Wellington Cable Car Station, Wellington

Wellington Cable Car Station, Wellington

The Wellington Cable Car is an quintessential feature of Wellington, serving as a practical mode of transport and a popular tourist attraction. This funicular railway connects Lambton Quay, the heart of Wellington's shopping district, with the residential suburb of Kelburn, perched in the hills overlooking the city. The journey covers a vertical distance of 120 meters (394 feet) and takes roughly five minutes to travel one way.

As a symbol of Wellington, the Cable Car is distinguished not just by its utility but by its unique characteristics. It operates with two cars that are connected by a 30-mm diameter cable, allowing them to start from opposite ends of the line and pass each other in the middle with the help of a sophisticated system of 120 rollers and a pulley located at the hill's summit. This system is a hallmark of a funicular railway, where cars are permanently attached to the cable, contrasting with traditional cable cars that grip and release a continuously moving cable.

The design of the Cable Car is meticulously tailored to the steep gradient it traverses. The cars feature internal steps to ensure floors remain horizontal, and their wheels are specially designed to guide them correctly at the mid-way passing loop at Talavera. With a normal operating speed of 18 km/h (11.2 mph), each car can transport up to 100 passengers, balancing capacity and efficiency.

Annually, the Cable Car is used by nearly a million people, catering to a diverse group of commuters, tourists, students, and locals seeking access to the Wellington Botanic Garden and Victoria University. Its significance is further highlighted by the Cable Car Museum, housed in the original winding house with an extension completed in 2006. The museum showcases the rich history of this transportation system, including original grip cars and the electric winding gear, providing visitors with a glimpse into the past and present of Wellington's beloved Cable Car.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Wellington. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Wellington Cable Car Station on Map

Sight Name: Wellington Cable Car Station
Sight Location: Wellington, New Zealand (See walking tours in Wellington)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Wellington, New Zealand

Create Your Own Walk in Wellington

Create Your Own Walk in Wellington

Creating your own self-guided walk in Wellington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Buildings Walking Tour

The first immigrants to New Zealand brought along their sense of style. Most of the country's first settlers, if not all of them, were Britishers; the capital city was no exception. The latter fact is duly reflected in Wellington's historical architecture. These buildings offer a glimpse into the city's past and add a great deal of charm to the cityscape. Let's take a quick...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Wellington Introduction Walking Tour

Wellington Introduction Walking Tour

Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and the country's second-largest city after Auckland. It also has the distinction of being the world's windiest city by average wind speed.

The city was designed by Captain William Mein Smith in 1840. He was the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company. The name comes from Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles