Find us at Lambton Quay, View Google Map
The Cable Car lower terminal is located at 280 Lambton Quay, Wellington. The entrance is located at the end of the Cable Car Lane between Countdown supermarket and Flight Centre, near McDonalds.
Find us at Kelburn, View Google Map
The Cable Car upper terminal is located at 1 Upland Road, Kelburn. Next to the Cable Car Museum.
There are no dedicated car parks provided by the Cable Car, Please see the 'Parking' page for more information.
You can buy Cable Car tickets online or at the Cable Car Ticket Office on Lambton Quay on the day of arrival.
Bookings are not required for general travels on the Cable Car. However, it is recommended to book in advance if you are travelling as a school or tour group. Group bookings should be made via Contact Us page.
You can buy a Return or a One Way ticket:
Return tickets entitle you to one uphill and one downhill trip on the Cable Car.
One Way tickets can be used for one trip in either direction between Lambton Quay and Kelburn Station.
If you would like to visit the intermediate stations, you can disembark and embark again from the same station to complete your One Way or Return Trip.
Cable Car tickets purchased online or from the Ticket Office are valid for six months from the date of purchase.
Please consider your travel plans carefully when purchasing a Return ticket as refunds are not available for activated tickets. Tickets purchased are valid for six months from the date of purchase so you can use it another time.
Yes, you can buy your tickets online using your credit card 24/7. You can also use your credit card or EFTPOS to buy tickets from the Cable Car Ticket Office at Lambton Quay Terminal during operating hours.
We accept Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and China UnionPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay.
We do not have senior fares. We are part of the passenger transport reimbursement scheme under the New Zealand Government SuperGold Card concession, however this is only applicable to New Zealand SuperGold Card holders. There is currently no reciprocal arrangement with any other country.
Student discounts are available for all New Zealand students, a valid New Zealand student ID must be provided upon purchase.
Yes! The Cable Car entrance and exits are specially designed with wide gates that are suitable for standard prams/ bikes/mobility scooters/wheelchairs. Ramps are also installed at the top boarding platforms at all stations for easy access. Users should access the Cable Car via the top doors.
Bikes must be held and controlled throughout the journey. There is a maximum of two bikes per car.
Yes! After a trial in November 2021, we have welcomed dogs on the Cable Car permanently. Dogs are to sit on the lowest landing podium in the marked areas. Maximum 2 dogs per person.
The term "Cable Car" is currently a misnomer. The original 1902 tramway was technically a hybrid of a cable car and funicular; working on the counterbalance principle with the downhill car providing the locomotion by gripping a moving cable, hence the term "Cable Car". Following the replacement of the original system in 1978 with a fully funicular system, we have retained the historic name.
The Cable Car is a funicular railway rising 120 metres over a length of 612 metres with the ride taking only five minutes. The line rises at a constant grade of 1 in 5 (20%), through three tunnels and over three bridges. A must do attraction for visitors to Wellington for over 120 years, but it’s use is not simply confined to tourists, with many Kelburn residents and University students still travelling on the cars daily.
Got a question for us? Visit our Contact Us page.