Accessibility at Nairn Street Cottage

Built in 1858, Nairn Street Cottage is one of the oldest homes in Wellington. While some areas of the cottage are difficult to navigate, our staff are committed to making this heritage site and the Visitor Learning Centre next door as accessible as possible.  

Nairn Street Cottage 

• Access to the cottage is via guided tours only. Find out more about booking here. 
• Tours are only available in English. 
• The historic residence has narrow doorways and corridors and is not wheelchair accessible.
• The rooms are small and lighting is dim.
• All support animals with service jackets, collars or ID are welcome at Nairn St Cottage.
• There is a grassed area available for support animals. 
• Low-level ambient audio is featured in two of the rooms. 
• The tour through the cottage and garden follows multiple levels of terrain. 

 Note: A narrow, steep staircase leads to the second floor. No elevators are available at the cottage. As a health and safety measure, access to the second floor is discretionary depending on group size and physical ability of guests.

The Visitor Centre 

• Level access and floor space for wheelchair users. 
• Ramps to the Visitor Centre and accessible toilet are available during visiting hours. 
• Mobility equipment is not available from the centre. If mobility equipment is required, let us know before your visit and we can transfer equipment from Wellington Museum. 
• Visitor Centre is well-lit with natural and artificial lighting.

Getting Here: 

The cottage and Visitor Centre are at 68 Nairn Street, Mount Cook. Nairn Street is very steep. 

Travelling by bus 

• The nearest bus stops are on Brooklyn Road at Webb Street and Brooklyn Road at Nairn Street. Find bus route information here.
• Private bus services may want to drop passengers off at the base of the hill, or at the Thompson Street intersection. Please check with your operator as the walk up is steep.
  

Travelling by car 

• Car parking is available on-street only. 
• Nairn Street is mostly resident-only parking; however, there are two standard (non-accessible) P60 spaces directly outside the cottage for visitors. 
• Driveways either side of the P60 parking spaces can be used as unsheltered drop off/pick up zones. The pavement is uneven and the street is steeply angled down for these parks.

Entrance to the site 

Three gated entrances to the cottage are open during visitor hours. 

1. The top, south-end entrance is best suited to wheelchair and mobility equipment access. This entrance leads to Visitor Centre, the Nairn Street Cottage veranda, the accessible toilet and heritage garden. 
2. The middle entrance leads to the front steps up to the cottage. The uneven steps and brick paving make this entrance unsuitable for wheelchairs and mobility equipment. 
3. The lower, north-end entrance leads to the garden at the rear of the section. The gravel path is narrow and not recommended for wheelchairs or mobility equipment.

Companion/Support Person Ticketing

Companions/support people can obtain complimentary tickets to paid exhibitions, events, theatre performances and programmes they are attending with a ticket holder. 
 
Please get in touch with us by email (MuseumTours@experiencewellington.org.nz) or by phone (+64 04 472 8904) once you have processed your ticket to arrange the complimentary companion/support person ticket. 

Safe Spaces Statement

Nairn Street Cottage strives to provide a safe space for all, regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical ability, appearance, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, or religion. 

Harassment and harmful behaviours towards anyone at our sites including our staff, other visitors, artists, or contractors will not be tolerated. Perpetrators of such behaviour will be asked to leave immediately. 

Harassment and harmful behaviour include but is not limited to: 

• Racist, sexist, classist, transphobic, homophobic, ableist, religiously bigoted comments.  
• Intimidating and bullying behaviour.  
• Failure to respect other’s boundaries.  
• Inappropriate sexualised behaviour or advances. 

Our goal is that all people feel supported and welcomed in our spaces, and we take your safety and wellbeing seriously. If you have any concerns, and/or experience any inappropriate behaviour while you are here, please notify a member of our staff, or email us on museumtours@experiencewellington.org.nz

If you require additional information or support, please contact us.