Friends of Karori Cemetery: Queerly Departed (Oct 2026) Wellington Heritage Festival

Queerly Departed

For much of history, queer lives have existed in the margins—expressed in coded language, private relationships, and subtle acts of resistance. Here in Aotearoa queer individuals contributed significantly to the cultural, social, and political fabric of our community, even when recognition was denied to them in life. This tour seeks not to rewrite history, but notice who may have been omitted, to question what was assumed, and to honour lives that deserve to be seen in their entirety.

The tour duration is approximately 2 hours.

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.

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 1 hour before the tour start time 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. 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)

We look forward to welcoming you to Karori Cemetery.