Immersive experiences delegates will remember
Image:Wētā Workshop Unleashed
When delegate engagement is high on the brief, give them more than an impressive table setting. These Auckland venues build entertainment, storytelling or a recognisable local experience into the evening, making them an ideal choice for incentives, conference celebrations and international groups.
Take delegates behind the scenes of movie-making before sitting down to dinner inside an imaginative world created by the team at Wētā Workshop. This central Auckland location and built-in experience make it a great option when you want entertainment and dinner to work together rather than planning them separately.
Capacity: Banquet 240 pax, Cocktail 700 pax
Put delegates through their paces with interactive challenges inspired by one of the world’s most famous rugby teams before enjoying an intimate dinner. Located in central Auckland, the All Blacks Experience offers a distinctly Kiwi introduction to Aotearoa New Zealand’s rugby culture. It works especially well for incentive groups and conference celebrations that want participation built into the evening.
Capacity: Banquet 120 pax, Cocktail 250 pax
Swap the conference room for a setting surrounded by native and exotic wildlife, just a short drive from the city centre. With the roar of a lion or the trill of a Kiwi as a background soundtrack, Auckland Zoo offers several function spaces, including Te Puna and the Old Elephant House, giving organisers options for gala dinners, networking events and incentive evenings with a built-in sense of wonder.
Capacity: Banquet 350 pax, Cocktail 500 pax
Who needs centrepieces when a whole aircraft is suspended over your gala tables? Just west of central Auckland, MOTAT’s Aviation Hall brings inimitable character to gala dinners, themed events and conference celebrations, with plenty of scale for groups and a backdrop that will get your guests talking.
Capacity: Banquet 350 pax, Cocktail 500 pax
Heletranz Hangar pairs the scale and polish of a showroom with aircraft on display, with room to spill out onto the helipad for larger events. If marvelling at the aircraft from below isn’t quite enough, then take the evening up a notch and send guests skyward on a scenic helicopter flight over Auckland before dinner.
Capacity: Banquet 80 pax, Cocktail 100 pax
Give delegates after-hours access to New Zealand’s national stadium; even outside of match day, there’s plenty of atmosphere for groups and international delegates to enjoy. Host a relaxed barbecue overlooking the turf or take the celebration indoors. Close to central Auckland, Eden Park is an especially memorable choice for international groups, sporting organisations and large corporate events.
Capacity: Banquet 800 pax, Cocktail 100 pax
Celebrate within a landmark venue
Image: Auckland Town Hall - Great Banquet
Auckland’s theatres, civic buildings and character venues give awards evenings, formal dinners and client functions a stronger sense of occasion, with several located in or close to the central city.
The Civic brings 1920s glamour to the dinner programme without taking delegates away from central Auckland. Choose the Wintergarden for an atmospheric gala or take the event onto the theatre stage for a dinner guests are unlikely to encounter at another conference.
Capacity: Banquet 320 pax, Cocktail 525 pax
Chandeliers, heritage architecture and more than a century of civic history give Auckland Town Hall a natural sense of occasion. Its central-city location makes it a strong choice for formal gala dinners and awards nights where planners want a prestigious setting that remains convenient for delegates staying nearby.
Capacity: Banquet 360 pax, Cocktail 670 pax
Give delegates after-hours access to one of Auckland’s major cultural landmarks, where they’ll be surrounded by striking architecture and local and international art. Located in the heart of the city, Auckland Art Gallery is a natural fit for premium dinners, receptions and client functions where the surroundings spark conversations.
Capacity: Banquet 130 pax, Cocktail 250 pax
Seat guests beneath soaring neo-Gothic arches and stained-glass windows in one of central Auckland’s most distinctive heritage buildings. St Matthew-in-the-City gives gala dinners and awards evenings instant gravitas, while still leaving organisers the flexibility to transform the space through styling, lighting and production.
Capacity: Banquet 250 pax, Cocktail 450 pax
Host a dinner with Auckland’s harbour front and centre
Image: Shed 10
Auckland’s harbour setting gives evening events a strong sense of place all on its own. From central-city wharves to marina and eastern-bay venues, these spaces pair practical event facilities with expansive water views and a distinctly Auckland
Give guests a taste of Auckland’s maritime past inside a former cargo shed on downtown Queens Wharf. Shed 10’s industrial character, expansive floorplan and waterfront position make it a memorable but highly practical choice for large gala dinners, awards evenings and major conference functions.
Capacity: Banquet 750 pax, Cocktail 1000 pax
For a more intimate waterfront function, The Maritime Room looks directly across Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, with a sheltered deck for pre-dinner drinks. With polished interiors and a strong food offering, it suits conference dinners, client entertaining and networking events that call for something a little more refined.
Capacity: Banquet 260 pax, Cocktail 400 pax
Give delegates sweeping views across the Waitematā Harbour to the Auckland skyline and Rangitoto Island, all just a short drive east of the city centre. Okahu’s choice of event spaces gives planners flexibility for gala dinners, receptions and corporate hospitality without losing the waterfront outlook.
Capacity: Banquet 220 pax, Cocktail 350 pax
Set beside the Ōrākei Basin, Orakei Bay is a rarity in terms of city venues tucked between nature and the sea. With several light-filled spaces, its flexibility works well for networking functions and conference dinners that might move from drinks outside to a more formal seated programme.
Capacity: Banquet 200 pax, Cocktail 400 pax
Put the harbour into almost every sightline with waterfront rooms and balconies overlooking Auckland’s eastern bays. A short drive from the city centre, Akarana Marine Sports Centre works particularly well for gala dinners and corporate celebrations where delegates can easily move between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Capacity: Banquet 200 pax, Cocktail 350 pax
Few venues connect an event to Auckland’s sailing identity quite like this one. The Squadron’s Westhaven location overlooks the marina and Waitematā Harbour, with several rooms for everything from executive dinners to larger awards nights and gala functions.
Capacity: Banquet 280 pax, Cocktail 400 pax
Choose a venue with character built in
Image: Brad's Warehouse
These venues bring their own personality through heritage details, distinctive architecture and atmospheric spaces, giving organisers an already interesting starting point for dinners, awards nights and corporate celebrations.
Step inside a 19th-century central-city warehouse where exposed bluestone, timber floors and beams create a dramatic industrial backdrop. Brad’s Warehouse is a strong choice for awards nights, brand events and seated dinners where planners want plenty of character without necessarily requiring a heavily themed space.
Capacity: Banquet 200 pax, Cocktail 400 pax
Host dinner inside a restored heritage building beside Auckland Racecourse, with character-filled interiors and nods to its thoroughbred horse racing history. Tote on Ascot combines atmosphere with a flexible floorplan, making it particularly useful for awards dinners and corporate celebrations that need space for both dining and entertainment.
Capacity: Banquet 220 pax, Cocktail 450 pax
Dine beneath a glass roof surrounded by established trees, greenery and industrial detailing, minus the weather forecast anxiety. The Glasshouse in Morningside creates a serene indoor-outdoor atmosphere and gives gala dinners, brand events and celebrations an impressive setting before the styling even begins.
Capacity: Banquet 160 pax, Cocktail 300 pax
Step behind ivy-covered walls into a secluded courtyard setting complete with fireplaces and richly atmospheric interiors. Just a short drive from central Auckland, Mantells Mount Eden suits executive dinners, client entertaining and smaller celebrations where privacy and intimacy are part of the appeal.
Capacity: Banquet 50 pax, Cocktail 110 pax
Offer a deeper connection with Auckland
Image: Auckland Museum Grand Foyer
For delegates visiting Auckland, these venues offer more than a memorable setting for dinner. They create opportunities to connect with the people, stories and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, adding depth and meaning to the evening programme.
As one of the city’s grandest buildings, Auckland War Memorial Museum turns a formal dinner into an evening grounded in the stories and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand. Pair the museum setting with cultural experiences before moving into spaces such as the Grand Foyer or Under the Dome for dinner.
Capacity: Banquet 450 pax, Cocktail 500 pax
Set in park-like surroundings close to Auckland Zoo and MOTAT, Te Mahurehure Marae opens the door to genuine cultural connection. For groups wanting an experience with greater meaning than a conventional function room can offer, the marae team can help shape an event around tikanga Māori (Māori customs and protocols), hospitality and connection.
Capacity: Banquet 250 pax, Cocktail 300 pax
For a change of scene beyond the city centre
Image: Markovina Estate
Auckland’s vineyards, farms, estates and rural escapes work particularly well for incentives, executive offsites and conference celebrations designed as a destination in their own right. Build transport into the programme and the change of scenery becomes part of the experience.
Take delegates into an olive estate in the Bombay Hills, South of central Auckland, where dinner can unfold among groves. Bracu Estate gives corporate groups several ways to shape an evening, from an intimate executive dinner to a larger celebration in The Pavilion. On-site activities can also extend the visit into a team or incentive experience.
Capacity: Banquet 160 pax, Cocktail 190 pax
Trade the city for vineyard views and a century-old stable less than 30 minutes from central Auckland. Turanga Creek Vineyard offers a relaxed rural backdrop for corporate dinners, team celebrations and smaller conference offsites without requiring a lengthy transfer from the city centre.
Capacity: Banquet 120 pax, Cocktail 150 pax
In Kumeū, Auckland’s wine country west of the city centre, Markovina combines substantial event capacity with gardens and multiple spaces across its ten-acre property. It works particularly well for conference celebrations and incentive functions where dinner can be paired with lawn games, drinks outside or team activities.
Capacity: Banquet 300 pax, Cocktail 300 pax
Head to Auckland’s dramatic west coast for an evening framed by farmland, contemporary architecture and expansive Tasman Sea views. With several spaces across the private estate, Parihoa lends itself to executive offsites, premium incentives and private functions where the journey away from the city is very much part of the experience.
Capacity: Banquet 120 pax, Cocktail 120 pax
Welcome guests through landscaped gardens and sweeping lawns before moving into one of LaValla Estate’s elegant indoor event spaces. Set in Auckland’s rural south, the country estate offers enough scale for conference dinners and awards evenings while giving the programme a polished change of scene from the city.
Capacity: Banquet 300 pax, Cocktail 300 pax
Heletranz Hangar offers an adaptable canvas to host events – the atmosphere, space and stature of a showroom, coupled with the majesty of aircrafts on display. With increased numbers extend outdoors onto the purpose-built helipad or host guests on scenic helicopter flights around Auckland city.
Capacity: Banquet 100 pax, Cocktail 200 pax
Head west of the city to The Hunting Lodge for a vineyard evening that can take delegates from drinks outdoors through to dinner and entertainment in The Barn. Estate wines and generous outdoor spaces make it a natural fit for incentive groups and conference celebrations where you want a rustic yet elevated experience.
Capacity: Banquet 250 pax, Cocktail 250 pax
Take delegates to the water’s edge at The Boat House, a private riverside venue around 25 minutes from central Auckland. Indoor-outdoor spaces, on-site catering, AV facilities and breakout options make it particularly useful for corporate offsites that move from daytime sessions into an intimate private dinner.
Capacity: Banquet 140 pax, Cocktail 250 pax
Settle in among olive groves and vines in Clevedon, where Mediterranean influences give Vin Alto a distinctly different feel from the central city. Southeast of Auckland, the vineyard is well suited to smaller corporate dinners and celebrations designed around good food, wine and a slower pace.
Capacity: Banquet 60 pax | Coctail 120 pax
For smaller incentive and executive groups, The McCallum Residence offers the exclusivity of a private beachfront estate in South Auckland. Set around a beautifully restored historic homestead, the property combines heritage character with a highly personalised hosting experience. A private chef, on-site butler and the option of a relaxed beach barbecue give organisers everything they need for a genuinely hosted evening.
Capacity: Banquet 50 pax | Cocktail 70 pax
Take delegates onto an island without having to organise a ferry. Connected to mainland Auckland by an all-tide causeway, Puketutu Island Estate combines gardens and terraces for arrival drinks with an elegant indoor setting for formal dinners, delivering the escapism of an island venue with simpler group logistics.
Capacity: Banquet 200 pax, Cocktail 300 pax
Swap the city for 500 acres of rolling farmland, coastal views and a private lodge, just 30 minutes from Auckland Airport. More than a venue, Kauri Bay Boomrock is an all-in-one corporate experience destination where groups can combine gala dinners and celebrations with activities such as clay bird shooting, axe throwing and archery. The mix of adventure, scenery and hospitality makes it ideal for incentives, conference offsites and corporate celebrations designed to feel like an escape from the city.
Capacity: Banquet 200 pax, Cocktail 250 pax
Bring guests together around a grand fireplace before moving between heritage interiors and alfresco spaces at Settlers Country Manor. West of central Auckland, Settlers Country Manor suits conference celebrations and corporate dinners where you’re seeking a traditional country-estate atmosphere with plenty of room for guests.
Capacity: Banquet 350 pax, Cocktail 400 pax
Make the most of expansive grounds, generous decks and flexible indoor spaces at Karaka Pavilion in Auckland’s rural south. Located in the heart of New Zealand’s renowned thoroughbred breeding region, the venue offers a connection to Karaka’s long-standing equestrian heritage alongside modern event facilities. The venue’s scale makes it a strong choice for larger corporate dinners and celebrations where planners want space to combine dining, entertainment and time outdoors.
Capacity: Banquet 300 pax, Cocktail 500 pax
For the big finish
Image: NZICC
When hundreds – or thousands – of delegates need to sit down together, capacity is only part of the equation. Production access, staging, AV, catering and the ability to move large groups efficiently become just as important.
For a multi-day conference already based at NZICC, keeping the gala under the same roof can dramatically simplify the final night. Its range of large-scale spaces gives planners the flexibility to transform the venue from conference mode to celebration mode, with the production and back-of-house capability to match.
Capacity: Banquet 3300 pax, Cocktail 5310 pax
Take over one of Auckland’s major entertainment venues and bring concert-scale thinking to a gala dinner or awards programme. Close to the central city, Spark Arena gives planners significant space and production capability, with plenty of scope to go well beyond the standard ballroom format.
Capacity: Banquet 1600 pax, Cocktail 3000 pax
Built out over the water in Wynyard Quarter, Viaduct Events Centre puts delegates right among Auckland’s maritime landscape. Its scale, technical capability and flexible spaces make it a strong fit for major gala dinners, awards programmes and conference celebrations with serious production requirements.
Capacity: Banquet 1200 pax, Cocktail 2850 pax
Sitting directly on Queens Wharf in downtown Auckland, The Cloud combines serious event scale with a front-row harbour location. Its pillar-free floor is built for large gala dinners, conference finales and awards programmes that call for substantial production.
Capacity: Banquet 1750 pax, Cocktail 2000 pax
Planning an event can be daunting, but with free, impartial advice from ACB, finding the right people, places and services is easy. From celebrity speakers and audio-visual services to delegate activities, we know Auckland inside out and can find those hidden gems you've been looking for that will take your event to the next level.