Comprising the Edwardian Parliament Buildings, which houses the debating chamber, and the modern visually striking Beehive, which houses the executive wing, a visit to Parliament offers the chance to learn more about the history of politics in New Zealand and how modern government works.

Public tours take place daily in the executive wing, where much of the day-to-day work of Members of Parliament takes place.

During the one-hour tour, experienced guides explore the history of New Zealand's government system and recount stories of everyday life in Parliament from previous eras and the modern day.

Visitors can also learn more about the buildings themselves including the architecture and restoration programmes, and the artwork and heritage pieces that line the parliamentary precinct.  The tour does not include the public galleries in Parliament, but these can be visited separately when the House is sitting and MPs are debating.

Tour Times:

Tours depart on the hour and are free.  The tours begin at 10.00am until 4.00pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the tours begin at 11.00am, with the last tour leaving at 3.00pm.

Bookings are required.  Visitors need to arrive 15 minutes in advance of their tour start time to allow for security screening processes.  Arriving early also leaves time to browse the visitor centre and the gift shop.

Bags, coats, cameras, cellphones, and electronic devices must be left in the secure storage area at the visitor centre before the tour.

Pricing: Free