Metlink Buses

Wellington's bus network is run by Metlink and covers most of the city and the Hutt Valley. Buses are generally reliable during peak times but can be affected by Wellington's hilly terrain and weather. The central hub is the Wellington Railway Station and Bunny Street.

Snapper Card

The Snapper card is the easiest way to pay for bus trips. You can buy one at supermarkets, dairies, and the Snapper kiosk at the Railway Station. Tap on when you board and tap off when you leave. Fares are cheaper with Snapper than with cash. Adult fares range from $1.20 to $4.50 depending on zones.

Key Bus Routes

Number 1: Johnsonville to Island Bay via the city — one of the most useful routes
Number 2: Miramar to Karori via the CBD
Number 3: Tawatawa to Lyall Bay
Number 7: Kingston to Wellington Station
Airport Flyer: Route 91 (Airport to city via Kilbirnie)

Trains

Wellington's commuter rail network connects the city to the northern suburbs, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Trains depart from Wellington Railway Station, a beautiful heritage building on Bunny Street.

Johnsonville Line: to Johnsonville, Khandallah, Newlands (electric)
Kapiti Line: to Porirua, Paraparaumu, Waikanae (longest line, about 1 hour to Waikanae)
Hutt Valley Line: to Petone, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt
Melling Line: to Melling in Lower Hutt

Train fares use the same Snapper card system. An off-peak trip from Porirua to Wellington costs around $5–$7.

Wellington Cable Car

The iconic red cable car runs from Lambton Quay to Kelburn. It's both a commuter service for Victoria University and Kelburn residents and a must-do tourist attraction. The trip takes about 5 minutes and offers spectacular views of the city and harbour. At the top you'll find the Cable Car Museum, the Botanic Garden, and the Space Place planetarium.

A single adult trip is about $5 return. Snapper cards work on the cable car. It runs every 10 minutes from 7am to 10pm on weekdays.

Ferries

The East By West Ferry runs from Queens Wharf to Days Bay in Eastbourne, with stops at Matiu/Somes Island. It's a scenic way to commute or explore the harbour. The service runs weekdays and weekends. A return trip to Days Bay costs around $22 for an adult.

Cycling and E-Scooters

Wellington is a compact city and cycling is growing in popularity, though hills can be challenging. E-bikes are increasingly common. Key cycle routes include the waterfront path (Oriental Parade to Petone) and the Hutt River Trail.

E-scooters from Lime, Beam, and Flamingo are available for hire across the city centre. They're great for short trips but watch out for Wellington's hills and windy conditions.

Driving in Wellington

Parking in the CBD is expensive ($4–$8 per hour, or $25–$50 per day in car parks). Many residents in central suburbs don't own a car. If you drive, be prepared for narrow streets, one-way systems, and the Mount Victoria Tunnel. The Terrace Tunnel connects the CBD to Kelburn and Thorndon.

How Fares Work: Snapper, Zones and Caps

Wellington's transport payments run on the Snapper card, and the mechanism rewards regular users. Buy a Snapper (about $10 at supermarkets, dairies and the Railway Station kiosk), top it up, and tap on and off every bus and train — card fares are cheaper than cash, and the system caps your daily spend so frequent riders never pay more than the cap. Adult bus fares range from about $1.20 to $4.50 depending on zones, and the same card works on trains and the cable car.

In 2026 the network is anchored by the rail lines (Johnsonville, Kapiti, Hutt Valley, Melling) radiating from Wellington Railway Station, the high-frequency bus routes (Number 1 Johnsonville–Island Bay, Number 2 Miramar–Karori), and the Airport Flyer. The practical consequence: a commuter from Johnsonville or Tawa pays roughly $40–$50 a week by train versus $150+ a week to run a car — and skips the CBD parking problem entirely.

Getting Around Without a Car: What Actually Works

Wellington is one of New Zealand's most car-optional cities. The CBD is compact and walkable, the cable car handles the Kelburn hill, the East By West ferry covers the harbour crossing to Days Bay and Matiu/Somes Island, and e-scooters (Lime, Beam, Flamingo) fill the short-trip gaps. For cycling, the flat waterfront path (Oriental Parade to Petone) and the Hutt River Trail are the practical commuter routes, with e-bikes making the hills viable for most people.

The mechanism that makes car-free living work: choose your suburb for the commute first. Live within 15 minutes' walk of a train station or a high-frequency bus route, and a car becomes a weekend rental rather than a monthly bill. Families in the outer suburbs will still want one, but a surprising number of central Wellington households manage with zero cars plus a Mevo or CityHop share car for the big shops.

Action Plan: Getting Around Efficiently

Buy a Snapper card in your first week — it is the single biggest transport saving available.
For the airport, take the Airport Flyer bus (route 91) — far cheaper than a taxi or Uber.
Use the cable car as a commuter service to Kelburn, not just a tourist ride — it's a working part of the network.
Take the ferry to Days Bay for the scenic commute or a weekend outing (about $22 return).
If you drive, budget $4–$8 an hour (or $25–$50 a day) for CBD parking and pre-book online; the Mount Victoria and Terrace Tunnels are the weekday pinch points.
Plan around the wind: the cable car and some ferry sailings suspend in strong nor'westers — check before you set out.