Otago Yacht Club

The Otago Yacht Club is a sailing club on Magnet Street, on the harbour edge close to central Dunedin. Alongside its sailing activities the club makes its clubhouse available for hire to approved groups, which puts it on the list of smaller function and meeting venues in the city.

The venue

The hireable space is a fully carpeted lounge capable of seating 80 people. The club describes it as suited to informal gatherings, meetings, conferences, training courses, birthdays and weddings. Its setting is a quiet waterfront location a short distance from the city centre, with plenty of off-street parking.

Equipment available with the room includes a whiteboard, a lectern and microphone, conference and dining tables and chairs, and heating. A large screen television is available for hire. Access to the kitchen can be arranged, as can bar facilities, both by prior arrangement rather than as standard inclusions.

Food and beverage

There is no in-house catering operation. Organisers can arrange kitchen access for their own caterer, and the club can make bar facilities available by arrangement. This self-managed model keeps costs down but means catering and beverage service need to be organised as separate items.

Suitability

As a MICE venue the Otago Yacht Club fits the small-to-mid end of the market. A single carpeted room seating 80, with tables, chairs, a lectern, microphone and whiteboard already on site, covers the practical needs of a full-day meeting, a training course, an AGM, a committee day or a small single-stream conference. The off-street parking is a genuine advantage over central-city rooms, and the harbour setting gives the space a more relaxed character than a hotel meeting room.

Organisers should note there is only one main space, so parallel breakout sessions are not practical, and hire is offered to approved groups rather than being open-market. Bookings are handled by a volunteer venue co-ordinator. For larger programmes or multi-room requirements, other Dunedin venues will suit better, but for a straightforward 20 to 80 person meeting or social function near the city the club is a well-equipped and modestly priced option.