Venue Hire and Corporate Events at Kelburn Croquet Club

Looking for something a bit different in Wellington? Our heritage croquet lawns, easygoing helpers, and relaxed clubhouse make Kelburn Croquet Club an excellent venue for teambuilding sessions, social clubs, corporate functions, or summer celebrations.
Most people arrive expecting traditional croquet, but quickly discover that Golf Croquet is fun, strategic, and surprisingly competitive — a game where confident players, beginners, and nonsporty people can all enjoy themselves equally.
Whether you’re planning a Christmas function, a summer celebration, or a teambuilding afternoon, Kelburn Croquet Club offers a refreshing alternative to indoor venues — relaxed, social, and enjoyable for everyone.

Why Choose Kelburn Croquet Club?

Experience Based Reasons

Instant engagement — everyone plays immediately
Natural teambuilding — cooperation, friendly rivalry, and strategy that encourages team interaction
Perfect for mixed groups — sporty, nonsporty, introverts, extroverts
A refreshing break from screens — outdoors, social, and suited to all groups
A fun challenge that can bring out surprising personalities
A game where anyone can win — not just the “sporty ones”
A unique activity people haven’t already done 10 times
Guided by friendly volunteer helpers who make the experience easy and enjoyable for everyone

Venue Based Reasons

A central Wellington location with easy access for corporate groups
Beautiful heritage setting with five lawns and a cosy clubhouse
Friendly volunteer helpers to guide your group on the lawns
Exclusive use of the clubhouse and lawns during your booking
Flexible food and drink options — selfcater or bring caterers
A unique alternative to standard indoor venues
Perfect for Christmas functions, team building, and summer events

Alcohol

Kelburn Croquet Club does not have a bar, but we offer flexible refreshment options to suit your group. You’re welcome to bring your own alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, giving you full control over your drink selection, quantities, and cost. Hirers are responsible for all legal requirements, including the responsible care of their participants and guests.
To protect our lawns, no bottles or glass items are permitted outside — plastic cups may be used.

What You Need to Bring

Footwear: Flat, closedin shoes (sneakers or runners). No heels on the lawns.
Respect for Our Lawns: Our croquet lawns are carefully maintained and easily damaged. Please take care when moving around the lawns, avoid dragging mallets, and ensure no heels, glass, or sharp objects are taken onto the playing surface.
Clothing: Shorts, trousers, or leggings are ideal.
Food & Drink: Bring your own food, drinks, plates, cutlery, and cups.
Music: You’re welcome to bring speakers or a boom box.
Rubbish bags: Please take all rubbish away with you.

If you prefer not to selfcater, you may hire caterers, arrange food delivery, or bring a food truck — all have worked well for past groups.

What We Provide

Exclusive use of our clubhouse, equipment, and five lawns (up to 40 people)
Clubhouse with indoor seating (capacity 50), toilets, and nearby parking
Kitchen with fridge, microwave, hot plates, and double oven
Space for BBQ setup and refreshments
BBQ hire available ($50)
Early clubhouse access for caterers ($40 fee)

Availability

Bookings are available midNovember to April, except during tournaments or club play. We close for Christmas from 20 December and reopen after Wellington Anniversary Weekend. Typical Summer Availability:

Monday: 10 am – 4.30 pm
Wednesday: 1.30 pm – 8 pm
Thursday: 1.30 pm – 8 pm
Friday: 1.30 pm – 8 pm
Saturday: 4.30 pm – 8 pm
Sunday: By arrangement

Hireage Rates

Minimum group size: 20 people
Up to 4 hours: $35 per person
Fridays in November and December: Minimum charge $1,000 due to high seasonal demand
Extra time: Groups may extend their booking beyond 4 hours for a flat fee of $150 per additional hour (maximum of 2 extra hours). Extensions must be arranged in advance as part of the booking.

How Your Event Works

Every group is different, so our volunteer helpers tailor the session to suit your style — relaxed, competitive, structured, or freeflowing. There’s no fixed schedule — your helpers adjust the pace to suit your group.

Most events follow a simple, easy rhythm:

Arrival & Welcome: Settle into the clubhouse and meet your volunteer helpers. If you’d like a group photo, it often works best at the start while everyone is still together.
Introduction to Golf Croquet: A friendly, quick briefing, no experience needed.
Practice & Warm Up: Try a few shots and get comfortable with the mallets.
Games & Challenges: Enjoy fun, social games across our lawns, as structured or relaxed as your group prefers.
Refreshments & Social Time: Use the clubhouse for food, drinks, and conversation.
WrapUp & Departure: Groups usually finish at their own pace — some keep playing, others relax in the clubhouse with food and drinks, and some begin heading off earlier. Before leaving, we simply ask that the clubhouse and lawns are left tidy, with all rubbish taken away.

Booking & Payment Requirements

Full payment is required to secure your booking. Please confirm your attendee numbers before submitting the enquiry form, as these will be used for invoicing and we’ll assume payment will be made on that basis.
Once we receive your enquiry form, we’re very happy to hold your preferred date for you. The booking will remain provisional until payment is made. If another group expresses interest in the same date, we’ll let you know straight away. We’re happy to hold the date for one working week so you have time and space to decide. If you’d like to go ahead, payment will need to be made within that week to secure your booking. There’s absolutely no obligation to continue if you decide not to go ahead.

Invoices are based on your confirmed attendee numbers. While reductions can’t be refunded, additional attendees can be added later and invoiced separately. If your attendee numbers change in any way before payment, please let us know as soon as possible. We’ll need to reassess the booking at that point to ensure we can still proceed. This is important, as unexpected changes in numbers have previously resulted in substantial costs to the club.

Note: The club is not GST registered.

If Your Plans Change After Payment

If your circumstances change after payment has been made, please refer to our cancellation policy below.

Cancellations

Weather-related cancellations
The club facilities are primarily for playing croquet. If heavy, persistent rain or unusable lawns prevent play, the club will cancel the event. If an alternative date cannot be offered, your payment will be refunded in full.
General cancellation policy
More than 28 days before your event: A full refund will be provided.
Less than 28 days before your event: Refunds are not available. However, please contact us as soon as possible — we may be able to move your booking to another date within the same season. If we are able to fill your original booking slot, your payment will be refunded.

Terms & Conditions

All rubbish must be removed from the premises. The club has no formal rubbish collection, so please bring rubbish bags and ensure the kitchen and clubhouse are left clean and tidy.
No glass or crockery on the lawns
Children under the age of 12 are not allowed on the croquet lawns or in the club rooms unless supervised by a nonparticipating adult at all times.
Kelburn Croquet Club accepts no responsibility for loss, theft, or injury to hirers of the club while using club facilities and the lawns.
Smoking/vaping is not permitted inside the clubrooms or on the lawns.
Please be considerate of neighbours regarding music volume.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does it cost? Our Hireage Rates are listed above. Groups pay $35 per person for up to four hours, with a minimum group size of 20 people.
How long do people usually play? Most groups play croquet for 1.5–2 hours, then spend the remaining time enjoying food, drinks, and social time in the clubhouse. You’re welcome to play for as long or as little as you like within your booking period.
How many people can we bring? Our lawns comfortably accommodate up to 40 players at once, with indoor clubhouse space for up to a maximum of 50 people.
Do we need to know how to play croquet? No — Golf Croquet is easy to learn, and our volunteer helpers guide you through everything.
Can we bring alcohol? Yes. You’re welcome to bring your own alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Please note that no glass or bottles are permitted on the lawns.
Can we selfcater? Absolutely. Most groups bring their own food and drinks. You may also hire caterers, arrange food delivery, or bring a food truck.
Is there a BBQ available? Yes — BBQ hire is available for $50.
Is the venue easy to access? Yes, we are on a main bus line, the cable car is nearby, and the lawns are a short walk from the street.
What footwear is required? Flat, closedin shoes (sneakers or runners). No heels on the lawns.
What happens if it rains? Light rain usually doesn’t stop play, but heavy persistent rain or unsafe lawns will. If the club cancels due to weather and no alternative date is available, your payment will be refunded in full.
Can we change our attendee numbers after booking? Reductions cannot be refunded once your enquiry form is submitted, but additional attendees can be added and invoiced separately.
Is our date guaranteed once we submit the enquiry form? Not yet — the date becomes confirmed only once payment is made. If another group requests the same date, we’ll notify you and can hold it for one working week so you have time to secure your booking.
Can we stay longer than four hours? Yes — groups may extend their booking for a flat fee of $150 per additional hour, up to a maximum of two extra hours. Extensions must be arranged in advance as part of the booking.
Do you have parking? Yes — there is nearby parking close to the clubhouse.
Can children attend? Children under 12 must be supervised by a nonplaying adult at all times and are not permitted on the lawns or in the club house without supervision.
Can we take photos? Absolutely, photos are welcome. If you’d like a group photo, it often works best at the start while everyone is still together.
What if our group arrives late? Your booking time remains the same, but we’ll help you get started quickly. If you expect delays, please let us know as early as possible.
Can we bring decorations or branding? Yes — simple table decorations or company branding are fine. Please avoid anything that could damage the lawns or clubhouse surfaces.
Is there anything we should know about safety on the lawns? Yes — croquet is very safe, but we ask everyone to be aware of their surroundings. Please watch where you stand, avoid stepping backwards without looking, and take care around balls and hoops and pegs in the ground.

Testimonials

“Our team had an amazing afternoon — fun, relaxed, and surprisingly competitive. The volunteers were fantastic.” — Wellington corporate group
“A perfect summer function. Beautiful setting, great activity, and easy to organise.” — Local business

Contact our Bookings Co-ordinators

Thank you for taking the time to look through our Corporate Events information.If you do not find the answer to your question on this page, please email us at Kelburncroquet.bookings@gmail.com. We will respond promptly by phone or email according to your preference. Alternatively, if you are ready to proceed and have confirmed all the details with your group regarding time, date, and number attending, please complete the Enquiry Form for Booking a Function (at the top of this page), and we will respond as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.