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Timetable

If you want to party late into the night, Auckland, Wellington or Queenstown are the places to go. Queenstown is known as the world's biggest party town during the festive season, especially on New Year's Eve. The rest of the year, it vibrates to the rhythm of backpackers and adapts to their sense of celebration.

Auckland and Wellington will be more populated by locals, and therefore more attuned to the New Zealand rhythm.

If you want to go out and get carried away into the night, aim for a Friday or Saturday night. Bars generally open from 5 p.m. to midnight-1 a.m., but nightclubs and bars will go on until 2, 3 or even 4 a.m. for the last bastions.

Auckland has less of a problem, but if you're going to party in Wellington, plan ahead! The late-night establishments are all located on the same street (Courtney Place); when the regular bars close, everyone rushes in, and there can be looooong queues.

Budget & Tips

There is very rarely a charge for admission to institutions, unless there is a concert or artist performing that day.

Some establishments sometimes charge a small entrance fee, even if there is no event, but this is a strategy to target a specific age group; we all know that no self-respecting student will pay to go dancing and have a drink! So if you want to avoid the hordes of young revelers, this can be a good strategy.

If you are out to celebrate a birthday or any other event, try to mention it casually, it is not uncommon that it opens the door to a discount or a free drink, as Kiwis want to please their guests and make them have a good time!

Night transport

Auckland and Wellington have a small network of night buses, but most people use VTC services, or electric scooters to get home after a long night of revelry.

In more remote areas, it is very common for bars to run free shuttle services to take people home at the end of the night. This is a preventive measure to prevent patrons from driving while intoxicated.

Age restrictions

Consumption of alcohol is strictly forbidden for those under 18. Some establishments are not even allowed to let minors in, even if they do not drink. Remember to bring your passport because the controls are systematic and the locals are very strict on the subject.

What's very local

It sometimes happens in France that you find yourself refused entry to an establishment because your outfit is not considered smart enough. Rest assured, in New Zealand we don't take ourselves so seriously, the atmosphere is very relaxed and you'll never be turned away from anywhere just because you're not dressed well enough!