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All New Zealand Wellington The Castle on Hawkin's Hill
AO Edited

The Castle on Hawkin's Hill

A mysterious castle "in the clouds" has had many lives including a radar bunker, dog hotel, and conference center.

Wellington, New Zealand

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The castle on Hawkins Hill   Michal Klajban
The castle below Hawkins Hill Radar Dome   tattarattat / Atlas Obscura User
The castle’s turret   tattarattat / Atlas Obscura User
Dog in the yard at Woofington’s   tattarattat / Atlas Obscura User
View of the castle from a distance   tattarattat / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Referred to as the "castle in the clouds," 430 Hawkins Hill Road sits on a hill, isolated in the bush, overlooking Wellington. The site was originally a decommissioned Airways Corporation radar bunker until Brian Willman purchased the property in 1998 with the intention of building a conference center. For years, executives and business folk visited the castle until Willman wanted a lifestyle change. Willman opened Woofington's in 2016, branded as a luxury dog hotel.

A series of incidents connected to Woofington's fueled rumors among locals, deepening the mystery of the castle. In 2018, Woofington's manager went missing and was later found dead. A burglary and arrest occurred on the property in 2019 followed by a police raid in 2020.

Woofington's is no longer operational but the castle is a common sight to hikers traversing the Hawkin's Ridge Trail. The area contains other quirky sights, such as the Hawkins Hill Radar Dome, ostriches, and windmills. 

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Know Before You Go

Follow the Hawkin's Ridge trail from the Brooklyn windmill. 430 Hawkins Hill Road is on private property. Do not trespass; please admire from a distance.

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July 9, 2024

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Sources
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/120996095/doggie-daycare-burglary-at-woofingtons-before-wellington-motorway-chase
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/114778650/man-charged-for-possessing-improvised-explosive-device-after-search-of-woofingtons-luxury-dog-stay
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/114683313/mystery-at-woofingtons-in-wellington-as-armed-police-assist-with-search-warrant
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103070979/appeal-for-sighting-of-missing-porirua-man-nicholas-hearfield
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/76021988/wellingtons-canine-castle-in-the-clouds
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/120996095/doggie-daycare-burglary-at-woofingtons-before-wellington-motorway-chase
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/114778650/man-charged-for-possessing-improvised-explosive-device-after-search-of-woofingtons-luxury-dog-stay
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/114683313/mystery-at-woofingtons-in-wellington-as-armed-police-assist-with-search-warrant
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103070979/appeal-for-sighting-of-missing-porirua-man-nicholas-hearfield
  • https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/76021988/wellingtons-canine-castle-in-the-clouds

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Bunkers Architectural Oddities Castles
The Castle on Hawkin's Hill
430 Hawkins Hill Rd
Wellington, 6021
New Zealand
-41.327616, 174.729801
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