Wellington Cave to Coast Highlights Tour (5 Hours with Lunch)
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Wellington, New Zealand
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
First-time visitors to Wellington who want to see some of the capital’s must-visit attractions as well as its less-frequented spots will love this small-group half-day tour. Head up to the Mt. Victoria Lookout for panoramic views, learn more about “The Lord of the Rings” at the Weta Workshop Studios, take a drive around the scenic Miramar Peninsula, and more. Enjoy an optional ride on the iconic Wellington Cable Car.
- Pack as much into your day as possible with a private driver
- Customize the tour with a range of optional city stop offs
- Recharge with lunch and a drink by the sea at a seaside restaurant
- Includes round-trip hotel or port transfers
What's Included
- Lunch
- Local driver/guide with live commentary on board
- Hotel or cruise ship pickup and drop-off
- Small group tour
- Gratuities
- Cable Car tickets (optional)NZ$6.50 per person
- Old St. Paul’s Cathedral (Optional)NZ$5.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
1
Mount Victoria
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Weta Workshop Experiences
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Shelly Bay
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Te Kopahou Visitor Centre
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Wellington Wind Turbine
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Wellington Cable Car
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
7
Lady Norwood Rose Garden
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
8
Old St. Paul's
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them to board and disembark
- To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, participants must be able to enter and exit our vans unassisted, using steps and grab rails. If this basic requirement cannot be met at the start of the tour, our guides reserve the right to decline participation. In such cases, a full refund will be provided.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 259 reviews
Karen_M, Mar 2026
We had a great time touring throughout the city with our driver Peter. He was very knowledgeable and personable. The restaurant that we had lunch at also served very tasty food and had a nice staff.
Danica_G, Mar 2026
We loved our tour, it was a lovely and comfortable way to see the city. Our guide, Athena, was the highlight! Such a kind and knowledgeable lady, she was so friendly! She took us to a lovely out of the way cafe for lunch which was absolutely delicious!
The other hightlight was our travelling companions, in particular a hilarious American chap and his ongoing epic battle with the van seatbelt, he had my friend and I in stitches!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Great to hear such wonderful feedback. Cheers Danica!
Delaine_C, Mar 2026
Gary gave us a wonderful overview of Wellington! The views he showed us were spectacular! The lunch was delicious! It was a great tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Great to hear, Delaine. Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts.
Mark_R, Mar 2026
Steve our guide was awesome! So informative & grew up locally. Excellent itinerary & comfy van. Wellington is so pretty! Loved it
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Great to hear, Mark. Thanks for the feedback and taking the time to leave your review. Steve will be chuffed.
Rhonda_C, Mar 2026
We had door to door service in a comfortable MBZ van that had lots of windows. Our guide, Athena, has a wealth of interesting information about the region. We hit all of Wellington’s highlights. The only disappointment was the much loved Chocolate Fish restaurant was permanently closed in January (thanks to Peter Jackson of Lord of the Rings movie fame, who refused to renew the restaurant’s lease). But the replacement cafe where we stopped for lunch was quite good.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the great feedback Rhonda! Yes, we're all sad to see Choc Fish go :(
Susan_S, Mar 2026
Great way to see sites in Wellington. Stops at main points in the area. Beautiful views and history. Lunch was excellent
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks , Susan. Great to hear you enjoyed the tour!
Kim_K, Mar 2026
Our driver described this as a "whistle stop" tour and that's an accurate description. We stopped at several Wellington highlights and got a good overview of the city. Our driver, Gary, was extremely informative, friendly, and helpful - particularly regarding Maori history and lore. We saw several places in the city, as well as making stops along the south coast.
Be warned, on this tour you will be getting in and out of a van several times. My family was in the very rear of the van and by the end of the tour we felt as though we had folded and unfolded ourselves into the back seat plenty.
I would recommend this for to others.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the wonderful feedback. Glad you enjoyed the tour.
Carla_P, Mar 2026
Small group and beautiful tour of the city and coastline! Lots of stops for taking pictures! Guide was very good. Lunch was delicious!! Well organized!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Great to hear. Thanks for the positive feedback.
John_G, Feb 2026
Very informative. Our tour guide Garry was sensational. Would recommend this tour especially if Garry was going to be looking after you
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks John. Glad to hear it!
MaryAnn_W, Feb 2026
Beautiful scenery and enjoyed our drive around the gorgeous coastline. And the lunch was wonderful. Loved Wellington.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks very much for the kind feedback, Mary Ann. Delighted to hear it as always!
Alexandra_S, Feb 2026
Great excursion. We really enjoyed the tour. Very easy meet up in the terminal. Nice van and small group. Lunch was excellent.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for the great feedback. Glad you enjoyed the day out with us in Wellington.
Michael_P, Feb 2026
We had Gary as our guide who was very experienced and has a lot of local knowledge resulting in a memorable trip for us.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks Mike. Glad you enjoyed the day out in Wellington.
Keith_K, Feb 2026
Great way to see Wellington! Steve, our guide, was just phenomenal! He took us to many scenic sights around the Wellington area. We saw both some historic sights and some great panoramic views of the city. If you want a great overview of Wellington, book this trip!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Great to hear! Much appreciated for taking the time to leave your feedback and Steve will be delighted to receive it.
Koalani_K, Feb 2026
Excellent overview of Wellington. Our guide Gari was an exceptional storyteller and we learned lots of Māori and modern day culture. Lunch was delish and we saw many sights. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks so much. Great to hear! Gary will be delighted!
Emily_N, Feb 2026
BEAUTIFUL!!! Everywhere you go is a stunning view. Loved having a local guide who has lived here all his life.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Great to hear such lovely feedback. Much appreciated.
mahleen_B, Feb 2026
It’s a great way to see Wellington! The restaurant where we had our lunch (included) had a great selection of foods and tasty. Our driver/tour guide Garry was very knowledgeable and a very good driver . Highly recommended
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Great feedback to hear. Thanks very much!
David_C, Feb 2026
Large area covered Gary the guide was excellent and was able to stop regularly as we were small group. Could do with more walking out of van.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for the feedback, David. Glad to hear you enjoyed you day out around Wellington with us.
Rebecca_D, Feb 2026
Phil was wonderful. This was a great tour with so much good information & historic stories. The sights were fantastic. Fantastic lunch! Would definitely recommend using ZoZo travel when in Wellington.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks Becky! Very much my pleasure to host you all in Wellington. Glad you enjoyed the day out in the city!
geoffrey_B, Jan 2026
Time and money well spent on a great tour across a large area which included the coast & beach, with a nice overview of the city, walk through the botanical garden and funicular tram. The included lunch at a café in Miramar neighborhood with excellent local fare and fresh fish was a highlight. Alistar’s insight as a multigenerational local resident and architect enhanced the tour. AC & vent in the van failed periodically, which made it stuffy at times, but I’m sure they will fix that.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks for the very comprehensive review and feedback. Alistair will be delighted to hear your kind words!
Thanks for also highlighting the A/C issue. We followed up on that to sort it! Cheers.
Jacqueline_H, Jan 2026
Highly recommend this tour, our guide Gary was excellent & so informative. We had a great day, saw so much of Wellington & learned so much about the city, culture & New Zealand in general. Thank you for a great day!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thanks for taking the time to leave your review of our city highlights tour. Gary will will be delighted to receive such high praise also.
Thomas_C, Jan 2026
This excursion is very weather dependent. The lower rating given was because much of the potentially great scenery was impacted by rain and fog. The guide and itinerary were fine, but be forewarned if you do not have clear weather you will be disappointed. The positive was the lunch served with the tour was excellent!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Thomas.
We’re pleased to hear that you enjoyed the guide, the itinerary, and especially the lunch — it’s great to know that these aspects of the experience met your expectations.
We do feel it’s important to note, however, that the lower rating appears to be based entirely on weather conditions, which are completely outside our control. While rain and fog can impact visibility, the tour itself ran as advertised and, as you’ve acknowledged, the guiding, itinerary, and inclusions were all delivered as intended. Rating the experience poorly for factors unrelated to the service provided is, in our view, unfair to both our team and future travellers.
We appreciate your feedback and hope you may have the opportunity to experience the region again under clearer skies.
TERESE_K, Jan 2026
This tour is an excellent way to spend a few hours seeing the sights of Wellington. Beautiful panoramic sights and a visit to the Weta studios where you can see and buy some great Lord of the Rings etc collectables. Great opportunity for photos. I will say that even though it may be Summer you will need some warm clothing. The winds are a good part of the whole experience. Our guide Steve was amazing; both very knowledgable and super friendly.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Wonderful to hear. Very much appreciated. Your great feedback has been passed on to Steve also. Cheers!
Indranil_S, Dec 2025
This tour is worth taking to see Wellington. The beauty of the city can be well appreciated from the comfort of the vehicle. The duration was optimal as well, with enough time for pictures and. Catching fresh air. The included lunch was excellent as well. Finally, our tour guide Gary made the trip surpass all expectations. A very friendly and knowledgeable person, he had humor, information and mythological tidbits to share with us. If we could add an extra star, it would be for Gary.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Awesome to hear, thanks Indranil. Your kinds words have been passed on to Gary also!
Virginia_B, Dec 2025
Great tour if you only have a few hours in Wellington. Breath taking views. Lunch at chocolate fish was excellent.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the review, Virginia. Cheers!
Ian_W, Dec 2025
We had a great day on this trip, a big thanks to our local tour guide and driver Gary. We covered alot of ground , and saw far much more than a larger coach tour could of due the ability of the smaller coach to be able to weave around the smaller back streets up to some of the best vantage points such as the Wind Turbine . Garys commentary being a local was very interesting .
we would highly recommend this trip .
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the comprehensive feedback Ian and delighted to hear you enjoyed the day out with Gary!
Joel_G, Dec 2025
Very nice tour of Wellington. Gary was a great guide taking us to very interesting places. We recommend it.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts, Joel. Glad you enjoyed the day out in Wellington.
Dave_S, Dec 2025
Great tour with Allister as our host. A lot of information about Wellington and the surrounding area.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks for the feedback Dave which is always a pleasure to hear!
lanawparker, Nov 2025
Our guide, Michael, was terrific. Great personality and flexible with what our group wanted to do. There was no cave, just a Lord of the Rings tourist store. The beaches and city sightsvwe great, driving to the top of the look out hill was amazing.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Great to hear you enjoyed the day out in Wellington with Mike. Thanks for the kind feedback.
Yes, as mentioned in the tour description and itinerary we visit the Weta Cave which is the retail and museum space associated with the Weta group of companies. Hope you enjoyed it!
Brian_B, Nov 2025
A great day with a knowledgeable guide Gary! The scenery was amazing and we had a delicious lunch! Gary knew the area well and capably answered any questions.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks Brian. Glad your day out in Wellington with Gary was enjoyable and always great to hear such wonderful comments on our city!
Diane_M, Nov 2025
Great day today with Steve who took us all around the harbour of Wellington. Super viewing points for great photo opportunities of the city & Cook Straits. As a born & bred Wellington dweller it was great to hear about Wellington's history,wildlife & daily life. Although we did not stop for lunch at Chocolate Fish Restaurant we had super lunch in another local restaurant. Very delicious. Took cable car to top & walked back down through botanical gardens where Steve was waiting for us. Very accommodating and numerous guide. Thank you
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thanks for the review Diane. Yes, we've had to branch out from just the Chocolate Fish Cafe (with it's impending closure) and are delighted to have found another wonderful lunch partner to visit! Awesome to hear such good stuff about Steve. He's a champ!
From $117.54
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Wellington Cave to Coast Highlights Tour (5 Hours with Lunch)
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