Passengers on Cruise ships
A busy time in Wellington Harbour
A special welcome awaits you for your day in Wellington.
Bookings are now open for the 2023-2024 season.
Follow this link to see the schedule of cruise ship arrivals:
If you are spending a day in Wellington as a part of your cruise, and want to join a walking tour of Wellington City, there are two options available to you.
These walks depart from the i-SITE Visitor Centre 111 Wakefield St at Cuba St; which is very close to the final drop-off point for the shuttle buses from your ship.
See below for an image of the i-SITE visitor centre.
Option 1. Heritage/Cable Car walk – departs 9.30am
Guests from cruise ships as well as independent travellers are welcome to book for this tour. This walk operates when cruise ships are in port, from early November to mid April.
The route includes a ‘skip the queue’ (for our guests from North America skip the line ) ride up in the Cable Car, followed by a downhill walk through the Botanic Garden and Rose Gardens, Thorndon Heritage area, and the Parliamentary precinct.
A brief refreshment stop is available in the Rose Garden. The Cable Car fare is included in the cost, but not refreshments.
The Botanic Gardens part of the walk is downhill with some steep sections and some steps. The city part is essentially on the flat.
This walk is not recommended for people in wheelchairs or with mobility issues.
This one-way walk departing at 9.30am from the i-SITE in Wakefield St at Cuba St, finishes by 1.00pm in the Parliamentary precinct at the northern end of our city. Your guide will ensure you know how best to return to your shuttle bus pick-up point or for you to continue to your next point of interest.
If your ship has a later arrival time, so that you cannot make the 9.30am start time, then contact us to see if a different start time can be arranged.
The $NZ 45.00 charge for this walk is to be paid at least 48 hours before the start time, to confirm your booking and to enable us to schedule our volunteer guides. Any non-booked accompanying guests are welcome to join the tour if space is available, and can pay the guide directly in $NZ. Please note that the walk will only take place if attendees are confirmed.
Note that under the current Covid alert levels, masks are recommended on public transport (Cable car)
We are happy to assure you that if your cruise ship schedule is changed we will automatically arrange a full refund including any booking fees. You do not need to cancel the booking.
Bookings for this walk can be made by following this link to our booking page.
On the day of the walk you will be met by our guide in green, who will be holding a green sign.
Because it is not possible for us to advertise this walk on the cruise ship, we would appreciate it if you could advise and encourage fellow travellers by Cruise Critic or other ways, so that more guests can book with us.
If you need any further information please email information@walkwellington.org.nz or by following this link Walk Wellington
Option 2. Essential Wellington Walk - departs 10am.
After arriving on the shuttle near the i-SITE Visitor Centre at 111 Wakefield St at Cuba St you can book to join the public regular 10am Essential Wellington Walk, if you have not already booked in advance.
On the day of the walk you will be met by our guide in green.
The route includes the waterfront, Queens Wharf, Old Bank Arcade, Lambton Quay, Supreme Court*, Old Government Buildings, Parliamentary precinct and Old St Paul's Cathedral.
This one-way walk departing at 10.00am from the i-SITE in Wakefield St at Cuba St, finishes by 12.30pm in the Parliamentary precinct at the northern end of our city. Your guide will ensure you know how best to return to your shuttle bus pick-up point or to continue to your next point of interest.
Details of this walk are included in the Essential Wellington Walk page.
We are happy to assure you that if your cruise ship schedule is changed we will automatically arrange a full refund including any booking fees. You do not need to cancel the booking.
The $NZ 25.00 charge for this walk can be booked in advance by following this link to our booking page.
If you need any further information please email information@walkwellington.org.nz or by following this link Walk Wellington
*Entry to the Supreme Court requires security screening.
i-SITE Visitor Centre where you will be met by your guide.
Old Government Building
