Wellington, Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Casual encounters in Wellington: hidden bars on Cuba Street, rooftops in Te Aro and a harbour to walk home beside
A small capital with big-city nights, steep hills and a waterfront that never feels far away. Wellington singles who want something light are on Joydate, and it costs nothing to look.
- Free to join
- Your profile just says Wellington
- Free ID check
In short
Casual encounters in Wellington tend to start in the bars of Te Aro, from Courtenay Place and Cuba Street to the rooftops and basements behind them, and the Cable Car, the Botanic Garden and the waterfront make easy daytime dates. Joydate shows you which Wellington locals are after something casual too, and a profile costs nothing.
- Where to go: cocktail rooms on Courtenay Place, basement and rooftop bars around Cuba Street and Ghuznee Street, and a speakeasy on Tory Street.
- Dates by day: the Botanic Garden above the Cable Car, the waterfront and the Mount Victoria lookout walk.
- Getting around: a one-zone adult fare is $2.12 with a Snapper card, and $1.70 off-peak.
- What it costs: joining is free, and removing the limit on messages starts at NZ$24.99 for a week of VIP.
Wellington packs a lot of evening into a very small area. WellingtonNZ, the capital's tourism organisation, says the nightlife centres on Courtenay Place and Cuba Street, and lists hideaway bars in a basement, behind an unmarked door and at the top of a lift. If you are after casual encounters in Wellington, a flirty night out, a hookup or just a first drink with someone new, nothing is far from anything else. On Joydate you can see which Wellington members want the same kind of evening, from one night to something now and then. Others only ever see Wellington on your profile, so where you live stays yours, and the choice of bar is something you settle between you.
Courtenay Place, Cuba Street or somewhere hidden?
It depends on the mood you want. Courtenay Place is the busy end: The Library, at number 53, has dim booths and shelves of real books, Hummingbird, at number 22, has a lounge with green tiled bars and velvet banquettes, and Dragonfly, at number 70, has a bamboo courtyard behind the street. Cuba Street is better for a slower first chat, because Dee's Place, at 126 Cuba Street, is a basement whiskey bar down a staircase, and Puffin on Ghuznee Street is all emerald velvet and brass. If you like a hunt, Hawthorn Lounge on Tory Street sits behind an unmarked door with a fire and a leather couch. Most casual encounters in Wellington, and plenty of hookups, begin with one of these, and the smaller rooms can fill up at weekends, so check before you go.
Where Wellington meets
Looking for casual encounters in Wellington? Joydate is made for it
Joydate suits adults who like things easy and upfront, from a single great night to a regular arrangement. For casual encounters in Wellington you can start with a free profile, read what each member wants before you say hello and find those who feel the same close to home.
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Honest from the first message
Profiles state what each member wants, so a drink on Cuba Street starts without guessing games.
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Just the city
Other members see your username and Wellington. Your address, your job and your surname never appear.
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Real people, clearly marked
Members who have been through the free ID check carry a Verified badge.
Join free and meet people in Wellington How Joydate works in Wellington
Good to know
What makes casual encounters in Wellington easy
Four reasons a first meet here is simple to plan.
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Everything within walking distance
The bars of Courtenay Place, Cuba Street and Tory Street sit a few blocks apart in Te Aro, so one drink can easily become a short crawl.
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Hidden rooms with atmosphere
Basements, rooftops and a speakeasy behind an unmarked door give a first meet a little theatre without any effort from you.
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A cheap bus fare
A one-zone adult fare is $2.12 at peak with a Snapper card and $1.70 off-peak, so a night out never hinges on the taxi rank.
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A harbour and a hill on hand
The waterfront and the Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden are both close to the centre, which gives a second date an easy plan.
Wellington at a glance
Handy to know before a first meet in Wellington
- $2.12for a one-zone adult peak fare with a Snapper card
- 25 haof Botanic Garden above the Cable Car
- 10am to 6pmevery day at Te Papa, free for New Zealand residents
Where Wellington goes out
Where to meet for a first drink in Wellington
Six areas, with venues taken from WellingtonNZ, Wellington City Council and the venues' own pages.
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Busy
Courtenay Place
The main entertainment strip, lined with bars, pubs and clubs.
Places to start
- The Library: a cocktail and dessert bar at number 53 with dim booths and nooks lined with real books
- Hummingbird: a lounge bar at number 22 with low lighting, green tiled bars and velvet banquettes
- Dragonfly: modern Asian sharing plates at number 70, with a bamboo courtyard that feels separate from the street
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Basement
Cuba Street
A strip of cafés and boutiques by day, with bars tucked in below.
Places to start
- Dee's Place: a basement whiskey bar at 126 Cuba Street, down the stairs below a stag head, with a long list of American whiskeys
- Puffin: a hideaway on Ghuznee Street with emerald velvet, brass fittings and chandeliers, serving oysters and small plates
- Bucket Fountain: a landmark on the street where buskers often perform, handy for a daytime meet
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Quiet
Tory Street and Leeds Street
Quieter corners of Te Aro for a conversation.
Places to start
- Hawthorn Lounge: a 1920s speakeasy at 82 Tory Street, up the stairs through an unmarked doorway, with a leather couch by the fire
- Hanging Ditch: a low-lit courtyard bar at 14 Leeds Street with brick walls, leather couches and bottles hung from ropes
- Mean Doses Taproom: a craft brewery taproom on the first floor at 66 Tory Street, with pinball, pool and shuffleboard
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Rooftop
Rooftops
Up a lift or up the stairs, with the city lit below.
Places to start
- Dirty Little Secret: a rooftop bar built from a shipping container at 54 Taranaki Street, with a dance floor, fairy lights and views over the entertainment district
- Ascot: a bar at the top of three flights of winding stairs on Ghuznee Street, with a sheltered rooftop terrace
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Harbour
The waterfront
Wellington's harbour edge, a stroll from the centre.
Places to start
- Te Papa: the national museum at 55 Cable Street, open daily 10am to 6pm and free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
- Cuckoo Emporium: a retro-styled bar on Customhouse Quay with outdoor decking and indoor couches
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Free
Hills and views
Walks with a payoff, most of them free.
Places to start
- Cable Car and Botanic Garden: the historic line from Lambton Quay climbs to Kelburn, where about 25 hectares of garden begin by the top stop
- Mount Victoria lookout: a 4.6 km loop from Courtenay Place via Majoribanks Street that returns past Oriental Bay in about 1.5 hours, or a 45 minute shorter loop from the top of Majoribanks Street
Plan a first drink in Wellington
Venues from WellingtonNZ, Wellington City Council and the venues' own pages. Hours move around, so look up the current ones before you suggest somewhere.
Picture the night
Three Wellington moments for a casual date
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Cuba Street
Fairy lights and a busker
A pedestrian street at dusk, a crowd round a guitar and a bar down the stairs.
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Botanic Garden
A bench in the roses
Ferns, blossom and a view of the harbour while you decide where to go next.
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Oriental Bay
The bay at dusk
Coloured boat sheds, calm water and a coffee to carry along the promenade.
Before you go
Tips for casual encounters in Wellington
Four habits that keep a first meet in Wellington easy.
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Start where you can talk
A room like Hawthorn Lounge by the fire or Dee's Place in its basement suits a first conversation better than a crowded dance floor, and Courtenay Place is a short walk away afterwards.
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Start in the daytime
If you would rather meet before the evening, a Cable Car ride to the Botanic Garden or the waterfront by Te Papa gives you an easy first hour that costs little.
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Pick shoes for the hill
The council says the trail up from Oriental Bay is steep and muddy after rain, so wear shoes you can walk in and plan somewhere warm for the end of it.
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Keep the chat on Joydate
Until you have met face to face, do your chatting inside Joydate. Anyone who wants to jump to a different app at once is asking you to go faster than you need to.
Joydate prices for Wellington
You can stay on the free Classic profile as long as you like. VIP and VIP Plus are for people who want to message without a daily cap; the plans below are in New Zealand dollars, price first and weekly cost beneath.
| Plan length | VIP | VIP Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | $24.99 | $27.99 |
| 1 month | $64.24$14.99 a week | $72.81$16.99 a week |
| 3 months | $141.30$10.99 a week | $179.87$13.99 a week |
| 6 months | $205.46$7.99 a week | $256.89$9.99 a week |
| 12 months | $312.34$5.99 a week | $416.62$7.99 a week |
Week, month, three-month and six-month plans carry on renewing until you cancel. For the twelve-month plan you pay once, and it lapses when the twelve months are up. See every plan in every currency.
Staying safe on a Wellington date
- Meet in a busy spot. Pick a staffed bar on Courtenay Place or Cuba Street for a first meet, and remember your Joydate profile never shows more than Wellington. In an emergency, or if someone is in danger right now, call 111; for anything less urgent the Police line is 105.
- Getting home. On Metlink buses a one-zone adult fare is $2.12 at peak and $1.70 off-peak with a Snapper card, $2.15 and $1.73 with a contactless bank card, and $3.00 in cash. Metlink also runs After Midnight buses on weekend mornings, so look up the current routes before a late night.
- Sexual health. Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa, formerly Family Planning, has a Wellington Central clinic at Level 2, 205 Victoria Street, with STI testing and treatment. It stays open until 7pm on Wednesdays and takes bookings online; under 22s who live in New Zealand pay nothing, and other visitors are charged a fee.
- If someone asks for money. Netsafe treats requests for money, gift cards or bank details from someone you have not met as a warning sign, and recommends keeping the conversation on the dating site. If it happens to you, use Netsafe's online form, let Police know on 105 and ring your bank at once if money has gone.
Casual encounters and dating in Wellington: common questions
Where can you find casual encounters in Wellington?
Joydate is the easiest place for casual encounters in Wellington, since everyone there has signed up for the same thing. Create a free profile, look through nearby members after a casual date or a hookup and, when a chat goes well, propose a drink in Te Aro, on Courtenay Place or on Cuba Street.
What is a good first date bar in Wellington?
A good first date bar in Wellington is one where you can hear each other. Dee's Place on Cuba Street is a basement whiskey bar, Hanging Ditch on Leeds Street has a quiet courtyard, and Hawthorn Lounge on Tory Street has a fire, all listed by WellingtonNZ.
Is Joydate an alternative to personals in Wellington?
Joydate works as a replacement for personals in Wellington, because you read real profiles with photos rather than one-line classifieds, and some members show a Verified badge from the free ID check. Compare Joydate and Doublelist.
How much does Joydate cost in Wellington?
Signing up to Joydate in Wellington is free. If you later want unlimited messaging, a week of VIP is NZ$24.99, and the year-long plan comes to NZ$5.99 for each week. See all plans.
How much is a bus fare in Wellington?
A bus fare in Wellington is $2.12 for a one-zone adult trip at peak with a Snapper card, and $1.70 off-peak. Paying cash on board costs $3.00 for one zone.
Where can you get an STI test in Wellington?
You can get an STI test in Wellington at the Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa clinic on Victoria Street. Book through the clinic's website; New Zealand residents under 22 are not charged, and everyone else pays the listed fee.
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