Conference 2026 Venue, Accommodation and Local Attractions
We’re delighted to be offering manaakitanga/ hospitality through our Conference 2026 venue, The Brentwood Hotel, Kilbirnie, Te Whanganui a Tara/ Wellington, Aotearoa/ New Zealand.
As it is a hotel, all of our conference needs are in one place – including a swimming pool (though as it is January in Wellington, it might not be fit for purpose!). There are a range of accommodation options available at The Brentwood. Rooms are $184.00 per night for both single and shared double rooms, and there is some triple sharing available. You will need to book your accommodation directly with the hotel. As you can see, the room rates are the same for single or sharing – find someone you want to share with and book your room now.
Make accommodation bookings directly with The Brentwood by phoning 0508 273 689 (0508 BRENTWOOD) from Aotearoa or calling +64 4 920 0400 International. Alternatively, email reservations@brentwoodhotel.co.nz.
Brentwood Hotel
16 Kemp Street
Kilbirnie
Wellington
Aotearoa New Zealand
For bookings please use reference 85419 AANZPA
The Brentwood is an 8 min walk from the Evans Bay waterfront, and a similar distance from cafes and the Kilbirnie shopping centre. Evans Bay is known by Māori as Ākau Tangi, “the crying shore”, or Kokotahi Te Taniwha, “the place of the monstrous seabird”.
It’s a 20 min walk east to Evans Bay Beach and the same distance north to Haitaitai Beach, further around Evans Bay itself.
The Evans Bay Wind Sculpture Walk consists of five wind-activated sculptures installed along Cobham Drive, a short walk from The Brentwood. The area is visited often by Tāwhirimātea, the atua/god of wind, and the kinetic sculptures celebrate this. The five sculptures are Zephyrometer, Urban Forest, Akau Tangi, Tower of Light and Pacific Grass.
Things to do in Wellington
Kilbirnie Eateries close to the Brentwood hotel
Local Malaysian restaurant Kanama Kopi Kadai
Cupcake Cafe & Bakery – 7 mins walk from the Brentwood
Fabulous pastries and coffee – 30 mins’ walk: Uncle Leo’s
Buba Cafe – pizza and coffee, 8 mins’ walk from the Brentwood
Cafe Peony – 7 mins walk from the Brentwood
Nearby restaurants (a short Uber ride away)
Italian pizza (including vegan), desserts, pastries and coffee: Bongusto in Miramar.
The Botanist in Lyall Bay – vegetarian, with many many vegan options.
The Larder in Miramar – book here; very popular.
Puku Pies & Kai in Lyall Bay – try a paua pie, a true local delicacy!
Parrotdog Bar – local craft beer venue serving burgers and bowls, alongside the Parrotdog beer range.
🍽️ Wellington CBD Culinary Scene
Breakfast & Coffee Spots
Prefab, Mojo (Spark Building),Bond Street Deli, La Cloche, Smith the Grocer
Sunday Must-Dos
- Farmers Market beside Te Papa – fresh produce and great vibes.
- Walk to Chou Chou or Karaka Café for waterside brunch.
- Visit the Island Bay Marine Education Centre
Foodie Favourites
- Moore Wilson’s for deli delights
- Floriditas, Fidels, Neo Café – all top picks
If you have a Sweet Tooth
High-End Dining (Booking recommended)
Best ethnic restaurants are Kisa (Middle Eastern), Ombra (Italian), Loretta, and Floriditas all in Cuba Street, Apache (Vietnamese) and Dragons (Chinese) in Tory Street, and Dragonfly (Asian fusion) in Courtenay Place.
Quirky Bars
- Try Havana, Dragonfly, The Library, or explore Hidden Bars of Wellington
Venturing Further
- Beachside cafés like Spruce Goose, Maranui, Scorch-O-Rama are great by car.
- Up the Kapiti Coast? Try Beach Road Deli (Paekākāriki) and Relish (Waikanae).
Swimming: City and Kilbirnie beaches
Oriental Bay beach and best icecreams ever over the road or at the Gelissimo kiosk
Balena Bay close to the Brentwood has public wharepaku and changing sheds; a soft pebble beach
Check out the mobile sauna, often situated near Worser Bay on the Mirimar Peninsula, a 7 min drive from the Brentwood.
The Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre is a 7 min walk from the Brentwood. Facilities include a 50m heated pool, gym, spa and sauna.
Walking suggestions
The top twenty Welly walking tracks are laid out here. Most will require some transport from Kilbirnie to get to them. The Evans Bay Energy Wind Sculpture walk is 8 minutes’ walk from the Brentwood, and takes 30-45 mins to complete.
Thrift shopping in Wellington
Recycle Map – opp shops – enter “Kilbirnie” in the search bar and the map will navigate to Kilbirnie.
Best thrift and vintage shops – central Wellington
Wellington’s special places
Te Papa: New Zealand’s national museum is home to over two million objects across art, natural history, New Zealand histories, mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and Pacific cultures. World-renowned for its commitment to biculturalism, Te Papa is TripAdvisor’s top tourist attraction in New Zealand. The museum is free for all New Zealanders and delivers an exceptional experience to international visitors.
Zealandia See Aotearoa New Zealand’s rarest species of birds, reptiles, fish, insects and plants — all thriving in a predator-free environment close to the city.
Botanical Gardens: With 25 hectares of beautiful garden and 150 years of history, the Wellington Botanic Garden is a series of curated collections designed and cared for by our on-the-ground team of dedicated staff.
Dine al fresco in the Botanical Gardens at the Picnic Cafe
Weta Workshop: Explore a world of creativity, physical effects and movie magic at Wētā Workshop Experiences in Mirimar. Learn about the making of movie effects, from armour to aliens, creatures to costumes and makeup to miniatures.
Wellington Zoo: Be with the animals at the best little zoo in the world. Open 9 – 5pm, adults $26.00
Venturing a little further
Visit one of our most significant nature reserves, Kapiti Island.
Links to other places to explore:
https://neatplaces.co.nz/places/wellington/shops
For what’s on during the time of your stay
Practicalities:
Supermarkets in Kilbirnie
Unichem Chemist 37 Bay road Kilbirnie
Chemist Warehouse 31 Bay Road Kilbirnie
Wellington Accident and Urgent Medical centre
Wellington After Hours Medical Centre hours 8am – 9pm – just turn up. Adelaide Road, Newtown, a suburb over from Kilbirnie. A nurse triages rapidly, then expect to wait 1 – 2 hours to see a doctor.
City Transport
The city buses are frequent and take you to most places throughout the city, with bus stops on Willis street and Lambton Quay. Google Maps will help you find routes and times. Kilbirnie bus stops closest to Brentwood are on Rongotai Road, about 200m walk away. Plenty of bus routes travel between Kilbirnie and the central city – the 2, 3, 14, 24 and 43.
City buses can be an affordable way for a scenic tour – see these descriptions of Route 24 and Route 2, both of which run near the Brentwood.
Snapper card for local transport
You need to sign on and off with a Snapper card. These are available for purchase at supermarkets.
Hire bikes on the Wellington waterfront. There are bike lanes throughout the city and from Kilbirnie into the city.