1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 194 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) worth booking?
1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) is a 3.5-hour experience in Wellington, New Zealand, from $74 per person. It scores 85 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 194 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 85 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (194)
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- From
- $74 per person
Spend time with local guides supporting our family owned business! Your opportunity to visit locations in Wellington that you simply couldn't make on foot. All accompanied by a local, educated driver who hopes to crack at least one funny joke throughout the journey! We also stop along the way for photo opportunities all whilst experiencing Wellingtons infamous wind! We'll start in the city but quickly make our way to the best views iat Mount Victoria lookout. Then we'll head out to the suburbs cruising through Lyall Bay beach & stopping at the Weta Cave (hop out). After we head back to the city you'll experience a ride on the Cable Car with more stunning views from the other side of the city. Then we'll check out the Lady Norwood Rose Garden & our Parliament grounds as the tour comes to a conclusion. Packing LOADS of wellington in to a short space of time with hosts who care.
What you get
About this experience
Spend time with local guides supporting our family owned business! Your opportunity to visit locations in Wellington that you simply couldn't make on foot. All accompanied by a local, educated driver who hopes to crack at least one funny joke throughout the journey! We also stop along the way for photo opportunities all whilst experiencing Wellingtons infamous wind! We'll start in the city but quickly make our way to the best views iat Mount Victoria lookout. Then we'll head out to the suburbs cruising through Lyall Bay beach & stopping at the Weta Cave (hop out). After we head back to the city you'll experience a ride on the Cable Car with more stunning views from the other side of the city. Then we'll check out the Lady Norwood Rose Garden & our Parliament grounds as the tour comes to a conclusion. Packing LOADS of wellington in to a short space of time with hosts who care.
What's included
Included
- Includes admission costs on Cable car ride
Not included
- Bottled water
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Wellington
COLLECT Our journey starts by safely collecting all of our guests & getting onboard our vehicle. If you are coming in by cruise ship, we will collect you directly from the port. You do not need to get on a shuttle bus or head to the city as we are accredited to collect you as you walk off the ship. If you are being collected from your hotel then please wait in reception or just outside where you can been seen by your friendly guide. Sit tight, sometimes traffic (or people) can delay our arrival. If you are being collected from the iSite then pop out to the tour bus stop just outside/beside the iSite. Keep an eye out for Ka Rawe signage on the vehicle & we'll see you soon!
15 minutes here
Mount Victoria Lookout
What about this for a first stop! Check out the best vantage point in our beautiful city. Breathtaking 360 degree views of the central business district, the harbour & the ocean to the south. Stunnnnning! Legend has it that Wellington harbour, originally a land-locked lake, was home to two large and very active taniwha (sea monsters). One taniwha forged a passage to the open sea creating the entrance to the harbour. The second, named Whataitai, tried a different route, became stranded and died. It is believed that Tangi-te keo (Mt Victoria) was named after the soul of Whataitai. Probably the best photo opportunity on the tour, our guide/host would be delighted to be your personal photographer for the day. What a beautiful city!
15 minutes here
Lyall Bay
We head due south to our stunning coastline, passing through Lyall Bay as we go. Did you know that no matter where you are in Wellington, you are 3km (1.8 miles) from a beach? How lucky are we!? Lyall Bay is Wellingtons most popular surf beach & even has 2 surf live saving clubs. For those of you that might be fans of the royals, we'll even pass the cafe that Harry & Megan frequented when they were here in 2018. If we're lucky, we might even see one of the Ferries that travel from North Island to South Island, out in the strait. What a ripper of a place!
15 minutes here
Wahine Memorial
We continue around our stunning coastline where you can breathe the fresh, salt air & marvel in the picturesque views. As we turn the corner & in a more sombre moment on the tour, we reflect on Wellingtons worst ever maritime disaster. The Wahine was battling unprecedented winds & many perished on this day the 10th April 1968. Our guides expertly point out what happened & where then bring this to life with some imagery of this event. A sad yet memorable event in New Zealand history.
15 minutes here
Wellington
WETA CAVE Don't be fooled in to thinking we're here to see some New Zealand native insects up close...... Whilst the Weta is a native new zealand cricket like insect, its also the name of a World famous Film & Special Effects company right here in little old Wellington! Arguably Weta is most famous for the incredible work of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, however their impact on the greater industry is much broader than that. Here at the Weta cave, you'll get to purchase some memorabilia, check out some of the items on show in the mini museum & you'll even have a photo opportunity with the Cave Trolls! At Ka Rawe, our guides make great photographers too. e stop at the Weta Cave where you can pop on in & check out some Lord of the Rings memorabilia. Don't forget to take up the photo opportunity with the cave trolls! Once we leave the Weta Cave, we check out the Wellington sign on our travels, this is the one our friends from Hollywood copied!!
20 minutes here
Oriental Bay
We make our way back in to the city around the bay & your guide will keep you informed as we go. We make it around to Oriental Bay known for being both a popular beach and an opulent centre of affluence in the city. Its a little bit pricey around here!. You'll get to see some amazing architecture & perhaps this will be the only "man made" beach you'll ever see in your lives!!? Check out Carter Fountain too. Originally named Duppa Bay after its original sole resident George Duppa, it was renamed to Oriental Bay after one of the first to bring settlers here to Wellington. Spectacular!
Pass by without stopping
Wellington Cable Car
All abooooard! One of the most iconic attractions in Wellington is our Cable car. Some of you might refer to it as a funicular. Take a short ride up to the suburb of Kelburn at a leisurely pace where you'll get to enjoy more spectacular views of Wellington on arrival. At the top of ride you'll be met by your guide (who will have dropped you off at t the bottom) & you'll also get to check out the Cable car museum whilst there. Souvenirs are available for purchase at the museum too. Your ride on the Cable Car is included in your tour price.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Lady Norwood Rose Garden
Pretty! Part of the sweeping Wellington Botanical Gardens is the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. Did you know that in 2015, the Lady Norwood Rose Garden received the Garden of Excellence award from the World Federation of Rose Societies? Well you do now! Over 110 unique varieties of flowers reside here & when they are in full bloom (November - April), she's bloody pretty! We take a short stop, grab some fresh air & enjoy the visual delights that the Rose Garden offers. Beautiful.
15 minutes here
New Zealand Parliament
Welcome to the Parliament’s grounds, which are used regularly for many kinds of public gatherings. From the grounds you can admire Parliament’s buildings, the flags on the many flagpoles, the rose and camellia gardens, fine ironwork on the gates and lamp standards, and commemorative statues and plaques. Two New Zealand flags are flown every day on the forecourt, in front of Parliament House. Other flags may be flown between the New Zealand flags to mark special visits or occasions. The design of Parliament’s iron gates incorporates the initials of King George V, who was the monarch when the gates were made. There are several statues and plaques in Parliament’s grounds. The most prominent is a bronze statue of Richard John Seddon at the front of the main forecourt. Richard John Seddon was New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister. He was Prime Minister from 1893 to 1906. We also check out the Beehive, the name for the Executive Wing of New Zealand Parliament Buildings
15 minutes here
Wellington
DROP OFF Wow! Hopefully you'll agree that we've packed loads of Wellington goodness in to your time spent with us today. However as the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We offer a few different locations for you to get dropped off & don't forget that Wellington is a very small, compact city that is easy to get around & you're never too far from where you want to be. Our recommendation is that we drop you to Te Papa. Not only is Te Papa New Zealand's national museum but it is also centrally located for wherever your final destination may be. What a day out!
15 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Wellington
Those who are coming in on a cruise ship must make the short walk to the collection point at 94 Waterloo Quay.
Meeting point
Wellington
Those who have nominated the collection point, please go to 217 Wakefield Street & wait at the pick up point. Keep an eye out for a van or vehicle with Ka Rawe signage. We look forward to seeing you!
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Those who are coming in on a cruise ship must make the short walk to the collection point at 94 Waterloo Quay.
Ends at
Those who have nominated the collection point, please go to 217 Wakefield Street & wait at the pick up point. Keep an eye out for a van or vehicle with Ka Rawe signage. We look forward to seeing you!
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 11 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Ka Rawe Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We hop out of the van on 3 or 4 occasions throughout the trip for photos & fresh air!
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 193 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
193 verified traveler reviews for 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Awesome tour
Nathan was fantastic, driving us around in a luxury Mercedes van, taking in a range of sites and learning some interesting things about Wellington. We appreciated the way we were engaged and the tour customised to meet our particular interests. We left the tour feeling like friends who had enjoyed a wonderful experience together. Our only regret is that we didn’t plan to spend more time in Wellington on this trip, as there were so many places we would have liked to explore further.
Response from the operator: Hi Darren & Trish. Thanks for your review & for booking with our family owned business. You guys were super guests, I appreciate you letting me share all the goodness around my own home town. Thanks also for taking such an interest in Ka Rawe Tours. Loved your ideas & I have something to add to my business plan 🤓 Travel safe, see you next time & carry on being 5 star guests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Viator
Wonderful Welly
Great day and experience! Our guide Nathan was very knowledgeable and personable too! He made our trip around Wellington sites very fun and engaging!
Response from the operator: Thanks Amanda & Theodora for booking your family with our family owned business😁 You guys were great guests so thanks for spending time here in Wellington. Travel safe! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Tripadvisor
A must do when in Wellington!
Highly recommended! A perfect way to see the highlights of Wellington in a short period of time. Nathan was friendly, shared lots of local knowledge and was happy to answer all our questions.
Response from the operator: And you guys come highly recommended as guests! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We appreciate you booking with our family owned business & spending time in our home town Wellington. Travel safe & see you next time!
via Viator
Incredible Experience!!!
Absolutely incredible experience. Talked through by Nathan. Very interesting, funny, Beautiful experience, and we learnt a lot throughout the tour! Could not recommend this any more! Nathan was so so engaging, personable, down to earth, and made us feel extremely comfortable being only two on the tour. Highly recommend. From Charlotte ad Emma from Melbourne, Australia
Response from the operator: Hey Emma & Charlotte! We appreciate you booking with our family owned business. It was my pleasure to have you guys, thanks for sharing some time in my home town. Safe travels, stay healthy & I appreciate you being 5 star guests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Viator
In half a day, we managed...
In half a day, we managed to catch a glimpse of the beautiful city of Wellington. Nathan was extremely informative. He made it all worthwhile! Thank you, Nathan. Best Wishes, Vimala
Response from the operator: Hey Vimala! Thanks for booking with our family owned business 😁 You guys were a lot of fun, thanks for adding your energy to our group. Have a safe journey & return trip to Singapore. 5 star guests 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $74 to $128
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 68
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Ka Rawe Tours, who run 9 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 62.8.
See everything Ka Rawe Tours runsWhy this scores 85
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Wellington.
How much does 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) cost?
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Prices start at $74 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Wellington usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) take?
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Plan for about 3.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Wellington is not rushed.
Is 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 85 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 194 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Wellington, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)?
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Around 68 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Wellington can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Wellington and add a light layer if any part of the 3.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Wellington within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Wellington?
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On Outty we rank every Wellington experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Overnight Experience Tour on Kapiti Island, Martinborough Wine and Wild Coast Tour from Wellington, Wellington: Wētā Workshop 90-minute Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Wellington?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Wellington?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)?
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Included: Includes admission costs on Cable car ride. Not included: Bottled water; and Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 29 listed pickup locations in and around Wellington. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time.
What languages is 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses) if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Wellington. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about 1/2 Day Guided Wellington Tour incl. Cable Car (Vans not buses)?
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Across 194 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, small groups. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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