Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Grotte de Glace
Sinquerim Beach Bastion
Port Tobacco Schoolhouse
Barracks / munitions storage.
Vloethemveld
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Green-Wood Cemetery, overlooking New York Harbor.
Where Our Team Looked for Joy During Pandemic Lockdowns
1 day ago
The 2,653-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail spans the entire West Coast from Canada to Mexico.
Meet the Volunteers Who Keep Thru-Hikers Moving
1 day ago
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House building on the U.S.-Canadian border.
Could New Border Restrictions Literally Tear the Haskell Free Library Apart?
2 days ago
A woman peering into the cave of Sarah Bishop c. 1900.
The Curious History of New England’s Hermit Tourism
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
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

Added By
tattarattat
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The castle on Hawkins Hill   Michal Klajban
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
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

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. 

Related Tags

Bunkers Architectural Oddities Castles

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.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

tattarattat

Published

July 9, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
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
The Castle on Hawkin's Hill
430 Hawkins Hill Rd
Wellington, 6021
New Zealand
-41.327616, 174.729801
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Wrights Hill Fortress

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Zealandia

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Nairn's Street Cottage

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wellington

Wellington

New Zealand

Places 21
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Wrights Hill Fortress

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Zealandia

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Nairn's Street Cottage

Wellington, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wellington

Wellington

New Zealand

Places 21
Stories 2

Related Places

  • West Sussex, England

    Hiorns Tower

    This 18th-century "castle" is not what it seems.

  • German eagles at the entrance.

    Alt Duwisib, Namibia

    Duwisib Castle

    A German “baron” built this castle for his wife, but their romance was short-lived.

  • Malmö, Sweden

    Malmö Spetsbunker (Malmö Winkel Tower)

    This cone-shaped bomb shelter, modeled on German design, is a rare WWII relic that never saw use but still looms over the harbor.

  • Playa del Carmen, Mexico

    La Ciudadela (The Citadel)

    This now-abandoned shopping center in Playa del Carmen was built to resemble a medieval European castle.

  • Manresa Castle

    Port Townsend, Washington

    Manresa Castle

    A historic hotel with many stories of haunted activity.

  • Underground House

    Las Vegas, Nevada

    Underground House

    A luxurious doomsday bunker hidden beneath an unassuming Las Vegas home offers the best of subterranean suburbia.

  • Vanadislunden Water Reservoir

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Vanadislunden Water Reservoir

    A water reservoir disguised as a castle stands atop a hill in a park in Stockholm city.

  • Front exterior

    Alcoa, Tennessee

    Millennium Manor Castle

    One man’s religious convictions led him to build this stone castle meant to withstand an apocalypse.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.