Updated in October 2026, this Wellington Museum guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Wellington Museum is a city history museum in the 1892 Bond Store at 3 Jervois Quay on Queens Wharf, on Wellington‘s waterfront. General admission is free for New Zealand residents, and international visitors pay $16 for an adult ticket. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the international visitor fees, the 10am to 5pm opening hours and the access arrangements.
Quick facts: The Wellington Museum
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week. |
| Ticket prices | Free for New Zealand residents. International visitors: adult $16, child $10. Under 4 free. |
| Address | 3 Jervois Quay, Queens Wharf, Wellington 6011 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Bus stops on Lambton Quay, a 5-minute walk. Wilson car park under the TSB Arena. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
The Wellington 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.
Tour groups, school groups and commercial operators must book in advance, and charges may apply. Private bookings can be made through the museum’s website. The museum’s online store sells gifts, and its What’s On page lists events and courses.
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.
The Wellington Museum ticket prices
General admission to The Wellington Museum is free for New Zealand residents. International visitors pay an entry fee. Donations are encouraged.
- International adult: $16.
- International child: $10.
- Preschool child (0 to 3): free.
- International adult, entry with a guided tour: $19.
- International child, entry with a guided tour: $13.
- New Zealand residents: free.
- Companions and support people: complimentary tickets to paid exhibitions, events and programmes.
Tickets are sold at the door. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
The Wellington City Pass gives a 10% discount on a Ship & Chip tour or a Cup of Curiosity tour at the museum. The pass also includes a Wellington Cable Car return trip and 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 Wellington Museum
The museum is on Wellington’s waterfront, just two minutes from Lambton Quay and the Cable Car. Queens Wharf is in the heart of the central city.
- By bus: the closest bus stops are on Lambton Quay. Walk along Grey Street, then across Customhouse and Jervois Quays to the museum entrance. It takes about five minutes.
- On foot from the Cable Car: the Cable Car terminus on Lambton Quay is two minutes away.
- On foot from Te Papa: the walk along the waterfront is about 0.7 km.
- By car: use the Jervois Quay entrance and nearby waterfront car parks.
Parking at The Wellington Museum
There is one accessible car park outside the front entrance. It is strictly controlled by staff and is for mobility parking permit holders only.
The closest public parking is the Wilson car park under the TSB Arena at 1 Jervois Quay. A parking fee is charged.
How long to spend at The Wellington Museum
Plan about 1 to 2 hours for a visit. The museum has four floors of exhibitions. Visitors who join a guided tour or watch the films should allow more time.
A guided tour of the museum takes about 35 minutes. Tours include general introductory tours and specialised tours, such as the Ship & Chip tour and the Cup of Curiosity tour. A giant cinema screen stretches between the ground, first and second floors and shows films about Wellington.
Accessibility at The Wellington Museum
The main entrance has level access. A lift moves between the museum’s four floors. A wheelchair is available from the front desk.
Wheelchair accessible toilets are on the ground floor at the main entrance and on the third floor in The Attic. Guide dogs and assistance dogs with service jackets, collars and ID are welcome. Companions and support people can get complimentary tickets to paid exhibitions and events they attend with a ticket holder.
The museum is in a historic building. An NZSL interpreted video guide on the museum’s website covers accessibility details and what to expect.
What to see at The Wellington Museum
The museum shares the stories of the Wellington region inside the Bond Store. The building was designed by the architect Frederick de Jersey Clere and held bonded cargo in the late 1800s. It is a Category 1 historic place with Heritage New Zealand. The Times named it one of the world’s 50 best museums in 2013. The museum began in 1972 as the Wellington Maritime Museum of the Wellington Harbour Board.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara tells Wellington stories inspired by its natural and cultural landscape. A large timeline starts with creation and includes the Polynesian navigator Kupe, an earthquake around 1460 AD and the Absolutely Positively Wellington campaign of 1991.
Maritime History lets visitors steer ships and haul cargo in Jack’s Boathouse. They can also see a real captain’s cabin and learn about Paddy the Wanderer, the Pōneke dog. The Wahine Theatre shows the 1968 Wahine disaster through a film by Gaylene Preston.
The Von Kohorn Room was the boardroom of the Wellington Harbour Board. It is where the city was declared the first nuclear-free port in Aotearoa.
Ngā Heke explores different perspectives, journeys and migrations, with contemporary work by Māori artists and poets. A Millennium Ago uses theatrical illusion to tell Māori creation legends.
The Attic is a steampunk-styled space of strange and wonderful stories, from lions to flying saucers. It also holds newly displayed taonga, such as Dame Catherine Healy’s umbrella. It holds the time machine Ngā Hau and the Frederick de Jersey Clere Room, which shows the building’s original blueprints.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The museum closes at 5pm. Allow at least an hour. |
| Crowds | Groups, tours and school visits must book ahead. Individual visitors can walk in. |
| Layout | The museum has four floors. A lift and stairs link them, and The Attic is on the top floor. |
| Entry process | No ticket is needed for New Zealand residents. International visitors pay at the door. |
| On-site logistics | The museum is two minutes from Lambton Quay. Parking is limited, so use the Wilson car park under the TSB Arena. |
Frequently asked questions about The Wellington Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is The Wellington Museum free to enter? | Yes for New Zealand residents. International visitors pay $16 for an adult and $10 for a child. |
| Is The Wellington Museum suitable for children? | Yes. It has interactive displays, a captain’s cabin and The Attic. Preschool children aged 0 to 3 enter free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for The Wellington Museum? | No for individual visitors. Groups, tours and school visits must book ahead. |
| Is The Wellington Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. |
| Is The Wellington Museum wheelchair accessible? | Yes. It has level entry, a lift between floors and a free wheelchair at the front desk. |
Things to do near The Wellington Museum
- Wellington Cable Car: the cable car from Cable Car Lane on Lambton Quay to Kelburn, two minutes from the museum.
- Te Papa: New Zealand’s national museum at 55 Cable Street, about 0.7 km along the waterfront. Entry is free for New Zealanders.
- 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 a short Cable Car ride.
- 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.
- City Gallery Wellington: an art gallery in Wellington city centre.
- New Zealand Parliament: the Beehive and Parliament House in central Wellington, with free tours.
- Old St Paul’s: a historic church in central Wellington, built from native timbers.
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.
