[PeterTF]

Going to New Zealand for a year and was just wondering what the nightlife is like compared to Ireland? :cheers

[voxel]

What city in New Zealand and compared to where in Ireland? Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown seem to have active night lives (for a different set of people - students, tourists, etc.).

[Diny]

If you're heading to any of the 'big' places over here I'm sure you'll be pretty impressed with the nightlife.

If you're heading for the quieter, smaller places I think you will find them very quiet.

We live near Palmerston North which has a large student population (Massey Uni) so there's plenty of bars. Although I don't know of any actual 'nightclubs'.

In the actual village we live in we do have a pub, but it's only open 4 nights a week. If it's not too busy it will close by about 9 pm. I was in there one night, there were a total of 11 people in there (including us) and the landlord was chuffed at such a busy night !!!!!

Like everything else in NZ - it all depends on where you go and what your expectations are. I'm pretty sure you'll have a ball though.

One thing I have noticed over here is that folks go out very early. When I meet my mates for a drink it's usually a 6.30 or 7.00 kick off (probably because the pub closes so early). At home in the UK we rarely went out before 8.30 - 9.00.

Diny

[Moorf]

I'm impressed with Chch's nightlife - great little casino, some top class restaurants, nice bars, good theatre and live shows and lots of free festivals in the warmer months.

Locally in Darfield and surrounds the night life revolves around the local pubs or neighbours/friends houses.

[jodieinchch]

In relation to Diny's comments about starting nights earlier I would disagree with it in CHCH- nights start later here, we used to head out into town at about 7-8pm back in the UK, wheras now CHCH is dead until about 11pm... but once it kicks off it's really good...! Lots of bars, to suit everyone so it seems. And they party longer in CHCH- 4am and 5am hometime!

[voxel]

Welly has a decent club scene - but it's busiest after 11pm. All the clubs seem to be located in the same area making it lively at night. Auckland has the Viaduct area and Queenstown is a tourist party town.

[TonyOne]

Hi Peter,

I lived in Auckland for 1 year and found the nitelife to be quite good.
Thurs, Friday, Sat, the bars in the viaduct area are pretty lively, I remember heading down there a few Sunday nites and it was very quiet (went into a few bars and there were only a handful of people in them).

There are a few bars around town that have live bands in them like Danny Doolins, Murphys but you'll pay that bit more for a pint in the Irish bars.

Backpacker bar The Globe is below the ACB Backpackers (or is it the ABC).

The nitelife wouldn't be as good as Ireland but there is enough to keep you going.

Hope this helps.

[PeterTF]

Thanks for all your replys. I'll be either situated in Auckland or Hamilton, somewhere up north anyway. I heard the nightclubs stay open later in NZ, in Ireland they never stay open much later than 3.

[KerryS]

Thanks for all your replys. I'll be either situated in Auckland or Hamilton, somewhere up north anyway. I heard the nightclubs stay open later in NZ, in Ireland they never stay open much later than 3.

You can stay out all night if you really want - there are 24 hour bars in Auckland. (I actually met three All Blacks at 6am and watched the sunrise with them after the last Lions test match last year - that was pretty cool.)

Auckland has some great nightlife, and unlike Wellington it isn't all confined to one area. Each area has a different atmosphere and makes for a better variety. Good places are Ponsonby, Parnell, Viaduct, K-Road, Mt Eden... It all depends what you want from a night out really.