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Wētā Workshop Unleashed: The ultimate review

BySarah Chant

Join us as we review the relatively new Wētā Workshop Unleashed. This tour is located in Auckland’s CBD and is fun for the whole family!

Is there any name more synonymous with creativity than Wētā?

Wētā Workshop, which until now was only able to be toured in Wellington, has finally made it to Auckland!

We recently paid this incredible workshop a visit, in order to put this review together.

We will warn you – this post contains some of spoilers – mostly in the form of photos.

We’ve left plenty of surprises though, so think you’ll find this post informative without taking away the magic of your first-timer’s experience.

For those that want to go into the tour surprised, we can confirm that Wētā Workshop Unleashed is definitely worth a visit! It has something for everyone, and we would suggest, is an especially good fit for families looking to step into a world of fantasy.

A child exploring and dissecting the animatronic alien monster with its body emitting light at Weta Workshop Unleashed exhibit.

Now, we did warn you that this article would contain spoilers, right?

This is where they start…

Part film set. Part creative workshop. But all is not what it seems.

Wētā Workshop Unleashed Auckland

Wētā Workshop Unleashed: What to Expect

From the moment you line up outside Wētā Workshop Unleashed, it becomes evident that this tour is anything but your normal tour – would you expect anything else from Wētā?

After being snuck into the back entrance, your trusty guide will help you find your way through the ideas vault and into the reception. There you will be greeted by none other than Jeff, the somewhat-questionable health and safety officer.

With a bunch of perfectly punny jokes, Jeff will welcome you into the studio. Thankfully he’s helped by Richard Taylor, one of the founders of the infamous Wētā Workshop – as awesome as Jeff was, I’m not sure I’d trust him to run the operation!

Then it’s time to head on to the first of three movie production zones…

  • People inside a room with carton boxes filled with hydraulic pistons, left-handed hammers, and other tools and stacked on shelves.
  • Reception area of Weta Workshop Unleashed with a huge image of a monster alien and a few chairs near the walls that has some images and posters.
  • The head of security of Weta Workshop named Jeff in an old goblin mask and having an injured thumb, wearing yellow green security vests and coffee-stained jumper while security monitors play behind him.

Go Behind the Scenes of Three Different Movies Currently in Production

This guided tour takes guests behind the scenes of three different movie productions.

Each of these are fictitious and made for the tour, but they do a great job of showing off the skills of their artists.

Experience a world where the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred.

Wētā Workshop Unleashed Auckland

Fauna

Now it’s time for the real fun to begin!

You’ll make your way through an intriguing hall before reaching the first of three ‘active’ zones – the twisted, sci-fi monster world from the movie Fauna.

  • A man inside the makeup room sitting on makeup chair while facing a mirror with lights on the sides, and a table in front of him having a makeup mannequin as well as various makeup items.
  • Children exploring and dissecting the animatronic alien monster at Weta Workshop Unleashed exhibit while their parents watch behind them.
  • Visitors watching a life-sized alien monster displayed hanging on the wall with its skeleton wings spread around.

Though each of the production zones are impressive, the Fauna creations were definitely my favourite to explore.

With plenty of (fake) blood and guts and incredibly realistic monsters (complete with animatronics and virtual reality), it’s a fun stop on the tour.

Each of the displays are made to be poked, prodded and interacted with so we’d encourage you to really get involved!

Don’t worry though, even this exhibit is family-friendly; there were small children in the group and nobody seemed too afraid of the creatures.

  • A workshop in Weta Workshop Unleashed displaying replica of tools used for torture that are hanged on a metal wall, some blood bags, gloves stained with blood near the sink, and faucets with blood coming out. All of them are not real and just a replica for display purposes.
  • A man dissecting the innards of an alien monster as part of the activity in Weta Workshop Unleashed.
  • A man putting his head inside the huge mouth of a life-sized monster, poking out on a wall.

Wētā being Wētā, we couldn’t just walk out of Fauna without a good scare!

Upon leaving the exhibit, you’ll be led through a mini dark-maze. We won’t ruin the surprise for you, but will warn you that there will be plenty of screams and giggles.

For those that aren’t feeling quite so brave, there is a family-friendly alternative around the side too.

Age of the Ever-Clan

After screaming ‘goodbye’ to Fauna, you’ll step into the magical world of Age of the Ever-Clan.

This beautiful fantasy world is filled with countless little creatures – each with the incredible detail that you’d expect from Wētā Workshop.

Step from the design room through the door and you’ll suddenly see life from a different perspective – you’ll understand what we mean when you head through Wētā Workshop Unleashed yourself.

  • A replica of a gnome standing outside the door of his house that is made up of rocks..
  • Visitors looking at the displays in the magical world of Age of the Ever-Clan.

With an ever-changing dawn sky, the expansive models are brought to life in front of you.

The little details that we’ve already spoken about continue to shine as you make your way through the exhibit.

If you’re keen, you can even get down on your hands and knees and explore a cave system!

Honestly, even though they’ll talk you through the process, it’s hard to get your head around the fact that absolutely everything you’ll see there is man-made!

  • A detailed miniature castle made of various materials and has turrets, towers, walls, and intricate architectural details. It is surrounded by trees that's also grown atop of the castle.
  • The intricate landscape design of the Ever Clan Castle with its miniature trees, rocky cliffs, green grass, and blue skies.

As with each of the different production zones, you’ll be given ample time to explore.

With interactive workshops (like leather crafting and character sculpting) and informative displays, explaining how the Wētā team works their magic, you’ll find plenty of things to hold your attention before moving onto the next part of your guided tour.

  • Visitors observe the replicas of life-sized armours inside the Weta Workshop Unleashed.
  • Tools used for leather works displayed on the table and an instruction manual hanging on the wall in front.
  • A woman is seated on a blue chair while a child stands in front of a throne, and another person attempts to sit on it. Two large replicas of guard thrones are visible on either side.

Origins

The third and final zone is totally unique from the others.

Based again in science fiction, your tour group will step onto the site of a crash-landed alien spaceship.

First you’ll explore the backstory through a range of exhibits (as, by now, you’ll have done in each of the other zones), learning about the process that goes into preparing and creating all this movie magic.

  • A robot alien statue standing with its arms raised, its body and limbs covered with intricate details and metallic plates. The background is dimly lit with red light highlighting the robot's features.
  • A group of children stands in awe in front of a life-size replica of a massive spaceship at Weta Workshop Unleashed. The spaceship, made of metal and intricate details, towers above them, with glowing lights and futuristic designs.

Then, in what is a beautiful sound and light show, you’ll watch the cybertronic alien and spaceship come to life

The show itself is impressive (as you’d expect) – it’s almost hard to believe you’re not at a live gig!

Visitors watch and take pictures close to the spaceship that is displaying lights showing intricate designs in front of them.

Weta Cave Retail Store

The last stop on your tour will allow you to take a piece of movie magic home with you, should you so choose.

The Wētā Cave is the place to purchase movie memorabilia – from clothing to scale models and everything in between.

If you’re a Wētā fanboy (or fangirl), this is a must-see part of the tour!

Life-sized display of two green orcs with their incredible details of rough skin, jagged teeth, and fierce expressions on their faces.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wētā Workshop Unleashed

How long should I allow to complete my tour?

The tour itself takes just under an hour and a half.

It also fits nicely with the All Blacks Experience which is just downstairs.

Book: All Blacks Experience.

How much does entry cost?

Check Klook for current pricing. Use the promo code NZTTPLAY to save an additional 10% on the advertised price.

When do tours run?

Tours generally leave every 20 minutes. The first leaves at 10.20 am and the last departs at 5.20 pm.

A swine blacksmith pumping air using a bellow to heat a metal sword by putting it in a forge.

Do I need to book in advance?

To ensure you secure the time you’d like, advance booking online is recommended. Doing so is quick and easy.

With that said, if you’d like to try your luck and just turn up, tickets are also issued in the Wētā Cave. We’d only suggest doing this if you have flexibility in your timetable though – and by doing this, you’ll miss out on your discount.

Book: Weta Workshop Unleashed – promo code NZTTPLAY.

Is Wētā Workshop Unleashed suitable for children?

Yes, the exhibition is appropriate for children. There were a number of young children on our tour and they all took it in their stride. There really aren’t any jumpy parts, aside from the short maze-walk which is completely optional.

Just remember to remind little ones that the monsters aren’t real – especially as you move through the first zone.

Officially they’ve rated Wētā Workshop Unleashed PG – parental guidance recommended.

Book: Wētā Workshop guided tour in Wellington | Wētā Hands-on Workshops in Wellington – Save 10% using the promo code NZTTPLAY.

There will I find Wētā Workshop Unleashed?

88 Federal Street, Auckland CBD. Take the elevator up to level 5.

Where should I park?

Though it’s not cheap, the closest parking is at Sky City.

From there, you’ll just need to pop across the road to find Wētā Workshop.

Suitable for the whole family, Wētā Workshop Unleashed in Auckland is a fantastic way to spend a few hours.

It appeals to practically everyone – from little hands-on family members to movie buffs, and everyone in between.

Whilst exploring Central Auckland, we certainly recommend checking this new permanent exhibit out!

Thank you to Weta Workshop Unleashed for hosting us for the purpose of this review. All thoughts are our own.

Founder of one of Aotearoa's most popular and helpful Facebook travel planning groups, Sarah is always on the hunt for the best deals and information to share with our community. She has worked as a travel writer for a number of years and loves exploring everything that makes New Zealand special.

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