Getting to campus

How to get to and between our campuses on foot, by bike, car or on public transport.

Walk

It’s a 10–15-minute walk from the city centre to Kelburn campus. Download the pedestrian shortcuts to make your journey shorter.

Bus or train

Buses and trains in Wellington are operated by Metlink. For timetables and fares, visit the Metlink website or phone 0800 801 700.

All campuses are close to bus stops. You can find timetables on the Kelburn campus at:

  • Level 2, Student Union Building
  • Ground floor, Easterfield Building

Pipitea campus is located close to Wellington Railway Station—also home to the central bus interchange.

Bus service suspensions

Metlink have temporarily suspended 57 bus services on 14 different routes due to a shortage of drivers. About 20 of the affected trips are on routes 18, 21, and 22 that serve our campuses. Metlink recommend that you check their website or app before you travel.

More on Metlink

Pipitea bus stop changes

Metlink have changed the location of bus stops for our Pipitea campus as part of a larger infrastructure project. The relocated bus stops will be in place until the end of 2022. Find out more on the Metlink website.

  • Buses that usually stop at Stop A (#5500) outside Rutherford House will now collect passengers from a temporary location on Lambton Quay outside the Law School.
  • Buses that usually stop at Stop B (#6000) and Stop C (#6001) will now collect passengers from a temporary bus stop outside Rutherford House. This bus stop will be labelled 'Stop B'.
More details

Tertiary concession

All eligible fulltime tertiary students will receive a 25 percent discount off the peak adult Snapper or single 10-Trip Ticket fare on Metlink bus, rail and ferry services at all times.

Find out more about accessing the tertiary concession.

You can pay bus fares in cash, but if you use the bus regularly it is cheaper to buy a Snapper card. You can buy and top up Snapper cards on or near University campuses at:

  • VUWSA reception, Level 4, Student Union Building, Kelburn campus
  • Freemans Lotto, Rutherford House, Pipitea campus
  • convenience stores and other retailers in Wellington—look for the Snapper logo.

You can quickly check your balance and top up your Snapper card using the Snapper smartphone app, or at Snapper kiosks. There are Snapper kiosks on the three main campuses:

  • Ground floor, Easterfield Building, Kelburn campus
  • Ground floor, Rutherford House, Pipitea campus
  • Te Aro campus, 139 Vivian Street

Bus links

There are four separate bus routes that stop at Kelburn campus and can take you to most points in the city and to other University campuses around Wellington. Timetables below take you to the Metlink website, which includes a journey planner.

Route 37 stops close to Pipitea campus at the nearby Lambton Quay/Bowen St intersection.

Routes 18 and 21 stop on Ghuznee Street, close to Te Aro campus.

If you’re travelling between campuses on the same day, find out how to apply for a free bus pass.

Bike

There are cycle racks and showers at all campuses.

Bicycle stands

Bicycle parking stands on Kelburn campus are situated in the following locations:

  • Adam Art Gallery—south
  • Alan MacDiarmid—basement
  • Kirk—north/east
  • Laby—under south end
  • Maclaurin/Cotton—west
  • Murphy Building—west
  • Rec Centre—west
  • 83 Fairlie Terrace—west.

If you are a postgraduate student and would like to access the secure cage in the basement of the Alan MacDiarmid Building, contact Campus-care@vuw.ac.nz.

Bicycle stands on the Pipitea campus are situated in the following locations:

  • Government Building—east
  • Rutherford House—west and basement.

For the safety of building occupants in an emergency and to prevent damage to paintwork and flooring, bicycles must not be kept in offices, corridors and access ways.

E-scooters

  • Due to the hilly terrain around the Kelburn campus and surrounding areas and buildings, it’s important to be particularly careful if you use an e-scooter.
    • To ensure the safety of all pedestrians on our campuses, anyone using an e-scooter should walk (not ride) them through campus areas.
  • While helmets are not mandatory when using scooters, we strongly recommend you wear a helmet for your safety.
  • E-scooters cannot be parked on the Kelburn Campus, within the Old Government Building grounds on the Pipitea Campus, or on the grounds of Weir House. (These areas are geo-fenced in the e-scooter apps.)
  • Please support our community commitment and respect our neighbours if you are riding or parking e-scooters

If you have any questions about e-scooters, please contact the relevant provider, i.e. Uber or Flamingo. If your question is related to the University, contact Property Services Helpdesk.

Car

Parking spaces are difficult to find in the Kelburn area, so it’s best to walk, cycle, use a motorbike or public transport.

Cable car

The cable car runs from the city up to Kelburn every 10 minutes, and stops near the Kelburn campus.

Tertiary concession

All eligible fulltime tertiary students will receive a 25 percent discount off the peak adult Snapper or single 10-Trip Ticket fare on Metlink bus, rail and ferry services at all times.

Downloads

Related links