Planning your visit
Coming to Parliament for a tour, to see a select committee, or to attend the public gallery? Discover how to get to Parliament, our accessibility and more.
How to get here
By car
Parliament is on the corner of Lambton Quay, Bowen Street, and Molesworth Street. Accessible parking nearby can be found on the Wellington City Council website.
There is no parking on the Parliament grounds. Paid parking is available on Molesworth Street for up to two hours, and on other side streets around Parliament.
On foot
The public entrance is off the Parliament forecourt, and step-free access is available from gates on Molesworth Street.
On bike
There are public cycle racks in walkable distance available on Bowen Street, Aitken Street and outside Rutherford House on Bunny Street.
By bus
Parliament is served by various buses. Buses 2, 13, 33, and 34 on Bowen Street. Buses 14, 22, 32x, 81, and 84 on Molesworth Street.
By train
New Zealand Parliament is a 500m walk from Wellington Railway Station. Follow the signs to Lambton Quay and Parliament from within the station. The walk includes some road crossings and is uphill in parts. If you require step-free access, please use the driveway gate on Molesworth Street.
By car
Parliament is on the corner of Lambton Quay, Bowen Street, and Molesworth Street. Accessible parking nearby can be found on the Wellington City Council website.
There is no parking on the Parliament grounds. Paid parking is available on Molesworth Street for up to two hours, and on other side streets around Parliament.
On foot
The public entrance is off the Parliament forecourt, and step-free access is available from gates on Molesworth Street.
On bike
There are public cycle racks in walkable distance available on Bowen Street, Aitken Street and outside Rutherford House on Bunny Street.
By bus
Parliament is served by various buses. Buses 2, 13, 33, and 34 on Bowen Street. Buses 14, 22, 32x, 81, and 84 on Molesworth Street.
By train
New Zealand Parliament is a 500m walk from Wellington Railway Station. Follow the signs to Lambton Quay and Parliament from within the station. The walk includes some road crossings and is uphill in parts. If you require step-free access, please use the driveway gate on Molesworth Street.
Further Information
When visiting Parliament, you will need to pass through security screening. Please arrive 15 minutes early to ensure enough time to pass through screening before the start time of your tour or session.
In preparation for screening, we ask that everyone should remove everything from their pockets. All belongings, including bags, mobile phones, and hats will be stored in our secure cloakroom during your visit. If you are also visiting the Public Gallery, you will need to pass through a second security screening there. Items needed for a medical reasons can be kept in pockets (e.g. inhalers).
Most tours have a pre-tour video that begins 5 minutes before the stated tour start time. While it is not essential to arrive before the video starts, we do recommend you leave enough time to pass through screening and check your belongings in before this to ensure you do not miss any infomration. If you do not arrive before the stated start time of your tour, your spaces may be given away. If you are running late, please call our Visitor Centre on 04 817 9503.
With permission from an official host of Parliament, members of the public visiting New Zealand Parliament for tours and other reasons are welcome to take photos for personal, non-commercial purposes in select areas of Parliament Buildings. There will be actively changing circumstances in Parliament so photography opportunities will be guided and approved under the discretion of the official host.
Permissions are dependent on Parliament operations; we reserve the right to ask that certain photos are not taken or ask for their deletion.
These rules are applicable to photography on all devices including cameras, phones, and tablet computers, and extend to sound recording, painting and sketching. Tripods must not be used at any time.
Failure to follow our photography protocol may result in removal from the tour or visit. Continued breaches of our protocols may result in temporary or permanent bans.
Photography and filming for wider publication
Requests for photography and filming for wider publication must be made and agreed in advance.
For media requests about Parliament please email the Communications team.
For location filming and photography requests in Parliamentary Buildings please email the Speaker’s Office.
Shoes must be worn at all times while inside the Parliament buildings. If you are not wearing shoes (sandals are fine), you may be denied entry into the building.
Gang insignias are not allowed within the parliamentary grounds or buildings.
Bike helmets must be removed upon entry of any Parliamentary buildings. Hats should not be worn, except for religious purposes, while attending the Public Gallery.
Due to Parliamentary business, some rooms on the tour route may not be available during your visit.
The Chamber is not available after 1pm on house sitting days, and other rooms are closed for events or other business periodically.
To find out which rooms will likely be open during your visit, please call our Visitor Centre on 04 817 9503.
Accessibility at Parliament
If you have any accessibility questions or would like to arrange access to Parliament that meets your needs, contact the Parliament reception team on 04 817 9999.
There are paved accessible routes through the grounds, with appropriate seating and waiting areas for visitors using wheelchairs.
Accessible routes within the buildings are sign posted to avoid stairs. The floor coverings in the buildings are linoleum, marble tiles or short pile carpet.
Accessible lifts are available and have braille control panels. Accessible toilet facilities are available on the ground floor of Parliament House and in the Visitor Centre.
All tours are accessible for wheelchair users. There are steps at various points of the tour and an alternative route via lifts is available. The public gallery located on level two of Parliament House is also accessible for visitors who use a wheelchair.
We do not have accessible parking available on the Parliamentary Precinct. There are accessible on-street parks on the surrounding streets, which can be found on the Wellington City Council website. Visitors with mobility issues may be dropped off on the Parliament House forecourt.
Courtesy wheelchairs may be borrowed on arrival or booked in advance. Please contact tour.desk@parliament.co.nz to arrange a wheelchair. If you require support with a wheelchair, you will need to bring a companion as we are unable to provide a member of staff to accompany you throughout your visit.
If you are attending a meeting or function by invitation then it is recommended that you contact your host ahead of your visit to discuss access requirements.
New Zealand Parliament is part of the Hidden Disabilities scheme. As part of this, sunflower lanyards, wristbands, and badges are available at our Visitor Centre and Reception desks for visitors who may want to indicate they have a hidden disability or a need for additional support.
Please chat to our friendly team for more information about the scheme and how to access it.
Your Guide Dog (or any other assistance dog) can accompany you on your tour. They are also welcome in the public gallery.
We run New Zealand Sign Language tours throughout the year. If you are unable to attend one of our NZSL tours, please contact us as we may be able to arrange an interpreter. You are also welcome to have your own interpreter accompany you on a tour.
If you would like to visit the Debating Chamber, you can request a receiver and headset which will give you a live feed of the debate.
Get the most out of your visit
Learn more about what’s on offer while visiting Parliament.
Discover what’s available to you on your visit at Parliament, from our Visitor Centre, to our range of eateries.
Explore tours and other ways to experience Parliament.
We have a range of ways to experience Parliament, our history and buildings. We have something for everyone.