New Zealand Parliament (Beehive) Tours

New Zealand’s architectural symbol is the domed Parliament House in Wellington. Hosting the executive wing of Parliament, “the Beehive” was built between 1969 and 1981 and features murals and artworks by noted New Zealand artists. The building has 10 floors above ground including cabinet rooms and prime ministerial offices.

The Basics
A free, guided 1-hour “Introducing Parliament” tour includes the Grand Hall, Parliamentary Library, Parliamentary House, Legislative Council Chamber (LCC), and much more. You can sit in the public galleries of the debating chamber when the select committees of the House of Representatives are sitting, or drop in to the visitor center in the ground-floor foyer. Alternatively, visit the landmark in combination with a city sightseeing tour that includes the suburb of Thorndon, where the Beehive is located.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Visitors are required to clear security screening for safety purposes.
• On arrival, check in directly at the Tour Desk, just past the visitor center.
• Parliament buildings, grounds, elevators, and toilet facilities are accessible to wheelchair users.
• An assistance dog or New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreter may accompany a tour.
• You must leave bags, coats, phones, cameras, and other electronic devices in secure storage, available for tours.

How to Get There
Buses stop at Lambton Quay and Molesworth Street in front of the Parliament buildings, and the Wellington Railway Station, in the city center, is a 10-minute walk away. Coach tours of the capital city often pass by or stop at the modernist building for a look.

When to Get There
Free “Introducing Parliament” and “Highlights of Parliament” tours operate daily, while art tours last 90 minutes and run monthly. Reservations for public tours are recommended during school holidays and public holidays and must be made 24 hours in advance.

The Banquet Hall
Designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence, the 236-foot-high (72-meter-high) Beehive is the most prominent building in the parliamentary complex. Visitors can access the Banquet Hall on the first floor, which offers a close look at the marble columns, timbered floor, onyx wall, and atmospheric 3D mural by famed artist John Boys Drawbridge.