Kelburn sits on the hills just west of the capital's central business district and is bordered by the Botanic Garden and the suburbs of Thorndon and Northland to the north, the suburbs of Karori and Highbury to the south west, and Aro Valley to the south.

Operating since 1902, it is a funicular railway that ascends from Lambton Quay in the central business district to Kelburn.

[3][4] The Carter Observatory includes a planetarium and exhibition, and is located within the Botanic Garden, close to the Kelburn terminus of the cable car.

Kelburn Village, on Upland Road, houses cafes, restaurants, a pub and local shops.

The Kelburn Viaduct was one of New Zealand's earliest reinforced concrete bridges, and provides vehicle and foot access to Karori and other Western suburbs.

The suburb of 'Kelburne' was established after the Upland Estate Company purchased farmland from William Moxham in 1896.

In 1898, the investors formed a company to build and operate the cable car, to distinguish the nascent suburb from competing residential developments.

[15] As well as homeowners, residents of Kelburn include undergraduate and postgraduate students seeking to live in the vicinity of Victoria University.