Updated in October 2026, this Te Papa guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, is New Zealand‘s national museum on Wellington‘s waterfront. Entry is free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand. International visitors aged 16 and over pay $35, and the car park costs $5 per hour. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the international visitor fee, the 48-hour ticket and the current parking rate.
International visitors can buy tickets online to secure entry.
Quick facts: Te Papa
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 6pm daily. Closed on Christmas Day. |
| Ticket prices | Free for New Zealanders and residents. International visitors aged 16 and over $35. International visitors under 16 free, with a ticket. |
| Address | 55 Cable Street, Wellington 6011 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Waterfront walk of 20 minutes from Wellington Railway Station. Car park on Cable Street: $5 per hour. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 4 hours |
Te Papa opening hours
Te Papa is open every day from 10am to 6pm, except Christmas Day. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes.
Other areas keep their own times. The museum has two cafés and a Te Papa Store. StoryPlace, the Discovery Centres and the guided tours run on set sessions, so check the museum’s website for sessions.
5 top experiences to book in Wellington
- 🎬 Take a full day Lord of the Rings tour – including filming locations and the Weta Workshop.
- ⛴️ See Wellington from the water on 90 minute harbour cruise.
- 🥝 On a twilight tour of the Zealandia sanctuary, see protected native wildlife – including kiwis.
- 🦭 Spot seals on a 4WD tour along the coastline.
- 🌿 Learn about New Zealand’s extraordinary conservation efforts on a day tour to predator-free Kapiti Island.
Te Papa ticket prices
General admission to Te Papa is free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand. International visitors pay an entry fee. Some paid exhibitions and experiences cost extra.
- New Zealand citizens and residents: free, with no ticket. This includes New Zealanders living overseas and visitors from the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.
- International visitors aged 16 and over: $35. The ticket is valid for 48 hours from the printed date.
- International visitors under 16: free, but they need a ticket.
- Paid exhibitions, events, guided tours and StoryPlace sessions: not included in the international ticket.
- Parking: $5 per hour in the Te Papa car park.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
The Wellington City Pass includes an Introducing Te Papa Tour. The pass also gives a return trip on the Wellington Cable Car and admission to two of four attractions: Wellington Zoo, Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, Space Place or the Te Papa tour. It is valid for seven days.
How to get to Te Papa
Te Papa is on the waterfront at 55 Cable Street, in the heart of Wellington. Most amenities in central Wellington are within a 20-minute walk.
- On foot: it takes about 20 minutes to walk along the waterfront from Wellington Railway Station.
- By bus: most buses stop along Courtenay Place and Willis Street, a few minutes’ walk from Te Papa.
- By taxi: Wellington Combined Taxis have a stand outside the main entrance.
- By car: follow Waterloo, Customhouse and Jervois Quays into Cable Street. The airport is a 15-minute drive away.
- By bike: park your bike, scooter or skateboard at the racks near the main entrance. Padlocks are loaned free.
Parking at Te Papa
The Te Papa car park costs $5 per hour. Older guides list $3.50 or $4 per hour. Pay by cash, EFTPOS, debit card or most credit cards.
Enter the undercover car park from Cable Street, beside Circa Theatre. Take a ticket at the entry gate, or use your credit card. If you use the car park between 8pm and 7am, press the intercom button by the closed gate. Security will let you in.
Coaches cannot park at the front entrance. The exit gate opens automatically.
How long to spend at Te Papa
Plan about 2 to 4 hours for a balanced visit. The museum has six floors of displays.
- Quick visit: 1 to 1.5 hours for the colossal squid and Mana Whenua.
- Guided tour: the Introducing Te Papa Tour takes 1 hour and then leaves you free to explore.
- Full visit: allow time for Te Taiao, Toi Art, Te Marae and the Discovery Centres.
Accessibility at Te Papa
Visitors using wheelchairs and mobility scooters can easily reach most of Te Papa. This includes all exhibitions, the cafés, the stores and most toilets. Seats are in most exhibitions and along the walkways.
Te Papa lends wheelchairs and one mobility scooter free of charge. Book ahead online, or ask a Host in the Entrance Foyer. Certified assistance dogs are welcome.
Parents’ rooms are on Level 1 in the café by the children’s play area, on Level 2 beside StoryPlace, and on Level 5 beside the Art Studio in Toi Art. Free mobile guides are available in Māori, English, New Zealand Sign Language and several other languages.
What to see at Te Papa
Te Papa holds more than two million objects across art, natural history, New Zealand history, mātauranga Māori and Pacific cultures. Displays cover six floors.
Te Taiao | Nature is on Level 2. It joins mātauranga Māori with science in interactive exhibitions about wildlife, earthquakes and protecting native species. It holds the colossal squid, which is the only complete colossal squid on display in the world.
Te Marae on Level 4 is a contemporary marae with the wharenui Te Hono ki Hawaiki. Its position on an upper level earned it the nickname “the marae in the sky”. Mana Whenua shows Māori contemporary art and ancient crafts.
Toi Art on Level 5 shows the national art collection. The Discovery Centres let families get hands-on with exhibits, games and books. StoryPlace is a space for preschoolers and their caregivers, with play, storytelling and song.
Two cafés are inside the museum, and visitors can eat their own snacks outdoors in the Amphitheatre. The Te Papa Store sells sustainable, New Zealand-focused gifts.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The museum closes at 6pm every day. |
| Crowds | International visitors can buy tickets online to save time at the ticket desk. |
| Layout | The museum has six floors. Te Taiao is on Level 2, Te Marae on Level 4 and Toi Art on Level 5. |
| Entry process | International visitors show a ticket at the ticket desk at the top of the stairs on Level 2. New Zealanders walk in. |
| On-site logistics | You cannot eat or drink inside the museum. Self-service lockers are on your right as you enter the main entrance. |
Frequently asked questions about Te Papa
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Te Papa free to enter? | Yes for New Zealanders and residents. International visitors aged 16 and over pay $35. |
| Is Te Papa suitable for children? | Yes. It has Discovery Centres and StoryPlace. International visitors under 16 enter free with a ticket. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Te Papa? | No for New Zealanders. International visitors can buy a ticket online or at the ticket desk. |
| Is Te Papa open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, except Christmas Day. |
| Are bags allowed at Te Papa? | Yes, but there is no cloakroom. Use the self-service lockers near the main entrance. |
Things to do near Te Papa
- Wellington Museum: a museum in the 1892 Bond Store at 3 Jervois Quay on Queens Wharf, about 0.7 km along the waterfront. General admission is free for New Zealand residents.
- Wellington Cable Car: the cable car from Lambton Quay to Kelburn, in the city centre within a 20-minute walk of Te Papa.
- Cable Car Museum: a free museum in the original winding house at 1A Upland Road, at the top of the Cable Car.
- Wellington Botanic Garden: a 25-hectare garden in Kelburn with free entry, reached by the Cable Car.
- Wellington Zoo: a zoo in Newtown, about 10 minutes from the city centre by car or bus.
Alternative attractions
- City Gallery Wellington: an art gallery in Wellington city centre.
- Space Place: a planetarium and observatory exhibition at the top of the Botanic Garden, at the Cable Car’s upper terminus.
- New Zealand Parliament: the Beehive and Parliament House in central Wellington, with free tours.
- Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision: New Zealand’s film and sound archive in Wellington.
- Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne: a fully fenced ecosanctuary a few minutes’ drive from the city centre, with a free shuttle 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.
