What to expect at Te Papa – in NZSL
Here’s what you need to know before you visit us – from opening hours, entry information for visitors, and maps, to car parking and things to do at Te Papa.
Find out more about museum entry for international visitors.
Map
Getting to Te Papa
Te Papa is at 55 Cable Street, on Wellington’s waterfront.
There are many ways to get to Te Papa.
Walk: It’s easy to walk from the city centre to the museum.
Bus: Most buses stop along Courtenay Place and Willis Street. Te Papa is just a few minutes’ walk away.
Train: It takes 20 minutes to walk along the waterfront from the station to Te Papa.
Taxis: Wellington Combined Taxis have a stand outside Te Papa.
Bikes and kick scooters: We have bike and scooter racks. Borrow a scooter padlock for free at the coat and bag check.
Car parking
Entry road to the Te Papa carpark, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
Enter the car park on Cable Street, by Circa Theatre.
Park for $4 per hour. You can pay with cash, EFTPOS, debit card, or most credit cards.
At the entry gate, take a ticket or use your credit card.
Entrance to Te Papa carpark, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
Carpark ticket dispenser, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
To exit, visitors with tickets pay at the pay station. Credit card holders can pay there or at the exit gate.
Pay station at the carpark exit, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
Using the undercover car park between 8pm and 7am? Press the intercom button by the closed gate. Our Security team will let you in.
Carpark intercom, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
The exit gate opens automatically.
To enter Te Papa from the car park, walk through the gap in the grey wall, towards Circa Theatre.
Towards the main entrance of Te Papa from the carpark, 2020. Photo by Jack Fisher. Te Papa
Read more about parking at Te Papa
In an emergency
If the building is evacuated, red lights on the ceiling will flash in major exhibitions and in most toilets. Alarms will also sound. Hosts will guide you to the nearest emergency exit.
Rules at Te Papa
We have three main rules to protect our treasures.
You can’t eat or drink in the museum
You can buy food and drinks at our two cafes, but please don’t take them into other spaces. You can eat your own snacks and lunch outdoors in the Amphitheatre.
You can’t take photos in some places
You can’t take photos of areas with ‘no camera’ signs. You’re welcome to take photos in other areas, but please don’t use tripods or flash photography.
You can only touch objects that have a ‘touch’ sign
You’ll see a ‘touch’ sign on the objects you’re allowed to touch. You can’t touch other objects in the museum.
Icon of a camera with a red line across it
Te Papa NZSL mobile guide
When you’re ready, use our NZSL mobile guide for an overview of the museum and to take a self-guided tour.
Explore Te Papa with the NZSL mobile guide
The Te Papa NZSL mobile guide was co-created with the Deaf community and features Deaf NZSL presenters.
