Wellington's oldest rowing club, founded in 1866 and based on Whairepo Lagoon, next to Taranaki Street Wharf in central Wellington. The club calls itself the birthplace of Wellington rowing, and its clubhouse, called the Boatshed, has been on the waterfront for more than 130 years.
The club takes rowers from secondary school level to masters, and it is always looking for new rowers, coxswains and coaches. Rowers can join through the club's Rowing at Star page. Its season fees for 2025–26 are listed on the website at $915 for club adults and school rowers, $715 for non-competitive masters, and $515 for full-time tertiary students, and they include racing licence and affiliation fees. The fees pay for skiff and safety boat upkeep, boatshed upkeep and regatta costs.
The club's rowers compete in regattas across the North Island and beyond, and the website says Star has produced some of New Zealand's best rowers, several of whom have competed at World Championships and the Olympics. The Boatshed function centre can be hired.
Parking for regattas is at Gate 3 at Lake Karāpiro, where parking fees normally apply and are paid by EFTPOS. Parking at Honiana Te Puni Reserve in Petone is very limited, according to the club.
Our pick in central Wellington for anyone who wants to learn to row on the harbour, from school age to masters.