Wellington Naturist Club (WNC) is based 30 minutes North of Wellington, New Zealand’s Capital City, writes club treasurer Andy. The club is accessible from Wellington by road, rail or bus and sits just off state highway two, one of the main arterial routes heading North from Wellington and the Inter-island ferries, and offers an ideal stop over when heading in either direction.
We celebrate our 75th anniversary in November 2025, and would love to welcome visitors from the UK and join with them in the many activities planned at the club across the month!
The history of the Wellington Naturist Club is, to a large extent, the history of Naturism in New Zealand. The Club’s founder, the late Percy W. Cousins, was also the founder of organised nudism in this country in the 1930s.
In the 1930s, Percy and his family embarked on annual clothes-free vacations, 40 miles from the nearest shop, relying on a rifle and fishing line for meat, with other provisions being transported alongside children and camping gear. The growing popularity of naturism after the war led to the official establishment of the Wellington Sun Club in 1950.
Following two relocations, the club settled at its current site, and subsequently acquired two adjacent properties. Today, it spans nearly five hectares of serene and picturesque landscape.
We offer accommodation options in five high-quality cabins and numerous powered and unpowered camper, caravan or tent sites. Visitors should plan to spend at least a couple of nights as there are many options to enjoy time either at the club or within a few minutes’ walk, cycle or drive from the club.
Guests can relax on one of our many high-quality loungers around the pool or bring their own chairs or rugs onto our extensive lawn areas. Our outdoor pool is open most of the year, heated to around 25-30 degrees from November to May. There is also an outdoor Hot tub (39C), Indoor Spa and Sauna. Many sports are available, with members regularly playing Pickleball, Kubb, Three down, and Pétanque. Other equipment available for visitor and member use includes indoor bowls, pool table, table tennis, darts, croquet & miniten. Social events are held regularly.
Within at most a twenty-five minute drive, holidaymakers will find plenty to keep them occupied, including Te Marua golf course, right across the main State Highway 2 road; Kaitoke Regional Park, with ancient rainforests and the home of Rivendell from The Lord of the Rings; Riemutaka rail trail, dating from 1878, which is now a gently graded 18 km walk, run or mountain bike ride; Pakuratahi Forest; Wellington River rafting, including Wilderness Whitewater Rafting, Exciting Canyoning, Scenic Family Rafting and epic multi activity packages; Craft Breweries in Brewtown, with award-winning craft beer and food to satisfy any appetite; Mount Climie, a popular trail for backpacking, hiking, and walking; Tunnel Gully, a popular recreation area with native trees, such as kahikatea, matai, rimu and tawa; and Staglands Wildlife Reserve, where visitors can feed and freely interact with wildlife.
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