The Duke's Grand Ballroom. A perfect venue for your function.
The Duke's grand ballroom with ornate ceilings, low hanging chandeliers and polished wooden floor boards opens up directly onto a sun filled deck over looking the sea. The ballroom is filled with individually upholstered chairs seating up to 150 guests comfortably or 250 for a standing cocktail and canape function. We can also cater for larger groups seating up to 300 guests across the ballroom and restaurant over the quieter winter months of the year. Perfect for those looking for private dining or function venues to host a Gala dinner or special event.
With award winning chefs and restaurant managers, the Duke offers exquisite cuisine and exceptional service. The Duke has an onsite function manager to help plan the menu and all other details of your gala dinner to ensure a smooth, professional experience.
For any enquiries please contact us via email [email protected] or phone 09 403 7829 or to view our full function pack, click on the following link
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Trip to Sip - with 144 Islands
31 October 2025
Discover what makes Northland wine so unique as you sip your way through 144 Islands wines. Head on down to The Duke for your free wine tasting 5pm - 8pm!
Melbourne Cup at The Duke of Marlborough
4 November 2025
Join us to watch the races in style, on the Russell Waterfront at The Duke of Marlborough!
Northland Waste Kerikeri Half Marathon
22 November 2025
Starting in Okaihau the 21.1km course makes its way through rolling countryside to finish in the centre of town at the Kerikeri Domain. The race is largely downhill, so good for a PB, and perfect if you're new to running!
Christmas Day at The Duke of Marlborough
25 December 2025
We will be open for Christmas Dinner from 5pm, as this is a special occasion we will be working with a Special Christmas Day Set Menu; of which we will confirm the price close to – and a two-course Set Menu for children under the age of 14. Our restaurant will be closed for Lunch Service. However, our sister restaurant, Charlotte's Kitchen, will be offering a Christmas Lunch..
New Years Eve
31 December 2025
Join us at The Duke of Marlborough to see in 2026, with live music, set course dinners, and the bubbles flowing, it is the place to be!
Blue70 Beach to Bay - Ocean Swim
21 February 2026
Prepare to be left in awe as you depart from one of the Far North’s most stunning beaches and find yourself in the charming, heritage-rich town of Russell. This scenic harbour crossing will challenge you both physically and mentally, delivering an unforgettable experience.
Weddings
Located on the Russell Waterfront, The Duke offers a majestic setting for you & your guests to enjoy your Bay of Islands Wedding!
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Conferences
The Duke can cater for small, and large conference groups. We are on hand to help you build your itinerary, and let you work on your business away from home.
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Events in the Bay
It's not all beaches and sunsets here in the Bay of Islands - we are lucky enough to have many different events and festivals running throughout the year. Click here for further information.
Read MoreWhat our customers say
We are so glad that we chose the Duke as our wedding venue. They absolutely exceeded our expectations. The Duke itself is a stunning venue, located at the waterfront of dazzling Russell. The functions staff was incredibly helpful, had attention to detail and accommodated all wishes we had. On the day everything was well organized and worked out fantastically! Our guests were stoked by the food - that was the best cured fish many of us had eaten. The indoors and outdoors set-up was fantastic. The staff was flexible, accommodating, kind and responsive. We loved the small, neat touches that made us feel like we were part of the Duke's tribe. We would absolutely choose the Duke again and will be glad to return. Thank you!
- Magdelena & Richard, Thursday 8th Feburary 2024,
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