The high point to any trip to Wellington is a ride on the Wellington cable car. The symbolic bright red Cable Car leaves from Lambton Quay and makes its way up into the hills of Kelburn every 10 minutes.
During the five minutes trip upwards, the century-old cable car springs up 120 m over a length of 612 m, travelling via tunnel and providing you with an amazing view of the city beneath.
The Wellington Cable Car happens to be New Zealand’s only carry on funicular railway. This cable car has been a milestone in engineering since its invention over 100 years ago.
Wellington Cable Car the Best Way to Reach Wellington’s Scenic Top Attractions
Wellington cable car ride is a charming way to reach, feel, and experience top attractions like ZEALANDIA Sanctuary and Wellington Botanic Garden.
You will find five stops along the iconic Wellington Cable Car route. At the top, you will be entertained with a viewing platform, a small cafe, and the free Cable Car Museum.
A few visitors think that though the views are spectacular, the streams of tourists modify the atmosphere.
Because of this a few other visitors recommend that visitors should avoid times and days that the cruise ships will come to shore. This is simply because the crowds are much during those days.
Wellington Cable Car Pricing And Operation Time
Wellington Cable Car round trip tickets cost around $7.50 (New Zealand dollars) for grown-ups and $3.50 (New Zealand dollars) for children between 5 and 15 years. Having a Snapper Card will help you save $0.50 (New Zealand dollars) on every one-way trip.
The cable car departs every 10 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday. It begins operation from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Saturday. And 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Sunday.
About Wellington Cable Car Ownership
Wellington Cable Car Ltd, owned by Wellington City Council own and run this iconic and innovative car. The owners of cable cars are also in possession of the overhead wires used for the trolleybuses of Wellington.
Initially, Australian company Transfield Services were the ones handling the operations of the car, then in early 2007, its management was retrieved back home.
Currently, every of the car’s activities is run and controlled by Wellington Cable Car Ltd, including selling tickets, car and track maintenance, customer support, and employing drivers.
Wellington Cable Car Passengers
This car is used by almost a million passengers annually. Commuters shuttling between the city and Kelburn use this car in the morning. People travelling between the city and Wellington Botanic Garden use it at noon.
Victoria University students and other students that live close to the student hostels also use it.
Then by summer a lot of visitors and tourists use this car as well.
Wellington Cable Car Museum
After absorbing the all encompassing views from the iconic Wellington Cable Car lookout, you can move into Cable Car Museum. You can find it in the original winding house.
The Wellington Cable Car museum extends across two floors. Cable Car Museum tells the complete story of the car through photographs, interactive exhibitions, and original artefacts.
The museum was launched in December 2000, and its new extension was fully completed in 2006. You will find original grip cars one and three with their electric winding gear still in good condition.
The car one is in red 1970s livery, which includes contemporary advertising. Car three was transformed in the year 2005 to a green livery dating back to around 1905. The winding gear is still in good working condition.
It still runs a loop of cable, though it does not leave the building anymore. The Wellington Museums Trust operates the Cable Car Museum, and it has a Category two listing with Heritage New Zealand.
What to Expect From Wellington Cable Car
This Wellington car has been in operation for more than 100 years. And it has certainly been a loved and appealing part of the country’s history for locals.
Both visitors and locals ride on Wellington Cable Car for a short five minutes journey from the city of Wellington, through the Kelburn region and pass the living houses towards the Kelburn lookout.
After absorbing the spectacular views of the harbor and skyline at Te Whanganui-a-Tara, you as well decide to explore many other attractions, from the Zealandia or Space Place to Botanic Garden.
You will also have the option to either take the car back or take a warm 40 minutes to stroll back down. That’s if you decide to stretch your leg and to see other amazing sights that you may be unable to see while inside the car.
Got Any Questions Regarding Wellington Cable Car?
Wellington Cable Car support team are always ready and happy to respond to any questions that you may have. Or even give you a quote group tour or school booking.
You can reach them either by filling up the form on their contact us page or emailing them at info@wellingtoncablecar.co.nz.
You could also contact them via phone at +64 4 472 2199. Passengers could find them on Google Maps with the name Cable Car Lane 280 Lambton Quay Wellington.
The iconic car’s customer’s support is always available, so you are sure to have your questions answered as quickly as possible.
In fact, you will receive a response to your question immediately after your query gets to them.
