Wellington Venue List, The (Updated 21-11-14)

With the lack of discovered Wellington venues in mind, I propose a list, nay, The list, of Wellington venues. This way, when one of us wants to host a LARP (or perhaps something else) in Wellington, we can come to this list and see which one suits us best. I will periodically edit this list as people propose new places for hire.

It’s also worth noting that there is a map to which a few very generous larpers have contributed, you can see said map here.

Now, to make things easier for people who are curious about Wellington venues, let’s try and include all the relevant information;

[b]Venue Name[/b] [ul] [li]Venue Hire Price[/li] [li]Venue web page (if it exists), or links to photos (if there are any available)[/li] [li]Approximate venue capacity (cocktail number rather than seated)[/li] [li]Venue Location (address)[/li] [li]Booking contact details[/li] [li]and perhaps a brief description of the venue[/li][/ul]

Let me start things off, and be sure to post if you see something that’s incorrect or has changed.

Bagonia House Foyer
[ul]
[li]$700, 650 of which is a bond that you get back after the event (they claim to only take cheques)[/li]
[li]Venue information page[/li]
[li]120 people[/li]
[li]Next to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden in the Botanic Gardens, Tinakori Road, Thorndon[/li]
[li]Phone: (04) 499 1400 Email: treehouse@wcc.govt.nz[/li]
[li]Massive indoor greenhouse foyer with hanging plants, right next to the rose garden, for those who are familiar with it.[/li]
[/ul]

Brookfield Scout Camp
[ul][li]$500 for a hall + kitchen + 25 rooms, 2 halls for hire. Individual bunks are $20. Camping is $10 (per person). $120 for one of the larger lodges, and $200 for the other. $1,000 to hire all buildings in the venue for a weekend (not exclusive). Exclusive hire is $1,500 during downtime, and $2,000 during peak.[/li]
[li]Venue Homepage[/li]
[li]Bunks for up to 107 people, large camping grounds[/li]
[li]Out past Wainuiomata , at the far end of Moore’s Valley Road.[/li]
[li]Phone: (04) 564 7853 Email: bookings@brookfield.org.nz[/li]
[li]Large camp venue with lots of bush, clearings, and tracks. Maps available: Building Map and Venue Map.[/li][/ul]
Brooklyn Community Centre
[ul]Rates from $17.25 to $11.50 (incl GST) per hour, depending on room.
[li]Not sure about official capacity, but two 30-40 person table top cons with LARPs have been run here very successfully.[/li]
[li]18 Harrison Street Brooklyn 6021[/li]
li384 6799, brooklynca@paradise.net.nz[/li]
[li]A variety of rooms, including a good sized Hall, lounge and RSA room.[/li][/ul]
Cable Car Museum
[ul][li]$600 (entire venue) + $30 per hour of the event to have a staff member there to watch things (not optional).[/li]
[li]Venue Details Page[/li]
[li]90 people[/li]
[li]Top of the Cable Car, 1a Upland Road, Kelburn, Wellington[/li]
[li]Phone: +64 4 471 0919 Email: venues@wmt.org.nz[/li]
[li]Two floors plus a cable car to climb in. This venue is a modern museum about the subject in its name.[/li][/ul]
Camp Elsdon
[ul][li] $25/person/night casual cabin rates; group bookings available[/li]
[li] http://www.campelsdon.co.nz/[/li]
[li] 96 beds in bunkrooms, cabins and dorms[/li]
[li] 18 Raiha Street, Porirua[/li]
[li] (04) 4 237 8987; campelsdon.co.nz/application.html[/li]
[li] Right on the edge of Porirua Scenic Reserve, some bush space. At least two large indoor spaces (education room and dining room). May be more suitable for campaigns. No alcohol.[/li][/ul]
Camp Wainui
[ul][li] ~$1100 per night for full booking of all space[/li]
[li] http://www.campwainui.co.nz/[/li]
[li] 92 bunks[/li]
[li] 203 Coast Road, Wainuiomata[/li]
[li] (04) 564 5305 ; campwainui@xtra.co.nz[/li]
[li] Good outdoor space with tracks (map); Two moderate indoor spaces plus two smaller ones.[/li][/ul]
Gear Homestead
[ul][li]$470 / day full hire; less for partial hire or half-day[/li]
[li]Porirua City Council venue page[/li]
[li]50 - 80 People[/li]
[li]Okowai Road, Porirua[/li]
[li]Phone: (04) 237 8540[/li]
[li]historic home; two downstairs reception rooms and one large upstairs room[/li][/ul]
Hapai Building
[ul][li] $80 for full day; $55 for half day (community rates)[/li]
[li] upperhuttcity.com/page/1283/ … lding.boss[/li]
[li] 150 seated in main hall, plus smaller meeting room.[/li]
[li] 879-881 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt[/li]
[li] events@uhcc.govt.nz, or call 04 527 2113[/li]
[li] Community venue in Upper Hutt. Main hall and subsidiary meeting room.[/li][/ul]
Johnsonville Community Centre
[ul][li]Hall: $300 for Friday/Sat evening (but $40 weekday evenings - cheap!). Other spaces: Between $12 and $25.[/li]
[li]http://www.johnsonvillecommunitycentre.org.nz/[/li]
[li]Hall: 180. Other spaces: varies[/li]
[li]3 Frankmoore Avenue, Johnsonville[/li]
[li]Email: info@johnsonvillecommunitycentre.org.nz[/li]
[li]variety of spaces available. Close to station.[/li][/ul]
Linden Social Centre
[ul][li]$15/hour (community groups) [/li]
[li]http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/commcentres/halls/details/linden.html[/li]
[li]100 - 130[/li]
[li]10 Linden Avenue, Linden[/li]
[li]Booking form[/li]
[li]One big hall with a stage.[/li][/ul]
Longbush Historical Village
[ul][li]$???[/li]
[li]http://web.me.com/thepobs/Longbush/Welcome.html[/li]
[li]??? People[/li]
[li]Eringa Road, Wairarapa[/li]
[li]Email: Adventure@ThePobs.com (I think)[/li]
[li]Amigori went there[/li][/ul]
Museum of Wellington City & Sea
[ul][li]$1,500 (main museum, side rooms, individually, for less)[/li]
[li]Museum venue page (note: does not include main museum rooms, although venue hire is available for them)[/li]
[li]??? people (not sure, 300+ standing?)[/li]
[li]Queens Wharf, 3 Jervois Quay, Wellington[/li]
[li]Phone: +64 4 472 8904 Email: cory.anderson@wmt.org.nz[/li]
[li]The Museum is full of Wellington history exhibitions as well as a large variety of model ships. The main museum ‘hall’ is three stories tall with a spiral staircase in the center of it. There is a passage entranceway to the main hall that is full of barrels, rigging, the cry of seagulls and other harbour paraphinalia.[/li][/ul]
Ngaio Town Hall
[ul][li] $15/hour (community groups) [/li]
[li]http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/commcentres/halls/details/ngaio.html[/li]
[li]250 - 300[/li]
[li]1 Ottawa Road, Ngaio[/li]
[li]Booking form[/li]
[li]One big hall with a stage. Has 100 chairs plus tables.[/li][/ul]
Oriental Bay Band Rotunda
[ul][li]$15/hour (community groups) [/li]
[li]http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/commcentres/halls/details/rotunda.html[/li]
[li]60 in main room[/li]
[li]245B Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay[/li]
[li]Booking form[/li]
[li]Below Fisherman’s Table restaurant. Several spaces available, good public transport.[/li][/ul]
Palm Grove Christian Camp
[ul][li] Unknown[/li]
[li] http://www.palmgrovecamp.co.nz/[/li]
[li] Up to 140 bunks / beds. [/li]
[li] 199 Valley Road, Paraparaumu[/li]
[li] 04 298 4772; information@palmgrovecamp.co.nz[/li]
[li] 2 indoor spaces[/li][/ul]
Petone Community House
[ul][li]$15 / room for an evening[/li]
[li]http://www.facebook.com/pages/Petone-Community-House/134563066610239[/li]
[li]Capacity unknown[/li]
[li]6 Britannia Street, Petone[/li]
[li] 04 568 7798; petcomhouse@clear.net.nz[/li]
[li]1 largish room downstairs, 4 of varying sizes upstairs. Good for small larps or those that need multiple locations[/li][/ul]
Silver Steam Railway Museum
[ul][li] $140 (for a railway carriage)[/li]
[li] silverstreamrailway.org.nz/b … -occasions[/li]
[li] 28[/li]
[li]Reynolds Bach Dr (off Eastern Hutt Road), Silverstream, Upper Hutt[/li]
li 563 7348; web form: silverstreamrailway.org.nz/contact-us[/li]
[li]If you want to set a game on a train[/li][/ul]
Tatum park
[ul][li] Unknown, but there is no self-catering option, so likely prohibitively expensive[/li]
[li] tatumpark.co.nz/[/li]
[li] 100 bunks plus cabins etc[/li]
[li] 820 - 850 State Highway One, Manakau, Horowhenua[/li]
[li] (06) 362 6799; bookings@tatumpark.co.nz[/li]
[li] at least 3 conference spaces. And apparently a medieval village[/li][/ul]
Thistle Hall
[ul][li]Upstairs: $20 per hour weeknights/Saturday day. $235 + $300 bond Friday/Saturday night. Downstairs: $15/hour[/li]
[li]http://www.thistlehall.org.nz/[/li]
[li]Upstairs: 120. Downstairs: 30[/li]
[li]Cnr Cuba & Arthur Streets, Te Aro[/li]
[li]Email: office@thistlehall.org.nz[/li]
[li]Two spaces available; upstairs not cost-competitive with Turnbull House; downstairs perhaps an alternative for amsll games.[/li][/ul]
Turnball House
[ul][li]$500 (the whole place on Community rates, individual room/area prices on website)[/li]
[li]DoC Booking Information Page[/li]
[li]290 people (theatre seating from site, individual room/area capacity on website)[/li]
[li]11 Bowen Street, Thorndon, Wellington[/li]
[li]Phone: +64 4 473 1737 Email: turnbullhouse@doc.govt.nz[/li]
[li]Turnbull House is an old-school victorian style house with three levels. The entire venue is done up in polished wood, red curtains, etc. Venue can also supply chairs and tables free of charge (usually stored on the second level).[/li][/ul]
Vogelmorn Hall
[ul][li]$15/hour (community groups) [/li]
[li]http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/commcentres/halls/details/vogelmorn.html[/li]
[li]100 - 120[/li]
[li]11 Vennell Street, Vogeltown[/li]
[li]Booking form[/li]
[li]One big hall with a stage.[/li][/ul]
Wellesley Country Park
[ul][li]$10 / person for an evening (16:00 - 02:00, self-catered); from $28 / person / night (self-catered); will cater as well.[/li]
[li]http://wellesleycountrypark.co.nz/[/li]
[li]Accomodation for up to 150. [/li]
[li]2120 Akatarawa Road, halfway between Upper Hutt and Waikanae[/li]
[li]reservations@thewellesley.co.nz. (04) 471-2424[/li]
[li]Cabins and cottages. Two large indoor venues. Several smaller ones. Outdoor space with walkways.[/li][/ul]
YMCA Camp Kaitoke
[ul][li]9am - 6pm $10, 6pm - 9am $10 (students, up to tertiary level, pay $8 instead), $40 small kitchen per day, $100 large kitchen per day[/li]
[li]http://ymcawellington.org.nz/?page_id=47[/li]
[li]Sleeps 160. Several conference facilities. Will cater.[/li]
[li]184 Marchant Rd, Pakuratahi 5372[/li]
[li]campkaitoke@ymca.org.nz. (04) 526 7338[/li]
[li]Bunkrooms for 160. Two dining halls, for 160 and 40. Large and small conference rooms. Gym. Camping space. Outdoor areas.[/li][/ul]

Got another venue in mind? Add it to the list by replying to this thread!

We also started making a list elsewhere for exactly the same reason, it’s either on NZRAG or it was just amongst the Committee, I know I gathered a bunch of info that I was using to set up a public spreadsheet.

We checked out Brookfields (very expensive), Staglands and a few other places.

(since incorporated into main list)

[quote=“Scott”]We also started making a list elsewhere for exactly the same reason, it’s either on NZRAG or it was just amongst the Committee, I know I gathered a bunch of info that I was using to set up a public spreadsheet.

We checked out Brookfields (very expensive), Staglands and a few other places.[/quote]

It’d be awesome if you posted the contents of the spreadsheet, I’m certain other larp organisers would find it most useful.

Wellington city council venues: wellington.govt.nz/services/ … index.html

The Begonia House Foyer ($650 for an evening) looks interesting. The Cable Car Museum could be an alternative to the City to Sea if you want that sort of space.

Someone should also get back in contact with Northland Hall, since they were a good venue for kapCon a number of years ago, and close to a lot of gamers.

(EDIT: snipped venues moved to main list))

Brookfield Scout Camp
[ul][li]Varies. $3/head for access, halls from $200 - $450 per weekend, cabins $18 per person for weekend (but some included in ahll hire)[/li]
[li]http://www.brookfield.org.nz/[/li]
[li]Varies. [/li]
[li]562 Moores Valley Road, Wainuiomata [/li]
[li]Booking form: brookfield.org.nz/bookings[/li]
[li]Outdoor education centre with tracks, halls etc similar to Motu Moana. Big drawback is that it is non-exclusive.[/li][/ul]

Carter Observatory said they wouldn’t do simple venue hire and they would only host events of their own choosing. Ah well, I’ve taken them off the list.

Thanks, Idiot, for those additions! I think Jackie said something about not using the Wainui camp because they wouldn’t do exclusive hire, and camping there was potentially more dangerous than Motu Moana (to your costumes).

And if someone wants to check out possible public outdoor spaces, it might be worth checking out Jubilee Park or the Korokoro trails in Lower Hutt, parts of the town belt, or maybe Belmont Regional Park

Gear Homestead in Porirua. Got married there in 07, great place, setting for Peter Jackson’s "Bad Taste"
pcc.govt.nz/DownloadFile/A-Z … -Hire-Fees

Gear Homestead
[ul][li] $470 / day full hire; less for partial hire or half-day[/li]
[li] pcc.govt.nz/A-Z-Services/Gear-Homestead[/li]
[li] 50 - 80[/li]
[li] Okowai Road, Porirua[/li]
[li] Phone: (04) 237 8540[/li]
[li] historic home; two downstairs reception rooms and one large upstairs room[/li][/ul]

Heheh, thanks Idiot, this is what happens when I remember to do things just before heading to working on a sunday! LOL

Could we sticky this for the future reference of others interested in running larps in Wellington?

One to check out:

Forest Lakes.

Their website talks about “bush walks”, but Google Earth doesn’t show much bush. Also no idea of prices. Oh, and they’re an hour north of Wellington.

[quote=“IdiotSavant”]One to check out:

Forest Lakes.

Their website talks about “bush walks”, but Google Earth doesn’t show much bush. Also no idea of prices. Oh, and they’re an hour north of Wellington.[/quote]
According to someone who’s been there, it doesn’t have much outdoor space to do stuff in, and there seems to be some confusion about some of the land between the camp and the neighboring farmer’s land.

Hapai Building
[ul][li] $80 for full day; $55 for half day (community rates)[/li]
[li] upperhuttcity.com/page/1283/ … lding.boss[/li]
[li] 150 seated in main hall, plus smaller meeting room.[/li]
[li] 879-881 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt[/li]
[li] events@uhcc.govt.nz, or call 04 527 2113[/li]
[li] Community venue in Upper Hutt. Main hall and subsidiary meeting room.[/li][/ul]

Wellesley Country Park
[ul][li] $10 / person for an evening (16:00 - 02:00, self-catered); from $28 / person / night (self-catered); will cater as well.[/li]
[li] wellesleycountrypark.co.nz/[/li]
[li] Accomodation for up to 150. [/li]
[li] 2120 Akatarawa Road, halfway between Upper Hutt and Waikanae[/li]
[li] reservations@thewellesley.co.nz. (04) 471-2424[/li]
[li] Cabins and cottages. Two large indoor venues. Several smaller ones. Outdoor space with walkways.[/li][/ul]

YMCA Camp Kaitoke
[ul][li] Unknown. Someone call them?[/li]
[li] ymcawellington.org.nz/?page_id=47[/li]
[li] Sleeps 160. Several conferance facilities. Will cater.[/li]
[li] 184 Marchant Rd, Pakuratahi 5372[/li]
[li] campkaitoke@ymca.org.nz. (04) 526 7338[/li]
[li] Bunkrooms for 160. Two dining halls, for 160 and 40. Large and small conferance rooms. Gym. Camping space. Outdoor areas.[/li][/ul]

Silver Steam Railway Museum
[ul][li] $140 (for a railway carriage)[/li]
[li] silverstreamrailway.org.nz/b … -occasions[/li]
[li] 28[/li]
[li]Reynolds Bach Dr (off Eastern Hutt Road), Silverstream, Upper Hutt[/li]
li 563 7348; web form: silverstreamrailway.org.nz/contact-us[/li]
[li]If you want to set a game on a train[/li][/ul]

Thanks for those extra venues, they’ve been added to the list!

Thanks, Idiot, that’s a really useful list.

[quote]Silver Steam Railway Museum[/quote]Now that’s just an incitement to run a train game. Hmm.