride up to Kelburn is included in the tour price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Wellington Cable Car30m · entry included
2. New Zealand Parliament15m

Half-day guided Wellington city tour

• Collect guests and board vehicle
• Visit Mount Victoria lookout for views
• Drive through Lyall Bay beach area
• Stop at Weta Cave for photos and memorabilia
• Return to city via Oriental Bay
• Ride Wellington Cable Car to Kelburn
• Visit Lady Norwood Rose Garden
• Explore New Zealand Parliament grounds
• Drop off guests at chosen location

The experience

Your guide picks you up from your hotel, cruise ship port or the iSite: no shuttle buses or transfers to arrange. The van heads straight to Mount Victoria lookout, where you get 360-degree views of the central business district, harbour and ocean to the south. This is the tour's best photo stop, and your guide doubles as photographer. From there you drive south along the coast through Lyall Bay, Wellington's most popular surf beach, then continue around the coastline where the guide points out the site of the Wahine maritime disaster in 1968: a somber but memorable moment in New Zealand history.

You hop out at Weta Cave, the world-famous film and special effects studio behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There's a mini museum with memorabilia on display and a photo opportunity with the cave trolls (your guide will take the shot). Back in the van, you pass the Wellington sign: the original that Hollywood copied. The route curves around Oriental Bay, known for its expensive real estate and the only man-made beach in the area, where you'll see Carter Fountain and striking architecture. The Lady Norwood Rose Garden, part of the Wellington Botanical Gardens, is a short stop for fresh air and over 110 varieties of flowers when they're in bloom from November to April.

The Cable Car ride is included in your tour price. Your guide drops you at the bottom, you take the leisurely ride up to Kelburn suburb, and your guide meets you at the top. There's a Cable Car museum to explore and souvenirs to buy. The final stop is Parliament grounds, where you see the Beehive (the Executive Wing), bronze statues including Richard John Seddon (New Zealand's longest-serving Prime Minister from 1893 to 1906), commemorative plaques, rose and camellia gardens, and the iron gates made during King George V's reign. Drop-off is at Te Papa (the national museum and centrally located) or another location you choose.

What’s included

• Your guide and van transport.
• Cable Car admission and ride to Kelburn.
• stops at Mount Victoria lookout, Lyall Bay beach, Weta Cave, Oriental Bay, Lady Norwood Rose Garden and Parliament grounds.
• drop-off at Te Papa or your chosen location.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 10:30 and 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ka Rawe Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to cover Wellington's spread-out highlights (Mount Victoria lookout, Lyall Bay beach, and Weta Cave) in a guided van rather than piecing together separate trips on foot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

What's the Weta Cave and why is it on this tour?

Weta Cave is the Wellington studio behind the Lord of the Rings films and other major special effects work. You stop there to see a mini museum with memorabilia, take photos with the cave trolls, and learn about the studio's broader impact on the film industry beyond Lord of the Rings.

Does the Cable Car ride cost extra?

No, the Cable Car ride to Kelburn is included in your tour price. Your guide drops you at the bottom, you ride up at a leisurely pace, and your guide meets you at the top where there's a museum and gift shop.

Where do you get picked up from?

Your guide collects you from your hotel, directly from the cruise ship port (no shuttle bus needed if you're arriving by ship), or from the iSite tour bus stop. If you're coming from your hotel, wait in reception or just outside where you can be seen.

How many times do you stop to get out of the van?

You hop out 3 or 4 times throughout the tour for photos and fresh air: at Mount Victoria lookout, Weta Cave, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden, and Parliament grounds.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes your guide, all vehicle transport, the Cable Car ride, and admission to the Cable Car. It does not include bottled water or lunch, though you'll have time to purchase food or drinks at stops like the Weta Cave or Parliament grounds.