Ōrākei Bay hosts conferences, workshops, breakfast seminars, product launches, gala dinners and weddings for up to 180 guests, with exclusive use of the whole venue. Its rooms, The Gallery, The Loft and the Waterside Bar and Lounge, open onto a garden at the edge of the Ōrākei Basin in Remuera, about ten minutes from central Auckland by car or by train.
Seminars and company events
The Gallery is the main room for conferences, exhibitions, seated dinners and evening events. It has floor-to-ceiling windows over the basin, its own bar, a grand entrance and a welcome area, and seats 160. The Loft, under high vaulted ceilings with large arched windows and a private entrance, takes 120 theatre-style, 80 seated or 120 for cocktails, and suits workshops, meetings and smaller conferences. The Waterside Bar and Lounge, with pool tables and direct access to the garden, works for networking, brand activations, music or 80 cocktail guests, and can be reset for presentations. Breakout zones and outdoor areas leave room for breaks and drinks between sessions. An event coordinator handles planning and stays on site during the event.
Weddings and receptions
Couples book the whole venue, with all rooms and the garden. Ceremonies take place in the Waterside Garden, which seats 80 theatre-style at the water's edge, or indoors in The Loft, which also serves as the wet-weather option. Cocktail hour runs in the garden with lawn games, and the reception follows in The Gallery for up to 160 seated. Packages include tables, linen, tableware, waiting staff, an event manager, setup and pack-down, security, cleaning, a background sound system and up to ten hours of event time, with a latest finish at midnight. Suppliers can arrive from 9 a.m.
Rooms and capacities
The Gallery: 160 seated, 160 cocktail. The Loft: 80 seated, 120 theatre, 120 cocktail, reached by stairs only. Waterside Bar and Lounge: 80 cocktail. Waterside Garden: 80 theatre, 160 cocktail. The ground level with the foyer and The Gallery is fully accessible, including bathrooms, while the path to the garden is laid with pavers and river stones.
Catering
Collective Hospitality, a caterer working for private and corporate clients since 2003, runs the kitchen. Executive chef Logan Coath cooks with New Zealand produce and works with local growers and farmers. Wedding menus come as a buffet, a plated meal or shared dishes, with canapés and platters on request, and gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan and vegetarian needs are covered. Separate menus exist for corporate events. Outside food is not allowed apart from the wedding cake. Drinks are served as packages, a prepaid tab or a cash bar.
History and setting
The venue has been part of Auckland's wedding and function scene for about 40 years. Collective Hospitality has managed it since 2011 and refreshed it in winter 2025. The lawn and garden sit under pōhutukawa trees on the shore of the basin, and the large windows of the main rooms face the water.
Getting there
The address is 231 Orakei Road, Remuera, Auckland. Orakei train station serves the area, the drive from the city center takes about seven minutes, and buses, taxis and ride-hailing also reach the venue. Free parking is available on site, with accessible spaces and a ramp to the front door.
