Wellington City Guide - Getting Around

The Greater Wellington Regional Council's operates a good network of buses, running roughly 0700-2300. Metlink (tel: 0800 801 700; website: www.metlink.org.nz) can provide information on routes and timetables. The City Circular (website: www.stagecoach.co.nz/citycircular) is a bright yellow bus taking in the top stops of the city every 15 minutes from 1000-1645. Ideal for visitors, it operates daily. Stagecoach Wellington (website: www.stagecoach.co.nz) operates most bus services to suburban areas. Several passes are available, including the StarPass, the Daytripper Pass, the Metlink Explorer Pass and the Discovery Pass. A cable car runs operates from Lambton Quay up to the Botanic Garden. It runs daily (see Key Attractions for further information).

There are several taxi stands throughout the city. Black & Gold Taxis (tel: (04) 388 8888) and Wellington Combined Taxis (tel: (04) 384 4444; website: www.taxis.co.nz) are both reputable companies.

Car rental companies in downtown Wellington include: Avis (tel: (04) 801 8108; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (04) 802 4548; website: www.budget.co.nz), Hertz (tel: (04) 384 3809; website: www.hertz.co.nz). All, plus Thrifty (tel: (04) 388 9494 or 0800 737 070; website: www.thrifty.co.nz) also have desks at the airport and at the ferry terminal.

Penny Farthing Cycle Shop, 89 Courtenay Place (tel: (04) 385 2279; website: www.pennyfarthing.co.nz) hires out bikes (including mountain bikes) for the day or longer. So do Pins Cycles on the corner of Willis and Boulcott streets (tel: (04) 472 4591) and Mud Cycles, 338 Karori Road (tel: (04) 476 4961).

Exploring hilly Wellington by scooter is less taxing, however, than by bike. Scootour, 70 Abel Smith Street Te Aro (tel: (04) 384 7679; website: www.scootour.co.nz) hire scooters and mopeds, and all you need is a car driving licence.