photos by New Zealand Business Events

Hamilton Conference Venues - 15 Best Venues

by Raashka Mannie | 07 Sep 2022

As New Zealand's busiest inland hub, it makes sense that Hamilton has a series of flexible and fabulous conference venues on hand. All with the distinct charm of Hamilton itself, these function spaces offer versatility and handy amenities to boot. Whether you’re looking for the classic use of hotel conference venues or individual spaces in Hamilton, we have got a venue for you with our list of Hamilton conference venues for hire. To find out more about Hamilton venues for hire, take a look at our complete guide here.

Claudelands Events Centre


Image by New Zealand Business Events

Claudelands Events Centre is a multi-zone venue situated a short distance from Hamilton's centre. It has an incredible capacity of 6,000 guests and a total of 11 breakout rooms. In 2019, this Hamilton venue was designated 'Large Venue of the Year' at the EVANZ Awards. They are the third-largest venue in New Zealand, offering world-class facilities and 34 hectares of green land. Claudelands Events Centre offers top of the line audiovisual technology, ultra-fast fibre optics, on-site technical support for your event, optional on-site catering, and an experienced events team on hand to help you with the smooth running of your conference. The spaces are versatile, able to be sized down or up depending on the nature of your event, and act as a blank space, adapting to the ambience of your conference no matter the size or style.

 

JetPark Hotel Hamilton


Image by Jet Park Hotel

For convenience and comfort alike, Jet Park Hotel is 5 minutes from Hamilton Airport and offers an array of options for your conference. With a capacity of 200 delegates, this Hamilton venue has free WiFi, audiovisual assistance and so much more. There are 3 different spaces to choose from: Hudson Room I, Hudson Room II (which can be combined with the former), and Harvard Room. Top Jet Park Hotel's flexibility with high-end audiovisual supplies, superior service, on-site accommodation and catering options, it results in a Hamilton venue that has every base covered when it comes to finding the perfect conference venue.

 

Zenders


Image by Zenders

Your Hamilton conference venue can be none other than Zenders, an authentic Euro-style facility that can host anywhere from 10 to 300 guests. Hire out the entire venue, or choose between their individual spaces: The Zaal, The Orange Room and The Boardroom. With a fresh and elegant but cosy ambience, Zenders specialises in bespoke functions of every kind, with a knack for conferences and other corporate events. Featuring large windows that flood the space with light, as well as on-site catering and parking, this conference venue is one of the best in Hamilton.

 

Distinction Hamilton Hotel & Conference Centre


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Distinction Hamilton Hotel & Conference Centre is a trusted favourite amongst the corporate world, known for their impeccable service and top tier conference facilities. This Hamilton venue can host up to 600 delegates, offering 3 seminar rooms and 4 conference rooms, all with their own reception lounges and presentation facilities. They also offer on-site catering and accommodation options, creating bespoke menus for your conference. Their hotel features a restaurant, bar, private dining room, gymnasium, 3 spa pools and an indoor heated swimming pool, and free unlimited WiFi for your guests. Your conference will be in good hands with Distinction Hamilton Hotel & Conference Centre’s dedicated event management team, experts that will ensure your Hamilton conference runs to perfection.

 

Waitomo Glowworm Caves


Image by Hamilton & Waikato Tourism

There’s nothing quite like the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, one of Mother Nature’s incredible feats that many have come from far and wide to appreciate. You can dazzle your guests by hosting your next Hamilton conference at this venue. They host conferences for up to 700 delegates, with bespoke and unusual experiences to delight and make your conference more memorable than ever. This Hamilton venue was awarded The New Zealand Architecture Medal, featuring 3 breakout rooms for conversation and mingling. They are 70km outside of the city centre and offer complete event management. They also have the options of on-site catering and high-speed internet access. Waitomo Glowworm Caves is a wondrous space, with unparalleled beauty and the chance to visit one of New Zealand’s most famous tourist attractions.

 

SKYCITY Hamilton


Image by SKYCITY Hamilton

A conference centre in the middle of the CBD, SKYCITY Hamilton overlooks the Waikato River and offers lovely views of the cityscape and water. They specialise in corporate events and conferences. This Hamilton venue can accommodate up to 600 guests, with 3 breakout rooms and personalised service for every event. There are 6 spaces in total to choose from, from a banquet room seating 300 to a theatre for 500. SKYCITY Hamilton also comes with state-of-the-art in-house audiovisual equipment, with a dedicated and experienced team on hand to assist you. The space also features 8 restaurants, a casino, multiple bars and live entertainment for your guests. It’s one of Hamilton’s go-to conference venues with good reason and is sure to make your conference unforgettable.

 

Zealong Tea Estate


Image by Ang Sarap

Zealong Tea Estate’s venue space was purpose-built in the early 2010s. This is a dedicated function space that offers lovely views of New Zealand’s only commercial tea plantation. There are 3 options to choose from: the Pavillion, which features plenty of natural light, an alfresco terrace and a capacity of up to 70 guests; the Vista, completed in 2016, with an indoor/outdoor flow and a capacity of 300 guests; and the Executive Suite, a smaller space for up to 25 guests, elegant and ideal for intimate dinners, tea tastings, meetings and so much more. Zealong Tea Estate also offers an educational experience regarding tea, which is as yummy as it is unique. Their teas are organic and award-winning, and they have come to specialise in hosting any number of events, including bespoke conferences. Zealong Tea Estate is a 20-minute drive from the centre of Hamilton and offers tailored in-house catering for all conferences.

 

Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel


Image by Tainui Group Holdings

Have a four-star conference experience with Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel. This venue offers views of the river and the ever-growing city, with a host of facilities that perfectly cater to hosting a wonderful conference. They have a total of 6 rooms to choose from: the Boardroom, Cobham, Fairfield, Pukete, Whitiora and Union. Each room has a varying capacity (anywhere from 10 to 300) and can be combined in a multitude of ways to make for a versatile conference experience. With on-site catering and accommodation, as well as high-speed WiFi, audiovisual assistance and a helpful events team, Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel is one of Hamilton’s favourite hotel conference venues. As a bonus, Novotel Hamilton Tainui Hotel participates in Planet21, acting in favour of positive hospitality and endeavouring to bring more sustainability into conferences and events.

 

Hamilton Gardens


Image by Wikipedia

The sprawling and breathtaking Hamilton Gardens has a conference venue tucked away within it: the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion. This conference venue is a multipurpose venue that can accommodate any type of conference you’re looking to host. There are 4 spaces to pick between: Central Court, with a maximum capacity of 540 guests; Exhibition Hall, with a maximum capacity of 280 guests; Chartwell Room, with a maximum capacity of 150 guests; and Huddleston Room, with a maximum capacity of 18 guests. If desired, the Central Court and Exhibition Hall can be combined to host up to 800 guests. Each of their available spaces was designed with a particular use in mind, lending a different ambience to your conference depending on your requirements. Should you request it, Hamilton Gardens also allows for outdoor conferences in their themed gardens. They have an array of catering options to choose from. Your conference will be a hit in a setting as gorgeous as the Hamilton Gardens.

 

Wintec Venues


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Located in the middle of Hamilton CBD, Wintec Venues features award-winning facilities that will make hosting your conference a cinch. This venue offers a unique, styling atmosphere with their sleek, industrial design, making it a perfect modern backdrop for any conference. There are 2 Long Rooms and 2 Event Rooms to mix and match, along with the main Atrium for larger functions. There is also the Training Space, to be found at their Rotokauri Campus, favoured for smaller gatherings and possible breakaway spaces for your conference. Wintec Venues has a capacity of 500 guests, and their venues come equipped with laptops, projectors, staging, microphones and lighting, as well as an audiovisual technician on-site to assist you. All of their spaces are located at their City Campus, and they have a list of preferred suppliers for you to work with, covering everything your conference needs from catering to styling.

 

Waikato Museum


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Waikato Museum and ArtsPost is a modern venue rich with history and knowledge. This venue is in the middle of Hamilton’s cultural precinct and adjacent to the CBD. Artworks, artefacts and taonga are on display, with stunning architecture all around and a capacity of up to 180 delegates. Waikato Museum and ArtsPost specialises in a variety of event types and is more than happy to host conferences in their curated space. With a dedicated events team, they bring personalised service and events expertise, ensuring that your conference will be exactly as you planned it. They also offer several catering options. Waikato Museum and ArtsPost have 13 galleries that feature more than 25 new exhibitions and 100 public events annually, making this Hamilton venue one of the most interesting and sought-after conference spaces in the region.

 

The Greenspace


Image by The Greenspace

Modern, sustainable and filled with natural light, The Greenspace can serve as a wonderful Hamilton conference venue. Minutes from the city centre, this Hamilton venue can host up to 40 guests and makes for the perfect space for a more intimate conference. The Greenspace is focused on sustainable practices and giving back to the environment. For their innovation and dedication to the cause, The Greenspace won the Innovation Design: Building Design Award at the Waikato Sustainable Business Awards. They have a duo of spaces to choose from: the Kauri Room, hosting up to 30 guests, and the Totara Room, hosting up to 15. They also offer their kitchen for self-catering options, along with high-speed WiFi, secretarial support and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. The Greenspace is the ideal Hamilton venue for a smaller conference with a lot of character.

 

Henley Hotel


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Henley Hotel is a luxe venue that resides within a Georgian-style manor. Its boutique space doubles as an elegant conference venue in Hamilton. The entire hotel is available for exclusive hire and has numerous gardens, lawns and outdoor spaces at your disposal for your conference. This venue can host up to 250 guests and has a total of 5 breakout rooms, all filled with natural light. Henley Hotel is located on 29 acres of private land and is a swift half-hour drive from the centre of Hamilton. They have hosted a myriad of events, including bespoke conferences, and have a team that is dedicated to making your conference stand out in style. They offer on-site catering, a miniature cinema, historic chapel, and even a helicopter pad for guests that want to arrive with a bang. Henley Hotel does luxurious conferences like no other venue in Hamilton.

 

Gallagher Academy


Image by Gallagher Academy

Part of the incredible University of Waikato, this Hamilton venue for hire is a spacious, modern salute to functions of every kind. With a capacity of 340 guests, it's ideal for conferences both large and small, awarding you with plenty of access to Hamilton's thriving business district and purpose-built performance venues and rehearsal rooms. Gallagher Academy of Performing is an award-winning performing arts and events centre that opened in 2001 and has been the go-to venue for prestigious events in Hamilton, such as the Hamilton Public Lecture Series, the annual Blues Awards and Distinguished Alumni Dinners, and Honorary Doctorate awards. Featuring facilities such as on-site catering, audiovisual assistance and equipment and more, Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts has cemented itself as one of Hamilton's best conference venues.

 

University of Waikato


Image by The University of Waikato

The University of Waikato rests on 68 acres of manicured grounds just outside of the centre of Hamilton. This Hamilton conference venue offers a multitude of spaces to choose from, each with varying capacities, from their character-filled chapel to their designated conference and function rooms. The University of Waikato features over 100 lecture and seminar rooms, seating up to 394 maximum and 20 minimum, making it as flexible as it is beautifully designed. All spaces come equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, with breakaway rooms for socialising and conversation, as well as kitchenettes for your caterers to make use of. The University of Waikato also offers on-site accommodation in the Halls of Residence, but, if your guests prefer to stay elsewhere, this conference venue is only 4km from the CBD and 14km from the airport.

 

ibis Hamilton Tainui Hotel


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ibis Hamilton Tainui Hotel rests along the banks of the Waikato River, with modern facilities and close proximity to the bustling centre of Hamilton. They have 3 spaces to choose from for your conference, including i-Meet, Pukeko and Huia, allowing for combining of Pukeko and Huia if so desired. They can host anywhere from 14 to 80 guests, offering on-site accommodation and catering options. Enjoy their terraced bar as you take in the city and Waikato River, or take a stroll for a few minutes and explore the midst of the city. ibis Hamilton Tainui Hotel is a convenient and comfortable space for your next Hamilton conference, awarding you and your guests with ease of mind and a host of amenities to make your experience all the more relaxing. Part of the Accor family, this venue partakes in the Planet21 initiative to incorporate sustainability into conferences and events.

 

Avantidrome


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Avantidrome is a unique conference venue in Hamilton, with a full view of the velodrome and wide spaces to host your conference. This venue can host up to 500 guests, with multiple spaces to choose from for your event, including The Avanti Lounges, APL Room and the Avantidrome Infield. Each of them is as flexible as the last, tailoring itself to your requirements for your conference. Avantidrome also offers on-site catering and WiFi access. They are 18km from the airport and just under 20km from the CBD. Your conference is sure to stand out from the crowd when hosted at Avantidrome, a space that is happy to adapt to the atmosphere of your conference and make for a memorable experience.