Your guide to cruise in Wellington

When your cruise ship arrives into Te Whanganui a Tara you’ll have a spectacular view of New Zealand’s capital city. Wellington has a flat, compact downtown area, surrounded by green hills. You can fit a lot into one day, so make the most of your time by visiting unique sites, meeting some friendly locals, or doing some shopping.

Wellington welcomes ships of all sizes each season. From small expeditions to large ships carrying 4,000-plus people.

From port to city

Cruise ships dock at CentrePort, a short shuttle ride into the city. Passengers cannot walk off the busy port. Shuttles operate non-stop loops between port and the downtown stop during the day. The last shuttle is around an hour before sailing departure. Allow enough time to return to port on the shuttle as taxis are not permitted to pick up or drop off at port.

Shuttles pass by the region’s largest sports stadium and Wellington Railway Station before dropping passengers off on Lower Lambton Quay. This is Wellington’s main retail street. The cruise shuttle stop is opposite New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings and outside the historic Old Government Buildings.

Information and ambassadors

Each season, Wellington City Ambassadors are ready to greet you at key locations around the city. Dressed in black and yellow, these local volunteers provide a friendly welcome to Wellington. They will have a handy map specifically for cruise visitors and can help you with information and directions. There is also an information container dockside. Here, you can pick up brochures and maps and find suggestions for making the most of your day.

Meeting friends or family

Friends and family cannot pick up or drop off from the port. You can meet them at the cruise shuttle stop or somewhere central, such as the Wellington Railway Station, the isite, or their favourite café.

Getting around

It’s easy to explore the downtown area on foot, and bike hire options are also available from Queens Wharf. If you want to catch a public bus to one of Wellington’s key attractions, you can pay your fare to the driver with New Zealand money. Credit cards are not accepted.

Plan your journey with Metlink

The basics

Banks do not offer currency exchange services so use one of the bureau de changes or an ATM near the cruise shuttle stop if you need cash. The main shopping areas have pharmacies, supermarkets, and postal services.