Heading to New Zealand's greatest beer festival? Here is your complete guide to hotels near Hnry Stadium, where to eat, great bars, and how to make the most of your Wellington weekend.
Beervana runs across two days with two sessions each day. Each session is a separate ticketed event. The evening sessions run later and are the ones most likely to flow into a big Wellington night.
Friday 21 August
Session 1
Afternoon
Friday 21 August
Session 2
Evening
Saturday 22 August
Session 3
Afternoon
Saturday 22 August
Session 4
Evening
Check beervana.co.nz for exact session times and ticket availability. Sessions sell out well in advance.
Making the Most of It
How to Plan Your Day
Hnry Stadium is on the Wellington waterfront, a flat 15 minute walk from Courtenay Place and most CBD hotels. Wellington is a compact, walkable city and Beervana weekend is one of the best weekends of the year to be here. The craft beer crowd is good value and the city gets into the spirit.
Morning
Settle in and explore
Check into your hotel, grab a proper Wellington flat white on Cuba Street, and take a walk along the waterfront. Te Papa is free and a 5 minute walk from the stadium if you want to fill the morning.
Pre-session
Line your stomach
Get a solid meal in before your session. The suggestions below are all close to the stadium and Courtenay Place. Do not arrive at Beervana on an empty stomach.
Session
Hnry Stadium
Over 100 breweries, one-off festival beers, food vendors, live entertainment, and the best craft beer crowd in New Zealand all under one roof. Pace yourself. It is a long afternoon or evening.
After
Head to Courtenay Place
The walk from Hnry Stadium to Courtenay Place takes 15 minutes along the waterfront. The whole crowd heads the same direction. Bars, restaurants, and late night venues all open and ready.
Late
Keep the night going
Courtenay Place runs well past midnight. The Mermaid Wellington at number 73 is open every night and a great way to round out a big Beervana evening in style.
Where to Stay
Hotels Near Hnry Stadium
Most Wellington CBD hotels are within a 10 to 20 minute walk of Hnry Stadium. Beervana weekend is busy, prices go up and rooms go fast. Book well ahead.
Closest to Venue
QT Wellington
Cable Street, waterfront
The closest major hotel to Hnry Stadium, about a 5 minute walk along the waterfront. A bold, art filled design hotel with a great bar. Perfect for Beervana weekend.
The best beds in the city. Refined, effortlessly comfortable, with a level of service that makes coming back to the hotel a genuine pleasure after a big day.
Right on Courtenay Place. Walk out the door and straight into the post-Beervana action. Spacious rooms and buffet breakfast to set you up for a full session day.
A family run boutique five star with generously sized rooms and a superb pool and spa. A quiet, upmarket base with personal service. Good for a recovery morning between sessions.
Modern apartment style rooms with full kitchens just off Courtenay Place. The space of an apartment with hotel service. Practical and good value for a multi-night Beervana stay.
Wellington's food scene is one of the best in the country for its size. The options below are all walkable from Hnry Stadium and Courtenay Place. Line your stomach properly before a session and you will enjoy it a lot more.
Late Night
KC Kitchen
Courtenay Place
A Wellington legend. Fast, generous, authentic Cantonese at great prices, open late. The roast duck and mapo tofu are the stuff of local legend. Perfect post-session feed.
Stylish Asian fusion shared plates right on Courtenay Place. Good for groups. Buzzy atmosphere that suits a Beervana crowd. Book ahead for the weekend.
A serious tap list and excellent food, right on Courtenay Place. A natural fit before or after a beer festival. They know their beer and the kitchen is solid.
Beautifully executed Italian two minutes from Courtenay Place. A great dinner option the night before your session when you want something properly good before the big day.
A lively craft brewpub a block from Courtenay Place. Solid pub food and great beer on tap. An easy warm-up or wind-down spot that handles a Beervana crowd well.
If you still want a drink after your Beervana session, or want a warm-up drink before heading in, Courtenay Place has plenty of options. These are the standouts.
Craft Beer
Panhead Tory Street
Tory Street
The obvious pre-Beervana warm-up for craft beer lovers. Great taps, solid atmosphere, and a crew that understands beer. A block from Courtenay Place.
Evening sessions finish with a full night still ahead. The walk back from Hnry Stadium to Courtenay Place along the waterfront takes 15 minutes and the crowd all heads the same direction. From there, Wellington nightlife runs as late as you want to take it.
The Mermaid Wellington at 73 Courtenay Place is one of the city's most popular late night destinations. Open every night, it is a natural last stop on a big Beervana evening and a completely different experience to the afternoon you have just had.
Popular Post-Beervana
Adult Entertainment
The Mermaid Wellington
73 Courtenay Place
Wellington's premier adult entertainment venue, right on Courtenay Place. Open every night. A welcoming, upmarket venue and a great way to round out a big Beervana evening. $30 entry.
Beervana 2026 is at Hnry Stadium (formerly Sky Stadium) at 105 Waterloo Quay, Wellington on 21 and 22 August 2026. The stadium is on the waterfront, a 15 minute walk from Courtenay Place.
Beervana 2026 runs across four sessions: two on Friday 21 August (afternoon and evening) and two on Saturday 22 August (afternoon and evening). Each session is separately ticketed. Check beervana.co.nz for exact times and availability.
QT Wellington on Cable Street is the closest major hotel, about a 5 minute walk. Most CBD hotels are within 15-20 minutes walk. Book well ahead for Beervana weekend as rooms sell out and prices climb significantly.
Walk back along the waterfront to Courtenay Place, about 15 minutes. Bars, restaurants and late night venues all open. The Mermaid Wellington at 73 Courtenay Place is open every night and a popular post-Beervana destination. $30 entry, booking recommended for the weekend.
Yes, especially for the finer dining options. Beervana brings a big crowd to Wellington and good restaurants fill up fast. Book at least a week ahead. More casual spots are generally walk-in but will be busy. The Mermaid Wellington takes bookings and it is worth securing your spot.
Walk. It is a flat 15 minute walk along the waterfront, well lit and safe. Most of the Beervana crowd heads the same direction after sessions so it is a lively walk. Taxis and rideshares are also easy to get but the walk is genuinely pleasant.
This guide is provided by The Mermaid Wellington as a service to visitors. Third party venue recommendations are based on publicly available ratings and local knowledge. The Mermaid is not affiliated with Beervana or any third party venues listed and receives no payment for inclusion. Please check current opening hours and availability directly with each venue. Event details correct at time of publication, check beervana.co.nz for any changes to session times or ticketing.
