Best Venues for Hire in Wellington for Events

Tucked between steep hills and a busy harbour, Wellington is New Zealand’s capital and it feels like one, even with its small-city scale. It’s where the government meets the arts, where weather shifts by the hour, and where you’re never far from a good view, a strong coffee or a late-night spot. The city is compact enough to walk, but dense with good venues, making it one of the easiest places in the country to pull off an event.

Wellington’s layout helps too. The airport is just minutes from town, the CBD hugs the water, and public transport is decent enough that guests can move between suburbs without a car. From creative studios in Te Aro to waterfront restaurants near Queens Wharf, the venue scene is varied but manageable. You can run a full-day conference, a wedding by the beach, or a birthday dinner with mates, all without leaving the city.

Here’s a breakdown of what kinds of venues you’ll find across Wellington and where they tend to shine.

Central venues with full-service options

Most of Wellington’s hotels are based around Lambton Quay and The Terrace. These are the best pick when you need a venue that handles everything from catering, AV, staff, even accommodation. There’s a mix of boardrooms, rooftop event spaces and large function rooms. Handy for business events, workshops or anything with guests coming in from out of town.

A few boutique hotels in Te Aro and Thorndon also offer smaller rooms that work for meetings, private dinners or press events.

Spots near the water

Wellington’s waterfront has a little bit of everything, with event-ready restaurants, bars with views, and function spaces close to Te Papa and Queens Wharf. These venues are ideal for launches, long lunches or early evening events. 

Private rooms for smaller groups

If your guest list is short, private dining rooms are the way to go. Cuba Street, Courtenay Place and upper Willis Street all have restaurants with intimate spaces for birthday dinners, engagement celebrations, or team lunches. 

Flexible spaces you can style yourself

If you’ve got a clear idea of what you want, Wellington has plenty of blank canvas venues to bring it to life. Around Newtown, Te Aro and Mount Cook, you’ll find studios, converted halls and galleries that work for pop-ups, DIY weddings, or creative events. These usually let you bring in your own vendors and furniture, so you can tailor the space how you like.

Outdoor and garden settings

You don’t need to leave the city to find a green space. The Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton’s Bush, and parks in Kelburn or Oriental Bay all have options for event hire from wedding ceremonies to picnics and team days. Beachside venues around Freyberg also work well for events that want indoor-outdoor flexibility, especially during warmer months.

Local venues in the suburbs

Suburbs like Hataitai, Petone, Island Bay and Berhampore are home to community halls, breweries and casual venues. These spaces suit casual birthdays, fundraisers, club events or anything that needs room to move but not a huge budget.

Out-of-town venues with a destination feel

If you want to host something that feels like a weekend away, Martinborough and the K_piti Coast are your best bet. Martinborough is popular for weddings and longer events, the vineyards and homesteads are well set up for it. K_piti’s venues lean coastal, with beach views and simple outdoor areas that don’t feel far from the city.

What to check before you book

Venue availability in Wellington can be tight especially around festival season, school holidays or sunny weekends. Ask what’s included in the hire fee, double-check bump-in and sound limits, and confirm the wet weather plan if you’re booking anything outdoors. A lot of spaces are flexible but it helps to know the details early.

How much do venues in Wellington cost for events?

Based on VenueNow's historic data, on average, Wellington venues cost between 65 to 95 NZD per person for functions. For example, an event for 100 people could cost between 0-0 NZD. Costs may differ based on your food and beverage requirements, AV requirements, event date and time and the type of venue you decide to book.

What should I consider when comparing Wellington venues for events?

There are a number of different factors you should consider when comparing Wellington venues for events. Firstly, you should review the standing and seated capacity of the venue to see if they can fit your attendees. Next you should review the costs associated with hiring the venue such as venue hire fees, food & drink packages, additional costs such as audio-visual equipment, and whether there is a minimum spend to hire the venue. Other important factors include the location, aesthetic, amenities and facilities of the venue to understand if the venue fits all of your requirements. A great way to do this is review the venue's listings on VenueNow and review their function packs attached to the page.

How do I find and book Wellington venues for events?

Finding and booking Wellington venues for events is easy with VenueNow. Simply follow these steps: (1) Enter your location, event type and number of people into VenueNow's search engine. (2) Narrow down your search results by adding filters such as your event date and time, preferred room layout and budget. (3) Once you've found some venues you're interested in, visit the venue listings and send your enquiry via VenueNow. The venue will receive your enquiry immediately and respond to you within 24 hours via email. We recommend contacting 3-5 different venues to ensure you get the best price. (4) Venues will respond with a quote via email based on your requirements, and may suggest alternate dates when they can host your event. (5) Once you're happy with the quote, you can confirm your booking with the venue, pay your deposit and start planning your event.

How far in advance should I book Wellington venues for events?

On average, VenueNow customers book a venue 90 days in advance of the event. In some cases you are able to find venues that are available at short notice, however, availability for your preferred date and time may be limited. For large corporate events or weddings, we recommend booking your venue at least 3-6 months in advance, to ensure plenty of venues are available and you can lock in the best price for your requirements. Larger events also typically require additional planning with your attendees as well as any suppliers that may be required for the event.

Can VenueNow help me find Wellington venues for an event?

We sure can! Not only can you find and book venues via on VenueNow yourself or using our Match AI feature, our team of Venue Booking Experts can help you find the perfect venue, collect quotes from multiple venues on your behalf, negotiate the best price with venues and book venues, all for free. Simply send us your event brief and our team will be in contact with venue recommendations within 24-48 hours.