Venue Spaces

There are multiple spaces available within Carter for hosting events. Each room has its own theme that can excite and/or focus your group. Spaces include:

Full Venue

If you wish to hire Carter for the evening, your group will enjoy full and exclusive access to the building, exhibition and the Pelorus Trust Planetarium. From seated dining for 60 guests to a mix and mingle drinks and canape reception for up to 150, we will work with you to choose the best combination of spaces, tailoring to suit the needs of your group. Carter speakers and stargazing sessions are available upon request. Goodie bags can also be supplied.

All areas feature multi-media displays, artefacts, interactive exhibits and audiovisual kiosks. These spaces range from those with a high tech feel (the foyer and galleries) to areas that celebrate the heritage flavour of Carter (the library and telescope dome).

OMV Exploration Room

The OMV Exploration Room is ideal for conferences (up to 80 people theatre style), board meetings (up to 30 people), classroom (up to 36 people) and dining (up to 60 people). It is an environment that enables you to theme the room as required or to use it as a professional business space. The room looks out over the Wellington Botanic Garden, giving natural light. It offers power, video projection, variable lighting, microphones, staging and planetarium shows (by special arrangement).

Community Trust of Wellington Library

Our newest meeting room, the Community Trust of Wellington Library offers a board room style meeting space for up to 12 people (half day) or 10 people (full day). This is a unique heritage room with natural light, looking out into the Botanic Garden. Bookings include the following onsite technology: variable lighting, data projector, whiteboard and WiFi.

Pelorus Trust Planetarium

Carter's Pelorus Trust Planetarium (auditorium) seats 60 people plus 2 wheelchair spaces. It offers a unique full-dome digital theatre experience like no other. The seating can be removed for a unique and impressive dining experience under the stars. Either way, your guests can take an amazing virtual journey through space. Click here for our current planetarium shows on offer.

Pickering Gallery

The Pickering Gallery provides a space to relax and mingle amid Carter's current exhibition and is adjacent to the OMV Exploration Room and kitchen facilities. It is included in OMV Exploration Room hire depending on availability. The Pickering Gallery cannot be hired independently.

Telescope Dome

The Telescope Dome is a unique heritage backdrop for drinks and canape receptions or an exclusive venue for small summer dinner parties.

Dining Under the Stars:

Carter Observatory's Premium Evening Experience

A unique opportunity to dine under the stars while enjoying a tour of the night sky in our digial full-dome theatre. We offer fly-through sky tours, or an option to show digital animation in a wrap-around format on the hemispherical screen.

If you are interested in talking us about hiring Carter please download this Enquiry Form and email it to venuehire@carterobservatory.org.