Venue & Location


Harbourside Function Centre, Wellington

Conference Venue

A conference venue created from what was once an historic Wellington wharf warehouse that stored wool, wood and flax in one of its working lives, and a brewery in another. The building formerly known as ‘Shed 22’ has been transformed into Harbourside Function Centre – a venue offering six versatile spaces on three levels, all right on the Waterfront. Harbourside is a hop, skip and jump from Te Papa National Museum, only a few minutes walk from Wellington CBD, and just 20 minutes drive from Wellington airport.

 

Address: 4 Taranaki St, Wellington Central, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

Getting there:

  • Airport: 8.2km (15 min drive) from Wellington Airport

  • 1.6km (5 min drive) from Wellington Train Station

  • 3.9km (9min drive) from Interislander Ferry Terminal

Parking: Pay parking available at Wilson parking.

Conference facilities: Harbourside has had its impressively high stud spaces convered into architecturally designed meeting, conference and social spaces: the brick walls and metal joinery of the saw tooth roof give an industrial New York loft feel, while the half-moon windows and glass ceilings flood the rooms with natural light. All rooms are air-conditioned, have high-speed Wifi, and disabled access.


Situated at the southern end of the North Island and nestled between green hills and a sparkling harbour, Wellington, New Zealand, is a little city with a big heart.

Getting to Wellington

By plane: Wellington International Airport has direct connectivity to the rest of New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji, across various airlines. Domestic air services are regular and fast. Flights leave for Auckland and Christchurch international airports hourly, and travel time is usually an hour. Queenstown is an hour and a half away, with multiple flights daily. Flights to Rotorua take just over an hour.

By ferry or cruise: The capital is a coastal gateway between the North and South Islands. There are regular ferry services across the Cook Strait to and from Picton. The three-and-a-half-hour journey takes you through the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. You can sail with either Interislander or Bluebridge. Taking a vehicle is easy, just drive on and off.

Cruise ships often stop in the city. The port hosts over 120 ships every year and is a ten-minute drive from the central city.

By car: If you are driving, Wellington is connected to two of the country’s major state highways, SH1 and SH2. The drive time from Auckland is approximately nine and a half hours, and Rotorua is five and a half hours.

By train: The train station is in the centre of the city. Great Journeys of New Zealand have a regular Northern Explorer train service, which connects Auckland and Wellington. The scenic 648km journey takes one day and includes multiple stops along the way.

Getting around Wellington

Here’s how you can get around once you’re in Wellington. With a compact city centre and accessible transport options, navigating the capital is a breeze.

  • Wellington has an extensive public transport system that is well-used by locals. Buses and trains can get you around the city, suburbs, and wider region. 

    There is also the East by West Ferry that takes you across Wellington Harbour, from Queen’s Wharf in the city across to Eastbourne in Lower Hutt.

    Metlink has an easy-to-use journey planner, getting you from A to B using all of the city’s transport options.

    Airport Express (AX)

    If you’ve arrived by plane, one of the easiest ways to access the city is via the airport bus. The Airport Express (AX) runs every 10 to 20 minutes, seven days a week. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes, and airport buses have wifi, USB charging, and luggage racks.

    Pay for your journey with a Snapper card

    Paying for your journey is easier and more convenient with a Snapper card. They can be purchased from the Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre or various convenience stores. Top up and tap your card on and off each mode of transport.

  • As well as being a tourist attraction, the Cable Car is mainly used as a mode of transport. The red cars take passengers from the hills of leafy Kelburn to the heart of bustling Lambton Quay. A number of attractions are located at or near the top of the Cable Car (including the Wellington Botanic Garden, Space Place, Zealandia, and Cable Car Museum). It’s a great way to bundle a number of activities together.

  • ne of the best ways to explore Wellington is by foot. The central city is only two kilometres across, meaning you can walk from one side to the other in around 30 minutes (not accounting for any coffee stops along the way). Grab a downtown map from the Wellington isite Visitor Information Centre, and get to know the capital on your own two feet.

  • Wellington has an abundance of cycle lanes, so pedalling around the city is another great transport option. There are many bike hire businesses. Switched On Bikes operates from Queens Wharf and has both regular and e-bikes for hire. Fergs Kayaks also offers bikes on the waterfront. For an on-the-go option, Beam and Flamingo have electric bike and scooter share services. These are easily hired via mobile apps.

  • Taxis are plentiful in the city, with multiple companies operating. They can be booked in advance or found in taxi ranks. Ride-share services like Uber also operate around Wellington and have a designated area at the airport.

  • If you have a private or hire vehicle, parking is available around the city. Alongside private parking buildings, on-street parking is available and is metred with time limits.

    Car shares are available on demand for daily or hourly hire. Mevo and Cityhop have designated parking spaces and easy-to-use apps for hiring vehicles.

Wellington is a compact and connected city with a powerful mix of culture, nature and cuisine. Fuel your visit with local coffee and world-class craft beer, visit the national museum Te Papa, go behind the scenes to learn movie magic secrets, be inspired by incredible live events, and immerse yourself in acclaimed nature experiences — all on the doorstep of your venue and hotel. Wellington is a must visit destination.

Things to do in Wellington.

  • Immerse yourself at Te Papa

    The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa dominates the beautiful Wellington Waterfront. Its 36,000 square metres of space spread across six floors contain over 800,000 artworks, cultural artefacts, historical archives, and scientific specimens. The sheer scale and scope of its collections mean you could spend hours there exploring.

  • Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car

    The red cable cars have trundled up the hill between Wellington’s bustling city centre and Kelburn Village for 120 years. They are synonymous with Wellington and a ride in one is a rite of passage for any local or tourist. Hop on, head to the top and enjoy the panoramic views of Wellington.

  • See native wildlife at Zealandia

    This world-first, fully fenced, predator-free urban sanctuary lies on the outskirts of the city centre. A 10-minute drive from Lambton Quay and you’re in the wilderness seeing native birds and wildlife thrive in a safe environment. This conservation project has enabled native bird populations to flourish.

  • Brace yourself for the best coffee experiences

    Wellington considers itself the coffee capital — the number of local roasteries and the public’s expectation for quality have created a rich café environment. Around every corner in the central city, you’ll find experienced baristas, excellent food, ambience, and great service. You’ll be full of beans in no time.

  • Watch movie magic happen

    The design and manufacturing facility combines cutting-edge technology with hand-crafted artistry to serve up Oscar-winning props, costumes, and creature effects. Tours take you on a magical trip through some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters.