GREAT DATES In Wellington City
FOOD&DRINK Craft beer capital, coffee capital, culinary capital, oh, and the country’s capital...
In the art, science and business of making stuff that tastes great, Wellington leads the way. Perfectly positioned between rich farmland and bountiful ocean, the quality of our produce is second-to-none. Our multi-cultured people bring together a whole world of traditions, blending international techniques and influences with a generous helping of Wellington ingenuity. It’s a winning recipe. New breweries, roasteries, restaurants and cafes open all the time, while our favourites go from strength to strength. Every year New Zealand’s largest culinary festival, Visa Wellington On a Plate, inspires our chefs and culinary community to keep amazing us with
fresh ideas, executed beautifully, served with style and flair. We tackle short deadlines with the help of a long black. Inspiration floats to the surface on the bubbles of a beer.
Deals are sealed by a great steak and sweethearts flirt over desserts. On a stroll through Moore Wilson’s you can gather all the ingredients for a delicious dinner party or perfect picnic. Wander around Wellington and you’ll find a café in a tugboat, a brewery in a garage, and a restaurant with a kitchen garden on the roof. It’s a mouth watering prospect.
Facts • 10 craft breweries in Wellington • 10+ coffee roasteries in Wellington • Wellingtonians buy 45 million cups of coffee per year • Wellington hospitality uses 4.5 million eggs per year • Wellington hospitality uses 260 tonnes of bacon per year
• 255,000 Wellingtonians had a coffee or tea at a café over the past 3 months* • 231,000 Wellingtonians ate a snack or meal at a café over the past 3 months* • 224,000 Wellingtonians ate at a licenced restaurant over the past 3 months*
Wellington On A Plate • Started in 2009 and currently in its 5th year of operation • 110 restaurants participated in DINE Wellington 2015 • 113 festival events in 2015 • 69 restaurants participated in Burger Wellington • $1,129,200 in ticket sales 2015
• $4.1m contribution to GDP in 2015 • Moore Wilson’s Taste Street Night Market attracted around 5,000 attendees • The Oyster Saloon attracted around 3,000 attendees • Beervana attracted around 9,500 attendees
Regional Fare • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Bread Butchery Cakes Cheese Chocolate Coffee Cordials Craft Beer Crepes Cupcakes Eggs Fruit Gelato Honey Hummus
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Ice Cream Jams and Chutneys Lamb Liquorice Macarons Market Gardens Milk Olive Oil Pies Pizza Sausages Seafood Soda Syrups Wine Plus many more...
WELLINGTON
New Zealand’s centre of government and the world’s southernmost capital city.
Wellington is also the country’s cultural and the third most populous urban area in New Zealand. Home to many museums, galleries, theatres, festivals and events. Wellington is also a leading centre for creative industries and is the home of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX). The city is situated alongside Wellington Harbour and surrounded by natural beauty including Zealandia, an award-winning ecoattraction just minutes from the central business district. Population Wellington city has a population of 200,100 people. The Wellington region (a series of closely linked cities and districts) is home to almost 500,000 people. The city accounts for 41% of the region’s population and 5% of New Zealand’s overall population. The capital’s population is young, with 55.9% aged 18–49 years compared with 45.1% in NZ generally.
Climate Wellington’s weather gets a fair bit of slack and, yes, it can get a bit windy from time-to-time. But the capital actually enjoys a temperate and often sunny climate, enjoying around 2,000 sunshine hours a year. The warmest month is February, the coolest is July, and average annual rainfall is 1,270mm. Tourism Tourism is a vital contributor to Wellington’s economy, resulting in some $1.6 billion in expenditure per year – that’s over $3,166 per minute! Wellingtonians It’s been said that over one-third (33%) of Wellington residents have a bachelor degree or higher qualification – the highest in the country. Wellingtonians are also known as some of the fittest New Zealanders, with over 18,000 of its residents choosing to walk or jog to work. Runners are a regular sight around the picturesque waterfront.
Wellington City Map Date Locations Midnight Espresso
The Library
Botanical Gardens
Icon Guide Time of day: When’s best to go on this date? Night time, day time or either goes. Level of intimacy: How romantic is your date going to be? Would it be suitable for the first time meeting?
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Cost for two: How pricey is the location? Will it break the bank or be fit for a poor student.
Love is a Picnic! The Wellington Botanical Gardens are the perfect place for your next date. Pack up a picnic with supplies from your nearest grocer, or have some fun baking some goods beforehand. With rolling hills and scenic views, you’ll have plenty of privacy to cuddle up with your date! Getting to the Botanical Gardens is easy, just hop on the cable car! The cable car entrance is on Lambton Quay and is just a $3.50 return trip for students, plus it leaves every 10 minutes. Or, if you’ve got a car there’s
two hour free parking available next to the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. The No 3 Karori and No 13 Mairangi busses both go there as well, or you’re welcome to trek up the hill by foot if you wish. Once you make it up the hill you’ll be greeted by a beautiful view of the city, perfect to sit by and try to spot your house. However it doesn’t stop there, there is over 25ha of unique landscape waiting to be explored! This massive size gives you plenty of room to find a private spot for you and your date to
enjoy, who knows it could become the spot they propose to you in one day - if the date goes well that is.. Romantic rose gardens and peaceful parks make a memorable and intimate date, best for couples who know each other well. Meeting for the first time in a park isn’t the safest of ideas, so perhaps try one of the other dates in the guide first! Be sure to wear comfy footwear though, as the hilly terrain can be challenging at times; especially if you
plan on walking up the hill. The last thing you want is blisters ruining your date! So pack up your picnic and get going, the gardens are waiting to be explored!
Opening Hours Dawn till Dusk every day.
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23:59 Friday, 25
March
MIDNIGHT ESPRESSO Dawn till dusk coffee dates around the clock!
It’s 10pm and you’ve been chatting up someone on tinder. You’re both dying to meet up but don’t want to be in a noisy bar or be alone with a stranger? Go to midnight espresso! Wellington’s most established all day and late night cafe, Midnight Espresso is one of the best places in town for cheap eats any time of the day. If you’re looking for a date that you can turn up in jeans and a tshirt then you’ve come to the right place. Midnight’s grungy vibe fits right into the artsy scene of Wellington. With fliers tacked to the wall like wall paper, and a brightly glowing pinball machine, midnight is an 80’s arcade aesthetic with every snack and drink of your dreams. Be sure to try some of their gluten free brownie! It’s divine.
With plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options, you won’t have to make your date awkwardly watch you eat if they’ve got allergies! Because everyone knows that isn’t a good first impression. The place can get quite busy, but being open until 3 am every day means you can go whenever is convienent to you, and it won’t be awkwardly silent. Plus, the big window at the front means you can people watch to your hearts content if things are getting awkward!
Opening Hours Weekdays 7:30 am - 3:00 am Weekends 8:00 am - 3:00 am
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LIBRARY LOVIN’ Wellington’s sweetest little dessert and cocktail bar.
It isn’t often that going to the library sounds like a fun idea.. however when there’s cocktails and dessert involved, count me in! This cocktail bar is like no other, and is the sweetest and quirkiest place for your next special date! Located on an upper floor of Courtenay Place, The Library is so close to town yet feels worlds away. This romantic cocktail bar captures the essence of Wellington as it is quirky and fun with old books lining every wall, yet stays sophisticated through the intimate lighting and divine drinks. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with this place. The intimacy of candle light lets you and your date to gaze into eachothers eyes for hours, as the smooth live jazz playing in the background kills any awkward silences.
Cozy arm chairs allow you to snuggle up next to your date while sipping at your lavander cocktail and savouring every mouthful of your creme brulee. The Library can be pretty pricey and a bit out of your league if you’re a poor student - however - there are two for one desserts on Tuesday’s, so ensure that you plan your date around that! So strap on your heels and your little black dress and get ready for some sweets and treats, as this will be the sweetest date you’ve been on, and i’m not sugar coating it! Opening Hours Monday - Thursday 5pm till Late Friday - Sunday 4pm till Late
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DESIGNED BY
K AT E BENNETT