Wellington Transport

Wellington International Airport is located just five miles east of the city centre at the base of Mout Victoria. Both international and domestic flights operate from its single terminal. The national carrier Air New Zealand handles the majority of flights into Wellington, followed by other big airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Air New Zealand Link and Soundsair Ltd run short domestic hops between the North and South islands.

The terminal has ATMs, a Travelex currency exchange office, three restaurants, gift shops and a duty-free outlet. The Wellington Airport Visitor Information Centre on the first level is a useful place for transport and tourism services.

The quickest way to get from the airport to the city is on the two-lane tunnel road which cuts through Mount Victoria. For a more scenic start to your visit, consider taking the longer but more interesting route via Oriental Parade.

There are several shuttle companies which provide transport into the city. Super Shuttle, which follows a fixed route between the terminal, city centre and railway station, is the cheapest option. Shuttle companies such as Stagecoach Flyer and others provide door-to-door service for a slightly higher fare. These shuttles operate every day from 05:30 until 20:20, departing from the terminal every 30 minutes. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Taxi stands can be found directly outside the terminal, and all major car rental firms have offices at the airport should you choose to rent your own car.

If you don’t arrive by air, or are already in New Zealand, Wellington can be reached by train, coach or ferry. Long-distance trains arrive and depart from the Wellington Railway Station located at Waterloo Quay. Coach companies such as InterCity and Newmans also operate out of the railway station and service every town on the North Island. Magic Travellers Network and Kiwi Experience coach companies also service Wellington from a number of destinations.

To travel between the South Island and Wellington, travellers can take the Interislander Wellington-Picton ferry. There are two main ferry companies operating year-round, and ferries arrive and depart from Waterloo Quay twice each day. Drivers will find that Wellington is easily reached via highways 1 and 2, which terminate at the city.

Thanks to its compact nature and excellent public transport system, Wellington can easily be explored without a car. Most attractions are clustered around specific districts which are best explored on foot. To cover a greater distance, Stagecoach local buses are a great option. These buses run every day between 07:00 and 23:30, covering most of the city and its suburbs. The main bus station is at Lambton Interchange next to the railway station.

An even better transport option for visitors are the bright yellow City Circular buses, which run in a continual loop past the 10 most popular tourist attractions in the city. These buses run daily from 06:00 until 23:00, except on Sundays when they run from 08:00 to 22:30. The Daytrippers pass is a good choice if you plan to use the Stagecoach or City Circular a lot in one day. Taxis are plentiful in Wellington and easy to find, especially at tourist sites.

The Dominion Post Ferry can take you from Queen’s Wharf to nearby coastal spots like Days Bay. Use the cable car that departs from Lambton Quay daily from 07:00 until 22:00 if you want to reach the Botanic Garden or Mount Victoria. If you want to get outside Wellington to interesting destinations like the Hutt Valley, Kapiti coast or Wairarapa wine country, use the Tranz Metro train which has its main station on Bunny street.