Last updated July 2026
Miramar is a peninsula suburb in eastern Wellington that serves as the city’s international film industry centre. It is home to Wētā Workshop, Wētā FX and Park Road Post Production, along with other creative companies. The area earned the nickname Wellywood for its role in major film productions since the late 1990s. Beyond the studios, Miramar functions as a long-established residential neighbourhood with a commercial centre, schools and direct access to the eastern bays coastline.
Practical Information
| Location | Miramar Peninsula, eastern Wellington |
| Character | Established residential suburb and film industry hub |
| Key attraction | Wētā Workshop Experiences and Wētā Cave |
| Peninsula history | Miramar Borough Council formed 1904; electric trams arrived 1907 |
| Distance from CBD | Approximately 6 km east |
About Miramar
Miramar occupies the Miramar Peninsula, a distinctive landform that extends into Wellington Harbour. The suburb combines quiet residential streets with a compact shopping centre and community facilities. Its location provides residents and visitors with easy access to several sheltered beaches and coastal walks along the eastern bays.
The film industry presence centres on a cluster of specialist companies that have operated from Miramar for decades. This concentration has created a distinctive local economy and visitor draw while the surrounding neighbourhood retains its suburban character.
Public transport links and road access connect Miramar to central Wellington and the airport. The peninsula setting also offers recreational opportunities including coastal paths and parks that complement the film-related attractions.
History of the Peninsula
The Miramar Peninsula was an island until a major earthquake around 1460 AD uplifted the Rongotai isthmus and joined it to the mainland. Māori oral history records the event as the Haowhenua earthquake. European settlement began in the 1840s, and by the 1890s most of the peninsula had been converted to farmland.
Urban development accelerated after 1902 when 132 residential sections were auctioned. The Miramar Borough Council was formed in 1904. Electric trams reached the peninsula in 1907, supporting further growth. The borough was incorporated into Wellington City in 1921.
The Film Industry
Wētā Workshop was founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger. The company is based in Miramar and specialises in physical effects, props, costumes and creatures. It contributed to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, District 9 and numerous other productions.
Wētā FX (formerly Weta Digital) and Park Road Post Production are also located in Miramar. Together these companies form a comprehensive hub for visual effects and post-production work. Guided tours through Wētā Workshop Experiences allow visitors to view active workshop areas and the associated Wētā Cave exhibition and store.
What Visitors Often Say
The Wētā Workshop tour stands out as a highlight for many visitors, offering close views of props from major films and the chance to observe craftspeople at work in the studio.
Miramar offers more than film attractions, with a genuine neighbourhood feel, local cafes, family parks and convenient access to the peninsula’s beaches and coastal scenery.
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia — Miramar, New Zealand: Overview of the suburb’s history, geography and development.
Wētā Workshop official site: Details on tours, experiences and the company’s work based in Miramar.
Enterprise Miramar Peninsula — History: Timeline of the peninsula from pre-European times to the present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Miramar?
On the Miramar Peninsula in eastern Wellington, about 6 km from the city centre.
What is Wētā Workshop?
A special effects and prop-making studio founded in 1987 by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger, known for work on the Lord of the Rings, Hobbit and Avatar films. Guided tours are available.
What is Wellywood?
A nickname for Wellington, especially Miramar, highlighting its film-making industry in a playful reference to Hollywood.
Can you visit Wētā Workshop?
Yes. Wētā Workshop Experiences offers guided tours with viewing windows into the workshop, plus the Wētā Cave gift store and exhibition. Advance booking is recommended.
What other film companies are based in Miramar?
Wētā FX for visual effects and Park Road Post Production operate alongside Wētā Workshop, creating a full post-production hub.
What is Miramar like as a residential area?
It is an established, family-oriented suburb with a local shopping centre, schools, parks and easy access to the peninsula coastline.
When was the Miramar Borough formed?
In 1904. It was incorporated into Wellington City in 1921.
What beaches are near Miramar?
The peninsula coastline includes Scorching Bay, Karaka Bay, Worser Bay and Evans Bay, all accessible from the suburb.
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