Hunua Falls Camp

Auckland
#1

So, in the course of me doing my work yesterday, I came across Hunua Falls Presbyterian Camp, and thought it sounded like it could be quite a nice venue. Which left me wondering why I can’t recall having heard of it being used in the last few years. I have a few guesses at possible reasons:

  1. Game organisers actually haven’t heard of it - but that doesn’t seem all that likely.
  2. Games have been there in the past, but we had a bad experience and haven’t gone back since
  3. The price is way too high, despite (or perhaps because of) how nice the venue is
  4. Its really the wrong size (at least in terms of capacity for people). Too small for Teonn, too big for anything else.
  5. We have had games there, and I’ve just forgotten about them.

Anyone care to enlighten me? :slight_smile:

#2

I don’t think we’ve hired this place - we tend to hire scout camps. Cost is probably a factor - did you get a price from the Hunua Falls Camp ? I didn’t get a sense of the layout of the grounds, but a good larp venue requires a layout that creates isolated spaces (either by buildings breaking things up, or the presence of a forest).

The reality is that Motu Moana is simply a fantastic location, easy to get to and therefore is a natural choice for many large larps.

In addition, some of the themes we explore in larp may be considered inappropriate for a Christian camp.

#3

I honestly don’t know about the price, they seem to be awfully reluctant to mention that on the website (which makes me think its probably pretty expensive). I could try giving them a ring if wanted. From what I could see of the place on the Council’s online map system with the aerial view (the address being 203 Falls Road, Hunua), and what they said on their own website, it sounds like there is potentially quite a bit of space in terms of being able to wander out into the forest and such.

Motu Moana is indeed an excellent venue and I won’t be upset in the slightest if we keep gaming there, but I figure it can’t hurt to at least be aware of other options, especially given how hard it sometimes seems to be to secure the entire venue these days. As for accessibility, it looks to me like it’d probably be more accessible than Awhitu, and about equally accessible with Huia. Not nearly as accessible as Motu Moana, but not amazingly bad either.

You’re right about the issue of the appropriateness of the themes with regards to Christian camps, but from what I understand, the people running the Presbyterian camp in Awhitu apparently didn’t have a problem with Witch House (and I believe they were directly asked about it) - although I don’t know if they really knew exactly what we’d be up to, nor if it is the same people at all running both places.

#4

In general, we’ve felt it was inappropriate and disrespectful to use Christian venues when our games so often include things like sorcery, undead and worse things. It’s very possible that individual camp owners have broad and relaxed views on such things but we’ve erred on the side of caution to avoid incidents, embarrassment and bad publicity.

#5

I think “A tale of the insanity brought about when one is enlightened to the indifference that the cold infinite cosmos has towards mankind’s small and insignificant existance” may have got a confused look…you we’re proably wise to go with “horror murder mystery”

#6

I’ve investigated this for Teonn.

It can sleep approximately 130 but the cost is prohibitive for any LARPS with the current pricing.