Cable Car Museum - Museums Wellington
Source: https://www.museumswellington.org.nz/cable-car-museum
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:39
Cable Car Museum - Museums Wellington
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Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Space Place
Wāhi Haumaru
Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
About
Mō Mātou
Our Story
Ngā Kōrero
Our Museums
Ngā Whare Taonga
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Nairn Street Cottage
Space Place
Wāhi Haumaru
Cable Car Museum
Careers
Umanga
What’s On
Ngā Kaupapa Whakatairanga
Venue Hire
Rēti Wāhi
Our Venues
Ngā Wāhi
Venues at Wellington Museum
Ngā Wāhi i Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Venues at Space Place
Ngā Wāhi i Te Wāhi Haumaru
Birthday Parties
Ngā Pāti Rā Whānau
Recommended Caterers
Ētahi Kaitaka Kai
Learn
Ako
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
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Wellington Museum
Cable Car Museum
Nairn Street Cottage
Space Place
Cable Car
Located in the original winding house for the cable car system and set over two floors, the museum houses the winding mechanism operational from 1902 until 1978. It’s also home to two of the original grip cars that operated on the line.
Step back in time to see how Wellington’s most iconic transport system has developed.
Prefer to watch or listen instead of reading? Our NZSL interpreted video guide contains key information to help plan your visit, including accessibility details and what to expect.
Grip Car No. 3
‘Grip Car No. 3’ was used in the early 1900s. It’s unique because the grip man’s cabin with the main controls and brakes is located right in the middle. Despite this seemingly awkward configuration, it’s an elegant piece of machinery. Beautifully restored, it evokes an earlier time of technological progress and late Victorian innovation.
Original Winding Machine
Past the grip car you’ll enter the winding machine room, which was fully operational from 1930 to 1978. This was the nerve centre of the cable car system, and here you’ll see the machinery once used to haul the cable cars up the hill to the summit. The engineering skill, innovation and technology that was used to transport many Wellingtonians and visitors for over a century is simply fascinating.
The Relentless Red Rattler
See one of the red cable cars that were used from the 1950s to the late 1970s. Take a seat on the ‘Relentless Red Rattler’ – so called because of the rattling noise it produced when going up and down the steep incline and through the tunnels. Follow the history of the cable car and see a short film about the evolution of Wellington’s iconic transport system from the 1900s to the present day.
The Cable Car Museum is located next to the Kelburn terminus of the cable car, with its breathtaking views of Wellington city and its harbour as well as access to the Botanic Garden.
Cable Car History
Support Us
Donate Now
Accessibility
See our Cable Car Museum events, courses and more.
See Our Events
HOURS
Our hours are 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week.
Free General Admission.
Bookings are essential for all
school groups
, tour groups and commercial operators. Charges may apply.
CONTACT US
T: +64 4 475 3578
Contact Us
HOW TO FIND US
1A Upland Road, Kelburn
The Museum is located at the top of the Cable Car, a ten minute ride from Lambton Quay.
Home
Kāinga
Home
Kāinga
About
Mō Mātou
Our Story
Ngā Kōrero
Our Tours
Ngā Haerenga
Our Museums
Ngā Whare Taonga
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Space Place
Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi
Nairn Street Cottage
Te Wahi i Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
Careers
Umanga
What’s Online
Kaupapa Ā-Ipurangi
Museum Blog
What’s On
Ngā Kaupapa Whakatairanga
Venue Hire
Rēti Wāhi
Our Venues
Ngā Wāhi
Venues at Wellington Museum
Ngā Wāhi i Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Venues at Space Place
Ngā Wāhi i Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi
Venue at Nairn Street Cottage
Te Wahi i Nairn Street Cottage
Birthday Parties
Ngā Pāti Rā Whānau
Recommended Caterers
Ētahi Kaitaka Kai
Learn
Ako
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Space Place
Te Ara Whānui ki te Rangi
Nairn Street Cottage
Te Wahi i Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
Education Blog
Rangitaki Mātauranga
Store
Toa
Donate Today
Takoha mai i tēnei rā
Friends of Wellington
Cable Car Museum
Space Place
Wellington Museum
Nairn Street Cottage
Skip to content
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Space Place
Wāhi Haumaru
Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
About
Mō Mātou
Our Story
Ngā Kōrero
Our Museums
Ngā Whare Taonga
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Nairn Street Cottage
Space Place
Wāhi Haumaru
Cable Car Museum
Careers
Umanga
What’s On
Ngā Kaupapa Whakatairanga
Venue Hire
Rēti Wāhi
Our Venues
Ngā Wāhi
Venues at Wellington Museum
Ngā Wāhi i Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Venues at Space Place
Ngā Wāhi i Te Wāhi Haumaru
Birthday Parties
Ngā Pāti Rā Whānau
Recommended Caterers
Ētahi Kaitaka Kai
Learn
Ako
Wellington Museum
Te Waka Huia o Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
Nairn Street Cottage
Cable Car Museum
Education at Space Place
Education Blog
Rangitaki Mātauranga
Support Us
Tautoko
Friends of Wellington
Museum Blog
Te Kāpata Te Curio
Store
Toa
Wellington Museum
Cable Car Museum
Nairn Street Cottage
Space Place
Cable Car
Located in the original winding house for the cable car system and set over two floors, the museum houses the winding mechanism operational from 1902 until 1978. It’s also home to two of the original grip cars that operated on the line.
Step back in time to see how Wellington’s most iconic transport system has developed.
Prefer to watch or listen instead of reading? Our NZSL interpreted video guide contains key information to help plan your visit, including accessibility details and what to expect.
Grip Car No. 3
‘Grip Car No. 3’ was used in the early 1900s. It’s unique because the grip man’s cabin with the main controls and brakes is located right in the middle. Despite this seemingly awkward configuration, it’s an elegant piece of machinery. Beautifully restored, it evokes an earlier time of technological progress and late Victorian innovation.
Original Winding Machine
Past the grip car you’ll enter the winding machine room, which was fully operational from 1930 to 1978. This was the nerve centre of the cable car system, and here you’ll see the machinery once used to haul the cable cars up the hill to the summit. The engineering skill, innovation and technology that was used to transport many Wellingtonians and visitors for over a century is simply fascinating.
The Relentless Red Rattler
See one of the red cable cars that were used from the 1950s to the late 1970s. Take a seat on the ‘Relentless Red Rattler’ – so called because of the rattling noise it produced when going up and down the steep incline and through the tunnels. Follow the history of the cable car and see a short film about the evolution of Wellington’s iconic transport system from the 1900s to the present day.
The Cable Car Museum is located next to the Kelburn terminus of the cable car, with its breathtaking views of Wellington city and its harbour as well as access to the Botanic Garden.
Cable Car History
Support Us
Donate Now
Accessibility
See our Cable Car Museum events, courses and more.
See Our Events
HOURS
Our hours are 10am to 5pm, 7 days a week.
Free General Admission.
Bookings are essential for all
school groups
, tour groups and commercial operators. Charges may apply.
CONTACT US
T: +64 4 475 3578
Contact Us
HOW TO FIND US
1A Upland Road, Kelburn
The Museum is located at the top of the Cable Car, a ten minute ride from Lambton Quay.