Updated in October 2026, this Cable Car Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Cable Car Museum is a free museum in the original winding house of the Wellington Cable Car, next to the Kelburn terminal at 1A Upland Road. A guided tour now runs daily every hour from 10am to 3pm, for $8 per adult. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the free general admission, the daily tours and the accessibility arrangements.
Quick facts: the Cable Car Museum
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week. |
| Ticket prices | Free general admission. Guided tour: adult $8, child (4 to 14) $4. |
| Address | 1A Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Nearest transport or parking | Next to the Kelburn terminal of the Wellington Cable Car. Paid Wilson Skyline car park at 1 Upland Road. |
| Typical time needed | About 30 to 60 minutes |
The Cable Car Museum opening hours
The museum is open from 10am to 5pm, seven days a week. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes.
The guided tour of the museum runs daily from 10am to 3pm, every hour on the hour. Tour groups, school groups and commercial operators must book in advance, and charges may apply.
The Wellington Cable Car carries visitors to the museum from 7.30am on weekdays and from 8.30am at weekends. The museum itself opens at 10am.
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The Cable Car Museum ticket prices
General admission to the Cable Car Museum is free. Donations are welcome and help to develop the exhibition.
- General admission: free.
- Guided tour, adult (14 and over): $8.
- Guided tour, child (4 to 14): $4.
- Wellington Cable Car, adult one way: $7, to reach the museum. A return costs $13.
Tour tickets are available online or at the museum, and bookings are recommended. The tour suits ages 4 and over, and children need adult supervision.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
The museum is not part of a city pass scheme for entry. The Wellington City Pass includes a return trip on the Wellington Cable Car, which takes you to the museum. The pass also gives admission to two of four attractions: Wellington Zoo, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, Space Place or an Introducing Te Papa Tour.
How to get to the Cable Car Museum
The museum is at the top of the Cable Car, next to the Kelburn terminal. The ride from Lambton Quay takes about five minutes.
- By Cable Car: the Wellington Cable Car leaves Cable Car Lane, off Lambton Quay, every 10 minutes. The museum is beside the upper terminal.
- On foot from the Botanic Garden: the museum is next to the Garden entrance at the Cable Car terminus. Walkers can take the downhill route back to the city.
- By car: the Wilson Skyline car park at 1 Upland Road is the closest public car park.
- By bus: buses stop in Kelburn on Upland Road and near the university.
Parking at the Cable Car Museum
The Wilson Skyline car park at 1 Upland Road is the closest public car park. It provides paid parking for all visitors. It has limited spaces for drivers with mobility parking permits.
There are no dedicated mobility parking spaces for the museum. Wheelchair users must use the car park’s ramp entrance to leave the car park area. Wilson Parking spaces are 35 metres from the Cable Car terminal.
How long to spend at the Cable Car Museum
Plan about 30 to 60 minutes for the museum. It is small, and most visitors see the cars, the winding room and the film within an hour.
Visitors who combine the museum with a Cable Car ride, the lookout and a walk through the Wellington Botanic Garden should allow two to three hours. The guided tour is a short introduction, and visitors can continue on their own after it.
Accessibility at the Cable Car Museum
The museum has level access to the main entrance and clear signage. The accessible route inside has a minimum width of 1,200 mm.
The two floors can be reached by a wheelchair accessible lift or a slip-resistant stairwell. The lift entrance is 850 mm wide, and the lift interior is 1,300 mm by 1,300 mm.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are in the Skyline facility next to the museum. The gift shop is on the entry level, and its aisles are at least 1,200 mm wide for prams and mobility equipment. A grassed area outside the entrance is available for support animals.
The museum does not hold mobility equipment. If you need it, let the museum know before your visit, and staff can transfer equipment from Space Place.
What to see at the Cable Car Museum
The museum is in the original winding house for the cable car system. The winding mechanism worked from 1902 until 1978. The building has two floors.
Grip Car No. 3 was used in the early 1900s. It is unusual because the grip man’s cabin, with the main controls and brakes, is in the middle of the car. It has been beautifully restored.
The original winding machine room was the nerve centre of the cable car system. The machinery here hauled the cable cars up the hill to the summit. It was fully operational from 1930 to 1978.
The Relentless Red Rattler is one of the red cable cars used from the 1950s to the late 1970s. It is named for the rattling noise it made on the steep incline and in the tunnels. Visitors can take a seat on it.
A short film follows the evolution of Wellington’s cable car system from the 1900s to the present day. Displays explain how the Cable Car shaped the growth of Kelburn and other suburbs.
The guided tour is a bite-sized introduction. It covers the history of the Red Rattlers, the original winding room and two vintage cable cars.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The guided tour runs hourly from 10am to 3pm. The museum is open until 5pm. |
| Crowds | The museum is small, so allow time to move between the two floors. Bookings are recommended for the tour. |
| Layout | The museum has two floors, linked by a lift and a stairwell. The gift shop is on the entry level. |
| Entry process | Entry is free, with no ticket for general admission. Tour tickets are sold online or at the museum. |
| On-site logistics | Wheelchair accessible toilets are in the Skyline facility next door. Mobility equipment can be arranged in advance. |
Frequently asked questions about the Cable Car Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Cable Car Museum free to enter? | Yes. General admission is free, and donations are welcome. The guided tour costs $8 for an adult. |
| Is the Cable Car Museum suitable for children? | Yes. The tour suits ages 4 and over, with adult supervision. The museum has vintage cars and a short film. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Cable Car Museum? | No for general admission. Bookings are recommended for the guided tour. |
| Is the Cable Car Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. |
| Is the Cable Car Museum wheelchair accessible? | Yes. It has level entry and a wheelchair accessible lift between its two floors. |
Things to do near the Cable Car Museum
- Wellington Cable Car: the funicular next door that runs from Lambton Quay to the Kelburn terminal, a five-minute ride.
- Wellington Botanic Garden: a 25-hectare garden with free entry, starting beside the Cable Car terminal.
- Wellington Museum: a museum in the 1892 Bond Store at 3 Jervois Quay on the waterfront, two minutes from the lower terminal. General admission is free for New Zealand residents.
- Te Papa: New Zealand’s national museum at 55 Cable Street on the waterfront, within a 20-minute walk of Lambton Quay.
- Wellington Zoo: a zoo in Newtown, about 10 minutes from the city centre by car or bus.
Alternative attractions
- Space Place: a planetarium and observatory exhibition at the top of the Botanic Garden, run by Museums Wellington.
- Nairn Street Cottage: a cottage museum run by Museums Wellington.
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne: a fully fenced ecosanctuary with a free shuttle from the top of the Cable Car.
- Bolton Street Cemetery: a historic cemetery with notable graves, on the walking route between the Botanic Garden and the city.
- Kelburn Village: a village of cafés and shops, a 5-minute walk from the top of the Cable Car.
More New Zealand North Island travel
Other New Zealand North Island travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- How to see the thunderous Huka Falls, plus the Aratiatia Rapids, Wairakei Terraces and Craters of the Moon near Taupo.
- Practical guides to the Waipahihi Botanic Gardens, Spa Thermal Park and Hot Water Beach in Taupo.
- How to get the best out of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park.
- Tackling Auckland’s 16km Coast-to-Coast Walkway via One Tree Hill and Mount Eden.
- Kuirau Park, Rotorua: The public park with mud pools and steam vents.
