[Tia Maria]

A friend of mine was asking how much it costs for a night out, for a couple, in NZ. I rarely get to go out and when I do it tends to revolve around drinking - so I couldn't answer the question!

I was going to do a poll to see if it was cheaper in certain parts of the country but decided it was too complicated, however, it would be interesting to see if certain areas do cost a lot more.

So for those of you with a life, how much do you pay for an average night out? Just something simple like movies with pizza and wine, and for those with kids - add on the price of a babysitter.

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Movie $10-15 each depends on seating. Drinks, I would say about $8 each on average, meals out.... I would say about $15 for an average main course, sometimes up to $20. Not ventured into babysitting territory yet.... but think about $10 an hour should cover it if you are just using your neighbours teenager or something, agencies will charge a bit more... (plus an initial registration fee..., the one I was investigating charged $100)

[Moorf]

If we're having drinks and a meal - say at the Flying Burrito Bros - I'd budget about $100-$120 total for starters, mains, desserts (if you can fit one in!) plus drinks with meal (not loads, just a couple of, say, mojitos each), ie. 2 starters for $10 average, 2 mains for $20 average, desserts $10 each. Drinks bill of $40 (2 drinks each).

That doesn't include taxis, petrol, parking (although usually free in the evenings in Chch if you're on roadside) or babysitters. We have never tipped since being in NZ but if you're a tipper it doesn't include that.

Add on the movies for 2 people and you're looking at an extra $25-30 depending on cinema/location.

HTH
Moorf

[BkyMonster]

I think would depend what the focus of the night out was.
Haven't been near the movies as there is nothing we want to see but a nice meal runs the 2 of us maybe $50? That's at 20+ per meal in some of the CBD restaurants and suburban center sit in restaurants with maybe a small beer each. Haven't been to too many so costs may vary. I'm actually thinking it might be a bit more than that.

[mgbridges]

Here's a few examples from us:

Lunch in the Orbit restaurant at the Sky Tower (/www.skycityauckland.co.nz) for 4 adults and one 6yr old child - $220 (not a huge amount of booze consumed).

Lunch at Leigh Sawmill (www.sawmillcafe.co.nz) for 2 adults - $49

Dinner at Tapiano in Matakana village (tapianobistro.co.nz) for 2 adults - $65 for food, $66 booze - we weren't very hungry so shared 3 entrees and had a pudding each (honest!).

Dinner at Heron's Flight in Matakana (www.heronsflight.co.nz) for 2 adults - $214.00 (we did spalsh out on a very nice bottle of red though)

Dinner at Narrow Table in Mairangi bay for 2 adults - $203.50

Fortunately we haven't had to pay for a babysitter yet as either grandparents have been visiting or our neighbour has babysat for us - then it only costs a bottle of wine! As a guide our neighbours childminder has offered to babysit and she was asking $15.00 per hour.

We have sometimes used the services of Dial a Driver from the city which works out at somewhere around $50.00.

Hope this helps,
Anneliese

[Milliemoo]

Dinner at the local Indian restaurant: 2 x mains + nan and BYO Wine $45

Dinner at White (Hilton): I x cocktail, 1 x mocktail, 1 x G&T, 1 1L Btl water, 1 x glass sauv, 2 x startes, 2 x mains, 1 x desert (2 x spoons :D) 2 x coffees $190 but we had an Entertainment voucher so it was only $150 :D

No need for babysitters yet, but I do my fair share of sitting on other peoples children (so to speak :o) and one day I'll be able to recoup LOTS of favours mmwwwahhhhaaaaaa

Milliemoo

[Familyofmonkeys]

Night out.....whats that?

But seriously, we did have a night out september last year and spent about $50 or so in Wagamamas for 2 x starters, 2 x mains, shared pud, 1 x beer and 1 x plum wine. Plus $6 for car parking i think.

[gil]

Er, I think I might be a bit more extravagant... we rarely eat out, but when we do, it's local: La Mama/Barracuda in Bucklands Beach (both in entertainment book). It's usually in the order of $150 for 2, includes starters, mains, sometimes puddding, and wine. Wagamama is good value, around $80 for 5 of us (that's without wine). Girlie dinners are usually around $40-50 per head, including wine at local places like the Malaysian in Howick.

Takeaways for 5 (2 adults, 2 children and 1 horse) range from about $23 for fish'n'chips at Fast Eddie's in Howick to about $75 for Hell pizza (large pizzas all round except one child one, ribs and lemon pepper wedges, mmmm).

We never go to cinema so can't comment.

We have an in-built baby sitter (aged 17) and she charges $10 per hour, although we don't always pay her :D

Gil

[Milliemoo]

Spent about $50 or so in Wagamamas for 2 x starters, 2 x mains, shared pud, 1 x beer and 1 x plum wine.

$50 ??? are you sure? Did you have a voucher?

Milliemoo *who does love a bargain :D*

[Familyofmonkeys]

$50 ??? are you sure? Did you have a voucher?

Milliemoo *who does love a bargain :D*

Almost certainly. If you register with the wagamamas website you can access the members area and print of the current discount vouchers :)

[Milliemoo]

Almost certainly. If you register with the wagamamas website you can access the members area and print of the current discount vouchers :)

:clap

Milliemoo