Conference Venues in Wellington

Being the nation’s capital Wellington is a city filled with creative energy and surrounded by nature. The city has a lot to offer when it comes to culture, heritage, and history. But it also has beautiful natural areas in the environment while at the same time having many great restaurants, bars and of course great venues for a conference. This combination doesn’t only make it great to host your next company conference, but it also offers your guests plenty to do in the evening hours. If you’re organising a conference in Wellington, and are looking for a venue that’s going to blow the minds of your guests, then keep reading!

Why organise your next conference in Wellington?

Wellington might not be the largest city in New Zealand, but it’s certainly rich in its culture, beautiful natural scenery surrounding the city, and plenty of options for great hotels, restaurants and venues. And the advantage of not being a large city is that it’s very easy for your guests to get from the venue back to their hotels. But don’t let the size of the city fool you: Wellington also has plenty to offer in fun activities and highlights to take a look at. Curious which ones? Then read our favourite school trip ideas in Wellington to take a look at some cultural highlights in the city.

Our seven favourite conference venues in Wellington

Willeston Conference Centre

This venue can handle conferences of every kind and offers many services onsite such as catering and complete event management. The venue is equipped with a professional team that can help you organise your conference. Willeston Conference centre has space for 50 to 80 guests.

The Opera House

Looking for a location with a historical ambience? This is a venue that will certainly blow your guest’s minds. The venue offers space for about 130 seated guests, which makes it very suitable for moderately-sized conferences.

Michael Fowler Centre

The Michael Fowler Centre has a three-story glass facade and an interior that’s full of natural lighting and has a sophisticated feel. The centre has two event spaces, the Renouf Foyer and the Lion Harbourview Lounge. The spaces both have room for 300 seated guests, and the Lion Harbourview lounge has a beautiful view over the harbour of Wellington.

Te Raukura - Te Wharewaka o Poneke

Being an iconic landmark along the Wellington Waterfront, having 5 event spaces for groups from 20 to 500 guests, this is a venue with lots of options. The venue is complete with all the technical attributes you’ll need to host a professional event, and the staff is always available to help you out. Te Raukura – Te Wharewaka o Poneke is one of the most culturally inspiring venues you can find in Wellington, and is sure to leave all your (international) guests in awe.

Space Place

This is a venue like no other! Located in Wellington’s botanical gardens, this space shares its stories through multimedia exhibitions and has a digital full-dome planetarium. There are four spaces in Space Place: The Planetarium, Library, Gallery and the Exploration Room. If you’re looking for a unique venue with an ambience that’s going to blow your guests away, this is the one for you!

Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club

This venue has three different rooms to hire for your next conference: The Noel Manthel Boardroom, The Wardroom, and The Alan Martin Room. Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club offers extra options such as on-site catering, audiovisual technology and assistance and breakaway rooms for further discussion and networking.

Brentwood Hotel

Killing two birds with one stone can help you save a lot of time when organising the event, and booking a venue where your guests can stay falls in that category. Brentwood Hotel also offers many extra services such as catering, accommodation, and audiovisual services. Also, they offer free shuttle services between the hotel and the Wellington airport, so you don’t have to worry about arranging transportation for your guests. Brentwood Hotel has six conference spaces available and can host anywhere up to 500 guests depending on the venue setup.

All the guests of the conference have arrived at the airport… and now?

When organising a conference, you want to make it as easy for your guests as possible. And nothing is more of a pain than having difficulties figuring out how to get from the airport to your hotel. We’ve all been there, right? Tired from your flight and getting a headache trying to figure out public transport in a strange city… your guests won’t be having that problem if you take steps to prevent this!

If you’re looking for some help, we advise reading our guide to airport bus hire in Wellington

Our favourite hotels in Wellington

Naumi Studio Wellington

This hotel will dazzle all its guests with the talents of New Zealand artists and designers on display. The hotel has a beautiful ambience, a great bar and restaurant, and a pastel parlour to dream away at.

Sofitel Wellington Hotel

The Sofitel Wellington hotel is surrounded by beautiful botanic gardens and offers many luxury rooms and suites. The hotel is complete with a luxury restaurant and bar and has an open kitchen.

Rydges Wellington

Rydges Wellington is located on downtown Featherston Street and has a beautiful view over the harbour and city of Wellington. The hotel is within close distance of the Sky Stadium, Queens Wharf, the Railway Station and many other central locations. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, kitchenettes and iPod docking stations. This 4+ star hotel offers 280 accommodations, so there’s plenty of room for all your guests.

U Boutique Hotel Wellington

This hotel was specifically designed to provide excellent service and accommodation for budget-conscious travellers. Or in your case… event organiser. The hotel has a modern design and an eye for comfort and service. U Boutique hotel offers a great breakfast and has the cosy Ground Floor Café, where guests can enjoy their favourite coffee or espresso.

Our favourite restaurants in Wellington

Jano Bistro

Seasonal, fresh, innovative and with a dash of the unexpected. That’s what Jano Bistro stands for.  The menu consists of Zealand produce with influences from the French kitchen. Located in a beautiful cottage, diners are encouraged to sit back and relax and indulge their culinary palate.

Ortega Fish Shack

A visit to a harbour town is not complete without visiting a fish restaurant, right? Ortega Fish Shack has a wide variety of fish dishes on its menu and is one of the friendliest staff you can find in the city.

Oak And Vine Wellington

Experience modern Kiwi cuisine with a Mediterranean twist, prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant also offers a wide range of cocktails, wines and craft beers.

The Larder

The vision of the Larder is to service the community with fine, honest food in a relaxed neighbourhood surrounding. Their team aim to provide warm and friendly service that is at the same time both professional and knowledgeable.

Curry Heaven

Curry Heaven is dedicated to providing good food and a friendly environment. All the dishes on the menu are prepared with natural ingredients. The restaurant offers both vegan and vegetarian options on its menu, making it a perfect all-inclusive option for your guests.

Planning and organising conferences are a tough job, we know. Let’s stripe arranging transport for your guests and co-workers off your to-do list, and let us take that task on for you! Our variety of buses can transport you to any part of New Zealand, even if you’re south of Invercargill or north of Whangarei. We have a variety of article that provide information to help your travels.  Have a look at our Hens party article for those organising a Hens party in Wellington.