Explore the Parliament buildings, learn about the Parliamentary process in New Zealand, and find out how you can participate in our democracy. Along the way, you will see some of the many artworks and objects from the Parliamentary Collection, and get to know the details behind the iconic architecture.

Please note, some of the stops on the tour route may be changed or closed at short notice, including the debating chamber on days that the house is sitting.

We recommend booking all of our tours in advance, as numbers are strictly limited for each tour. If you do not book in advance, we will not be able to guarantee your place on a tour.

Please note, all bags, coats, phones, cameras and other electronic devices must be left in secure storage in the Visitor Centre before each tour begins. Visitor Centre staff will help you store your belongings, and return them to you at the end of your tour. These items cannot be taken on tour.

Introducing Parliament tour – 60 minutes

The Introducing Parliament tour is our regular daily tour, taking place on the hour each hour between 10am and 4pm. It is a great way to learn about our parliamentary processes and New Zealand’s history while looking through our iconic buildings.

This guided tour will take you to the following locations where possible:

Banquet Hall
Beehive Theatrette
Parliamentary House
Debating Chamber
Legislative Council Chamber (LCC)
Grand Hall
Parliamentary Library
Walk through the Galleria
Select Committee Rooms
The Base Isolators

Highlights of Parliament tour – 30 minutes

The 30 minute Highlights of Parliament tour gives you a short overview of the key spaces within Parliament where the democratic process happens. Where possible, this tour gives visitors access to the debating chamber where the House of Representatives meets.

This guided tour will take you to the following locations where possible:

Theatrette\\
Debating Chamber
Select Committee Rooms

Kids in the House tour – 45 minutes

The 45 minute “Kids in the House” tour runs during the school holidays and is a fun, interactive, tour designed specifically to engage our younger visitors (5 to 12 years old).

Children taking a tour will also receive a free ‘Passport to Parliament’ booklet as part of the experience. As they make their way around the Parliament buildings they can track their progress with stickers and get their passports stamped with an official Beehive stamp when they return to the Visitor Centre.

The guided tour will visit the following locations, where possible:

Debating Chamber
Legislative Council Chamber (LCC)
Grand Hall
Parliament House Foyer
Speaker’s Corridor
Parliamentary Library
Galleria
Select Committee Room
Beehive Theatrette
Banquet Hall

Art Tours – 90 minutes

This 90 minute tour showcases the art and objects from the Parliamentary Collection that are on display across the precinct. Tour highlights include visits to themed Select Committee rooms, along with the Speaker’s Lounge and Dining Room. If you have ever wanted to know more about some of the most iconic art and objects from the collection, then this is the tour for you.

Self-Guide Outdoor Tour

Discover the fascinating history of our grounds and buildings on a self-guided outdoor tour. The map covers everything from the history of the buildings, to prominent figures from our political past, and even a buried time capsule!

At a leisurely pace the tour takes up to 40 minutes.

The tour’s a great activity for the summer months, and it’s a great alternative if you don’t have enough time or have time to fill before the regular tour starts.Collect your free map from the Tour desk in the Visitor Centre, and roam the grounds at your own pace to complete the route