Whether you’re planning a team-building day for your business or simply looking for some fun activities for a hen or stag do, Wellington is the city for you. With options for all tastes and budgets, the cool capital of New Zealand brings adrenaline and originality in equal measure. Here, we take a look at nine of the best team activities in Wellington, along with some helpful information for organising your day. From thrill-seeking adventure sports to wild workshops unique to Welly, you’ll find it all right here.
Put your clown skills to the test at The Circus Hub, located in the quirky neighbourhood of Newtown. Ideal for parties, team building, and school outings alike, you’ll get an introduction to classic acts such as trapeze, juggling, and acrobatics. Suitable for groups of 8 to 32, workshops typically last an hour and a half, and can be tailored to the needs of the group. All ages and abilities are welcome, while the Hub’s mezzanine area can also be booked to follow the session with some food or cake if desired. In addition, the company partners with a local restaurant to provide a more comprehensive dining package just a five-minute walk away.
A short 30-minute drive from the centre of Wellington, Aston Norwood Gardens is the ideal place to indulge in a little target practice. Great for competitive colleagues or vying stags, the multi-activity centre also offers archery, for a little taste of the Hunger Games. Speaking of hunger, Aston Norwood is well-equipped to keep the party going with a range of packages to suit both pre-wedding ragers and corporate social events. Events can be tailored to the needs of the group, with a function room serving groups of 30 to 60 and the opportunity to add additional activities such as bridge building and high tea.
There’s no team activity quite as competitive as paintball, which brings you the opportunity to blast your boss or besties with a bruising bomb of colour. Try it at Paintballcorp, located in Lower Hutt on the outskirts of the city. Here, groups can be of any size up to 100, with higher savings on entry fees the more people you bring. Battle it out on the aptly named Isolation Hill or down in Hostility Creek, with a range of sessions tailored to schools, team building, stag parties, birthdays, and work functions. All fitness levels are welcome, with games usually lasting about an hour, and reduced impact packages for kids under 12. Catering options and BBQ facilities are also available for post-battle bonding.
For the cryptically-minded, you can’t beat a good old escape room, testing the nerves, wit and creativity of you and your team. Xcape is the city’s largest, also located in Lower Hutt, however, there are some options in the city centre too. A great option to assess the strategic thinking of your staff, while having lots of fun, the venue has five different rooms which can accommodate up to eight players each. There are also virtual reality rooms for a more tech-heavy experience, played with immersive headsets and simulations. Suitable for those aged 10 and over, each game features a different thrilling theme.
An age-old recipe for good laughs, and a little healthy competition, Wellington boasts several spots for some classic mini-golf. Located in Happy Valley, just 10 minutes from the city centre, Carlucci Land is a long-time favourite, with an 18-hole junkyard-themed course through a sculpture park. You’ll also find a handy BBQ area for afters. Meanwhile, The Witching Hour is a great option for groups aged 18 and over, with 13 haunted holes and an attached craft beer bar to keep things interesting. The venue can be hired out on an exclusive-use basis for larger groups.
A fun team outing for adventurous types, high ropes courses are ideal for adding a little extra challenge to your group day out. Adrenalin Forest is located a short 20 minutes from Wellington in Porirua and offers seven different course levels. Build agility, strength and bravery as you make your way through each one, helping others in your team to ensure no one gets left behind. The final course features a heart-pumping finale with a rope swing and zip line. You’ll have three hours to complete the courses, and a height restriction applies. The centre can cater to groups of up to 100, and also hosts crazy games of capture the flag for additional team building.
A calmer and more creative team activity than some of the others on this list, the Wētā Workshop lets your group learn the art of movie magic. From figuring out how to make fake blood to building fancy prosthetics and props, a range of workshops at Wētā caters to groups of up to 100. Some also include a guided tour of some of the creatures and costumes created for blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings, along with a visit to the workshop’s mini-museum and the chance to watch a fascinating documentary on the company itself. You’ll also find combination experiences which include dinner at the Roxy Cinema. Some of the shorter workshops last around 90 minutes and most are suitable for ages 14 and up.
Channel your inner Viking with a spot of axe throwing, which caters to crazy parties and corporate events alike. Not far from Courtney Place in the Te Aro district, Sweet Axe offers ‘The Full Axeperience’, with sessions tailored to different group sizes. Suitable for groups of 8 to 45 people, the experience lasts up to two hours, ideal as an ice breaker event, a cool way to energise your team, or simply an excuse to celebrate a special occasion by launching a giant blade at a bullseye. After some one-on-one coaching, your group will take turns at the target, before one Viking is crowned the winner. On-site event coordinators can help with everything from after-axe catering to a custom champion’s stein.
One for the culture vultures, Te Wharewaka o Pōneke Waka offers a unique team activity with a historic Māori twist. Take a trip with your team on a traditional waka taua – large war canoes used by the Indigenous settlers to race, transport goods, and navigate battles. First, you’ll learn how to respond to the traditional commands and cues, take part in historic haka, chanting and salutes, before taking to the water for an extra special tour of Wellington Harbour. The venue also features an on-site cafe where you can re-group over native dishes cooked using traditional methods.
Any of the above team activities in Wellington can be arranged directly through the activity centres themselves, with many catering to bespoke group sizes and requirements. Simply visit the websites to find out more. Don’t forget to take into account the individual needs of everyone in your group before you book, to ensure the activity can be accessed and enjoyed by all.
Organising activities for a large or even medium-sized group can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Be sure to begin planning well in advance, and don’t forget to think about food, refreshments, and transport throughout the day. More on that below.
If you need Wellington bus hire to get your group to one of the above activities, we can help. As a trusted coach charter company with many years of experience Rentabus has been safely transporting teams of all types and sizes for years. From timely pick-ups and drop-offs to well-mannered drivers and clean comfortable coaches, we have everything to make your journey a breeze. Whether you need transport for all your employees or a trip out to Martinborough, or flying in to Wellington, we can help create a seamless experience bespoke to your needs. Scroll to the top to get a custom quote today.