Be careful what you wish for. The ‘Light’ Rail option implies drilling three tunnels, and digging up most streets to relocate underground services, prior to laying tracks. Try to visualise the view of that during the next decade, and the inherent delays. Also try to visualise a high ratepayers bill.

And recall how vulnerable ground transport was on 7 October 2019 (“Extinction Rebellion”, pictured below - empty streets & queued-up buses). Ugly...

Now there is the increasingly-evident urgent need for repair work to be done on sewerage under Wellington’s streets, after decades of neglect (Sewerage).

Suspension Monorail  will minimise unsightly and disruptive construction, at reduced costs and with an earlier (and more positive) outcome.

Beauty, and other aesthetic ideas such as noise and loss of privacy, is in the eye of the beholder; and sometimes more in the mind than in the reality. Have a look at this news item from Melbourne - those who had opposed heavy rail going  overhead in their backyard have changed their minds once it became reality (The Age, Melbourne, May 12, 2019). If heavy rail can thus become quieter and more appealing when overhead, then think again about Suspension Monorail...

Answering your question more directly, SM can largely avoid passing through residential streets, and is very flexible about its route (for instance, it can avoid the last segment of the Golden Mile, and pass down Stout Street to the central railway station, so not obstructing views of the landmarks around Parliament).

Many people consider the streamlined design of modern overhead rail as a visual feature in itself, particularly seeing its attractive vehicles gliding rapidly above stalled traffic!