WellingtonLocations directory
The Brooklyn Wind Turbine sits on a hill above Wellington, with views of the city. Bush and trees surround the area.

Iconic 67-metre wind turbine landmark with panoramic city views and bush tracks.

The Brooklyn Wind Turbine stands on Polhill above Brooklyn, 15 minutes from Wellington city centre. Originally installed in March 1993 as New Zealand's first commercial wind research project, it was replaced in 2016 with the current 67-metre turbine. This Wellington landmark attracts over 1,000 weekly visitors and offers spectacular filming backdrops with city, harbour, and coast views.

The location combines the striking industrial turbine with regenerating native bush in Waimapihi (formerly Polhill) Reserve. The 6-kilometre route through the reserve features diverse environments from open ridgelines to dense forest regeneration. Native birdlife is abundant due to the nearby Zealandia sanctuary, with species like kākā and kererū regularly visible.

Vehicle access is via Ashton Fitchett Drive from Brooklyn, with parking available near the turbine base. The site offers both the dramatic turbine structure and surrounding native bush for varied filming options.

Location details

Jurisdiction Wellington City Council
Permits required Yes, apply for a permit
Location descriptors Unusual landforms, barren, cliffs, rock formations, alien landscapes, extraterrestrial features, alien terrain, peculiar landmarks, unearthly landscapes, surreal landforms. windmills, wind turbines, nature reserves, walking tracks, hiking trails, exercise areas, scenic views, open spaces.

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The screen location of Tākina, the large convention centre with unique designs and large open industrial feeling spaces.

Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

50 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington | 71Inspired by the city’s dramatic landscape and environment, Wellington’s purpose-built convention centre is thoughtfully designed for conferences and exhibitions.

The screen location of West Wind Farm and Mākara Bunker at sunset, with 360 views of Wellington and the wind farm, as well as the historic fort Opau.

West Wind Farm and Mākara Bunker

140 Opau Road, Mākara, Wellington | 41This rugged ridge above Wellington provides spectacular views and access to a unique wind farm and the historic Fort Opau.

Exterior of Wellington Railway Station, a brick building, at dusk.

Wellington Railway Station

Bunny Street, Pipitea, Wellington | 61One of the country’s most architecturally impressive 20th-century buildings.

Ava railway bridge crossing over Hutt River

Ava Train Bridge

Randwick Crescent, Moera, Lower Hutt | 62Part of the Hutt Valley line, the bridge provides views up and down the river.

Maymorn train station

Maymorn Train Station

Maymorn Road, Maymorn, Upper Hutt | 63A rural train station near the base of the Remutaka Range.

Established in 1919, The Milk Station Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast has been thoughtfully restored and now serves as an elegant event venue.

The Milk Station, Ōtaki

35 Rahui Road, Ōtaki | 50With indoor and outdoor spaces, this is a popular and elegant venue off the beaten track.

The Wrights Hill Fortress screen location, located in Karori overlooking Wellington from an old gun emplacement. The location includes historic monuments, underground landmarks, and tunnels.

Wrights Hill Fortress — gun emplacement

Wrights Hill Road, Karori, Wellington | 64A mostly underground fortress located near the city.

A unique 19th-century American-style military timber blockhouse in Upper Hutt. Built in 1861, the Blockhouse is a unique 19th-century American-style military timber blockhouse.

Upper Hutt Blockhouse

Blockhouse Lane, Trentham, Upper Hutt | 68A unique 19th-century American-style military timber blockhouse in Upper Hutt.

The Holy Trinity Church is a good example of a rural mid-to late-19th-century New Zealand church. Built in 1870, it is a small, rural church in Ohariu Valley in Johnsonville, Wellington. It has a small graveyard associated with it.

Holy Trinity Church

638 Ohariu Valley Road, Ohariu, Wellington | 69Holy Trinity is a good example of a rural mid-to late-19th-century New Zealand church.

Futuna Chapel is an architecturally award-winning chapel showcasing Māori and Pākehā influences. Located in Karori, Wellington, it is one of the country’s most striking examples of 1960s architecture.

Futuna Chapel

67 Futuna Close, Karori, Wellington | 70An architecturally award-winning chapel showcasing Māori and Pākehā influences.