More Catholic Tales Tour
2025-11-02 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Hear about a poet, a writer, soldiers and stories of Wellington history. Further Catholic Tales tells the stories of the wide range of people interred in the section known as Catholic 2.
The tour duration is 1 hour 30mins. The tour mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-more-catholic-tales-nov-2025
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Gallows Tour
2025-12-07 10:30 - 12:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Crime, Justice, and the Final Walk.
Delve into the complex history of capital punishment in Wellington with this thought-provoking tour through Karori Cemetery. Gallows shines a light on the people behind the process. Discover their roles in shaping justice, the cases that defined their careers, and the human stories behind a system of ultimate consequence.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To book your tickets, please visit our ticketing website Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-gallows-tour-dec-2025
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately 2 hours long.
This tour contains a number of adult themes and some graphic descriptions so is not suitable for everyone.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions.
While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

National Monuments Tour
2025-12-07 14:00 - 15:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
The two main stops on the tour are the cemetery’s two national Monuments – the Tangiwai disaster and Prime Minister Peter Fraser. We will review what happened at Tangiwai and especially the bravery of the trains crew and in addition, what the court of inquiry found about the safety of the bridge.
Peter Fraser is generally regarded as one of New Zealands’s best Prime Ministers of the 20th century, and we explore his initiatives in public health and education and also his leadership during WW2.
These are just two of the several stops we will make.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
Tickets can be booked on our ticketing website Humanitix on the following link:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-national-monuments-dec-2025
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
This tour requires reasonable physical fitness and sadly is not suited for those with limited mobility.
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you 1 hour before the tour start time by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Tragedies Tour
2026-01-04 10:30 - 12:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Come and hear stories of those who met sad, shocking and untimely ends. This tour traverses some of the older parts of the story where historic headstones mark the stories of lives lost too soon: accidents, murder, misadventure and those who fell by their own hand.
This tour contains a number of adult themes and some graphic descriptions so is not suitable for everyone.
To secure your ticket, please follow the link to our ticketing page on Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-tragedies-tour-jan-2026
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately 2 hours long.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Introductory Tour
2026-02-01 10:00 - 11:00
This tour outlines the development of Karori Cemetery since the first burial in August 1891, traversing the earliest burial areas which contain many interesting memorials and monuments.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To purchase your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-introductory-tour-feb-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately one hour long.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

S.S. Penguin Tour
2026-02-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
On the 12 February 1909, the SS Penguin sank in Cook Strait in a raging southerly storm with the loss of 72 lives, one of the worst maritime disasters in NZ history. Many of those who died were woman and children, as their lifeboats capsized in the wild sea.
Although the Captain was heavily criticised, it is still not clear what the ship hit nor where, as the wreck of the Penguin has never been located.
The tragedy stunned Wellington and a day of mourning was called for 16 February. The city came to a standstill as many of those who died were brought up to Karori Cemetery for burial in a long procession of cabs and lorries.
To commemorate this tragedy the Friends will be undertaking a guided tour of most of the Penguin graves on Sunday 8th February.
The tour duration is approximately 2 hours long.
This tour is suitable for people with moderate fitness. The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free. Book your ticket on our ticketing website, Humanitix:

https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-ss-penguin-tour-feb-2026

Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you one hour before the tour start time by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Off the Beaten Track Tour
2026-03-01 10:30 - 12:30
Stretch your legs on this tour! Off the Beaten Track takes you off the main road, exploring a bit further into the older sections of Karori Cemetery. We walk up and down the hills, through the gullies and alongside the creek to discover some interesting characters and some of the history of the cemetery as well.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-off-the-beaten-track-tour-march-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately 2 hours long.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Hangman's Noose Tour
2026-03-01 13:00 - 15:00
In total, 85 people have been executed for crime in New Zealand with the first in 1842 and the last in 1957. Seventeen of those men were executed in Wellington and 11 are buried in Karori Cemetery. This walking tour will visit some of their graves to account their crimes, trials and convictions. It will also visit the plots of some of the victims.
The graves are unmarked and placed in remote and disparate locations making this a tour about 2.5 hours long. The route is 2.5km and requires reasonable physical fitness due to the steep terrain and unsealed paths in places.
The tour contains a number of adult themes and some graphic descriptions and so is not suitable for everyone.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free. To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-hangman-s-noose-tour-march-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Evening Tour - SOLD OUT
2026-04-17 20:00 - 22:00 | Main Chapel, Karori Cemetery, 15 Rosehaugh Avenue, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Would you like to join us and explore the beauty of Karori Cemetery in the evening?
This tour is for anyone who would like to see the Cemetery through a different lens, as the landscape settles in from dusk to darkness. On this walk you’ll be accompanied by two guides who will take you on a wander through some of the most magical parts of the cemetery, with a story or two of early Wellingtonians along the route. We might even spy a Ruru/Morepork or two! The tour does not have any scary themes. There are points on the tour where we may pause and turn off our torches to enjoy the landscape in the darkness.
The tour is of approximately 1.5-2 hours duration and starts and finishes at the Main Chapel on Rosehaugh Avenue, where there is plenty of easy parking.
Each attendee needs to bring their own torch that they can comfortably carry for the duration. No head torches please for the comfort of your fellow walkers.
The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints.
The tour is not suited for children under the age of 12 or unaccompanied minors. There are no toilets on the route.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee).
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-evening-tour-april-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Free Anzac Day Talk
2026-04-25 14:30 - 15:15
During WW1 the National Women’s Reserve spent many months lobbying the government to have a dedicated portion of Karori Cemetery set aside as a National Memorial where those whose sons had died overseas could grieve. Finally, in June 1918, the first service man was buried.

This FREE public talk will examine the historical context and the heritage features of the oldest part of the Services section, and tell some of the stories of men who had fought at Gallipoli but were buried at Karori.

Meet at the Lychgate on the main road, 500 metres from the gates of the Cemetery on Old Karori Road. Parking available in the area.

Image reference: Unveilling of Memorial Steps at the Soldiers’ Cemetery, Karori. Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: EP-0674-1/2-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23165492

Military Tales from the Services Section Tour
2026-04-26 10:00 - 11:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Come and hear tales from our military history. The Servicemens Cemetery was opened in 1916. It was the first and remains the largest such cemetery to be established in New Zealand. The tour has about 25 brief stops and includes prominent army leaders Major General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, Major General Charles William Melvill, Lieutenant-General Sir Leonard Thornton, Major General Sir Keith Lindsay Stewart, and army nurse commander Hestor Maclean.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free. To secure your place, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-military-tales-from-the-services-section-april-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Murder & Mayhem Tour
2026-05-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Karori Cemetery is the final resting place for people whose lives ended tragically – from drowning, from murder, and from accidents of all kinds. This tour includes the story of three militia men killed in a guncotton explosion; an attempted murder followed by suicide; a drowning or two plus other exciting stories.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-murder-and-mayhem-tour-may-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Tales From the Vaults Tour
2026-05-10 10:30 - 12:15 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Find out who is in and who is out of some of Karori cemetery’s most substantial dwellings. Note: tours do not enter vaults or try them out for size.
The tour duration is 1 hour 45mins.
This tour is suitable for people with moderate fitness. The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free. Please visit our ticketing website to book:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-tales-from-the-vaults-tour-may-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Evening Tour
2026-05-22 19:30 - 21:15 | Main Chapel, Karori Cemetery, 15 Rosehaugh Avenue, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Would you like to join us and explore the beauty of Karori Cemetery in the evening?
This tour is for anyone who would like to see the Cemetery through a different lens, as the landscape settles in from dusk to darkness. On this walk you’ll be accompanied by two guides who will take you on a wander through some of the most magical parts of the cemetery, with a story or two of early Wellingtonians along the route. We might even spy a Ruru/Morepork or two! The tour does not have any scary themes. There are points on the tour where we may pause and turn off our torches to enjoy the landscape in the darkness.
The tour is of approximately 1.5-2 hours duration and starts and finishes at the Main Chapel on Rosehaugh Avenue, where there is plenty of easy parking.
Each attendee needs to bring their own torch that they can comfortably carry for the duration. No head torches please for the comfort of your fellow walkers.
The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints.
The tour is not suited for children under the age of 12 or unaccompanied minors. There are no toilets on the route.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee).
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
Would you like to join us and explore the beauty of Karori Cemetery in the evening?
This tour is for anyone who would like to see the Cemetery through a different lens, as the landscape settles in from dusk to darkness. On this walk you’ll be accompanied by two guides who will take you on a wander through some of the most magical parts of the cemetery, with a story or two of early Wellingtonians along the route. We might even spy a Ruru/Morepork or two! The tour does not have any scary themes. There are points on the tour where we may pause and turn off our torches to enjoy the landscape in the darkness.
The tour is of approximately 1.5-2 hours duration and starts and finishes at the Main Chapel on Rosehaugh Avenue, where there is plenty of easy parking.
Each attendee needs to bring their own torch that they can comfortably carry for the duration. No head torches please for the comfort of your fellow walkers.
The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints.
The tour is not suited for children under the age of 12 or unaccompanied minors. There are no toilets on the route.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee).
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-evening-tour-may-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Accidentally Killed Tour
2026-06-07 10:00 - 11:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Step into the past of Karori Cemetery with Accidentally Killed, a hauntingly captivating tour revealing tragic tales of historical mishaps. Explore the untold stories of those who met unexpected ends through bizarre accidents, shedding light on their lives and the mysteries that surround them. From peculiar accidents to curious incidents, each grave holds a unique narrative waiting to be discovered. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the lesser-known corners of Wellington’s history, where every headstone whispers a compelling story.
The tour duration is 1 hour 30mins and mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-accidentally-killed-tour-june-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

First Burials Tour - SOLD OUT
2026-06-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Please note: This tour contains content and stories from two of our previous tours City and Nation Builders.
From 1840 to 1900 Wellington went through an extraordinary period of development and change. A small rugged beach under cliffs was transformed into NZ’s major port, NZ’s largest commercial centre and the seat of government. The Friend’s walking tour ‘First Burials – an introduction to the oldest parts of Karori Cemetery’ visits the graves of the industrialists, merchants, artists, doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, engineers, architects and scientists who made all this happen. We bring to life the early history of Wellington by telling the story of their experiences and exploits. The tour visits the old Public, Anglican, Catholic, and Servicemens Cemetery sections that lie at the centre of the Cemetery. This is a relatively compact area and the tour, though taking up to 2 hours, does not involve any difficult terrain.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-first-burials-june-2026
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.

More Catholic Tales Tour
2026-07-04 14:00 - 15:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Hear about a poet, a writer, soldiers and stories of Wellington history. Further Catholic Tales tells the stories of the wide range of people interred in the section known as Catholic 2.
The tour duration is 1 hour 30mins. The tour mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness.
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-more-catholic-tales-july-2026
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Treasures From the Gully Tour
2026-07-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Tour through a very atmospheric part of the cemetery, with an eclectic mix of stories on an artist, photographer, hat manufacturer, prison reformer and many more! Come and enjoy the beauty of one of the most mystical places in the Cemetery with entertaining stories along the way.
The tour will mostly keep to pathways but some areas are potentially uneven underfoot. A moderate level of fitness is required.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
How to Book:
We now operate online ticketing. To book please follow the link:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-treasures-from-the-gully-july-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us on info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Evening Tour
2026-07-24 19:30 - 21:15 | Main Chapel, Karori Cemetery, 15 Rosehaugh Avenue, Karori, Wellington, New Zealand
Would you like to join us and explore the beauty of Karori Cemetery in the evening?
This tour is for anyone who would like to see the Cemetery through a different lens, as the landscape settles in from dusk to darkness. On this walk you’ll be accompanied by two guides who will take you on a wander through some of the most magical parts of the cemetery, with a story or two of early Wellingtonians along the route. We might even spy a Ruru/Morepork or two! The tour does not have any scary themes. There are points on the tour where we may pause and turn off our torches to enjoy the landscape in the darkness.
The tour is of approximately 1.5-2 hours duration and starts and finishes at the Main Chapel on Rosehaugh Avenue, where there is plenty of easy parking.
Each attendee needs to bring their own torch that they can comfortably carry for the duration. No head torches please for the comfort of your fellow walkers.
The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints.
The tour is not suited for children under the age of 12 or unaccompanied minors. There are no toilets on the route.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee).
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
Would you like to join us and explore the beauty of Karori Cemetery in the evening?
This tour is for anyone who would like to see the Cemetery through a different lens, as the landscape settles in from dusk to darkness. On this walk you’ll be accompanied by two guides who will take you on a wander through some of the most magical parts of the cemetery, with a story or two of early Wellingtonians along the route. We might even spy a Ruru/Morepork or two! The tour does not have any scary themes. There are points on the tour where we may pause and turn off our torches to enjoy the landscape in the darkness.
The tour is of approximately 1.5-2 hours duration and starts and finishes at the Main Chapel on Rosehaugh Avenue, where there is plenty of easy parking.
Each attendee needs to bring their own torch that they can comfortably carry for the duration. No head torches please for the comfort of your fellow walkers.
The route mostly follows paved surfaces but there are some areas of unevenness. Surefootedness is required. This tour involves approximately 2km of walking, with some slow paced but uphill stints.
The tour is not suited for children under the age of 12 or unaccompanied minors. There are no toilets on the route.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee).
To book your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-evening-tour-july-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.

Introductory Tour
2026-08-01 10:30 - 11:30 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
This tour outlines the development of Karori Cemetery since the first burial in August 1891, traversing the earliest burial areas which contain many interesting memorials and monuments.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To purchase your ticket, please visit our ticketing website:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-introductory-tour-aug-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately one hour long.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Gallows Tour
2026-08-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Crime, Justice, and the Final Walk.
Delve into the complex history of capital punishment in Wellington with this thought-provoking tour through Karori Cemetery. Gallows shines a light on the people behind the process. Discover their roles in shaping justice, the cases that defined their careers, and the human stories behind a system of ultimate consequence.
Each tour is $10 per person (plus non-refundable booking fee). Children under 12 are free.
To book your tickets, please visit our ticketing website Humanitix:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-gallows-tour-aug-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Please note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day 1 hour before the tour starts by email and on our Facebook page. The booking fee is non-refundable.
This tour is approximately 2 hours long.
This tour contains a number of adult themes and some graphic descriptions so is not suitable for everyone.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions.
While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility.
There is only one toilet which is located by the cemetery office at the main entrance.
If you have purchased tickets for other people can you please pass our tour information on to them as well.
Please meet us at the shelter (shown as the Historic Chapel on the map at the main entrance)

Our Fair Ladies Tour
2026-09-06 10:30 - 12:00 | Karori Cemetery, The Shelter, Karori Cemetery, 76 Old Karori Road, Wellington, New Zealand
Embark on a captivating journey through the history buried in Karori Cemetery with our tour showcasing the remarkable lives of Wellington’s women.
This tour offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the resilience, creativity and empowerment of women at a time when a woman couldn’t have a bank account in her own name. You’ll hear the stories of women who had a range of interesting occupations. Be inspired by the incredible impact of these women’s lives in early Wellington. Tickets are $10 per person, children under 12 are free. Tickets are available from our ticketing website on the link below:
https://events.humanitix.com/friends-of-karori-cemetery-our-fair-ladies-sept-2026
Our tour has a maximum capacity of about 15 persons. If there are insufficient tickets remaining for your party, please email us at info@friendsofkaroricemetery.co.nz to check if we can accommodate you.
Note:
If we have to cancel a tour due to inclement weather or sickness, we will notify you on the day by 9am by email and on our Facebook page.
Please dress appropriately for the conditions. While we do our best to guide you on a safe walking route, during the winter months the ground can become slippery in places.
Some of our walks require a moderate degree of fitness and are not suited for those with limited mobility. Please read the tour descriptions carefully to check that they will be suitable for you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.
