Wellington Tramway Museum
EST-1965
Next Operating Day:
Saturday 7th June 2025
Sunday 8th June 2025
Trams Depart from our Depot approximately every 30 Minutes.
We are open from 11am, and the last tram Departs for the Beach at 4PM
Tramway Location:
The Tramway is located in Queen Elizabeth Park on the Kapiti Coast, North of Wellington.
Follow the signs saying "Tram Rides and Museum", and our Museum is Located just inside the Gates of the McKay's Crossing Entrance to the Park.
Ticket Prices:
Adult $12
Child $6 (5-15yrs, Under 5s are Free)
Family $30 (2 Adults and up-to 3 Children)
Tickets are valid on day of issue only, and are valid for unlimited Tram Rides to the Beach and Return.
Dogs are welcome on the tram at anytime, but we do ask that Dogs are on a leash while the tram is in motion
Our Museum
Our Museum and Tram Barns are open to the Public on all operating days.
You can see all types of Tramway Memorabilia, The Trams that are not in operation, as well as one of the original Wellington Cable Cars.
There is also a Mock Tram from Kids and Adults alike to take the controls and feel what it's like to drive one of our trams. We also have on display models of trams from around the world, and scenes of tramways from around New Zealand, along with a Lego MOC of our very own Tram Barn and Trams.
Should you wish to have a rest, the Tramway Cinema is playing scenes from Wellington city from when the trams ruled the streets, as well as a video showcasing our trams during a Kapiti Heritage Weekend Event.
Our Kiosk
Our Kiosk is open during operating days for you to purchase your tram tickets.
We also have for sale - Ice Creams, Snacks, and Drinks. You can also browse the small selection of Souvenirs we have on offer.
For the Kids, young and old, we have Lego Models of all three tram types. We also sell Books, a yearly Calendar (usually available around September/October), Pens, Hats and Beanies, and Keyrings/Magnets.
Hires
The Tramway is available for Hire. We can work within your needs.
We do require two (2) weeks notice minimum for any special bookings, and we can cater for Birthday parties, Weddings, Educational trips, or if you have something going on within the Park, Talk to us about offering a transport service for your event.
Email: Info@WellingtonTrams.org.nz for more infomation.
About Us
Early Years
The Wellington Tramway Museum, was incorporated in 1964 as a non-profit organization to preserve tramcars and other items of tramway interest, to establish and operate a working tramcar museum and to foster an interest in the heritage of the Trams that used to rule the streets of Wellington City.
The trams date from the 1900’s through to 1930’s and were used in Wellington City until closure of the last tram routes. some closing in the early 1960's, with the last closing in the mid 1960’s.
They are now lovingly cared for and operated by volunteer members of the Wellington Tramway Museum.
Seven Wellington trams were transported from the Newtown tram sheds in Wellington a few weeks after the closure of Wellington's last tram route on 2 May 1964. After a period of temporary storage all had arrived at Oueen Elizabeth Park by mid-1965.
Rails were obtained from the contractors who were taking them out of Wellington's streets as scrap.
Photo: Aaron Jonassen
They were repaired and laid by Museum members who also erected the overhead wires and installed a 500 volt direct current power supply- initially a generator in a diesel bus.
By February of 1965 the official opening of the tramway took place on a stretch of track no longer than about 100 Meters, and from the 19th December 1965 a total length of operable track had reached approximately 200 meters.
1965 - 1996
Over the coming years, the completion and installation of a permanent (mercury-arc) power supply (1970), the main tram barn and museum (1978) we also have large storage building at the rear of our leased property (1982), together with track extensions in 1985 and to the current Beach picnic area (1988). there have been other further improvements made with the installation of a tram maintenance pit (1993) and the large tram workshop building (1996).
1997 - 2025
Today, our trams run over a length of track 2 Kilometers in length, 4 Kilometers for a return journey. A return trip takes about 20-25 minutes, and you travel through the natural wetlands, and sand dunes of Queen Elizabeth Park.
The museum is one of the main stay attractions of the park, and offers unique scenic perspective of travel, giving a glimpse into travel of days gone by when the trams used to rule the streets of Wellington City.
Looking ahead into the future, while there are no plans to extend our track further, there is heaps of restoration projects we want to complete, ever expanding our operating fleet and expanding the story we are telling.