Best Places to Meet People in New Zealand

"A revolving door of impressive exhibits by international and well-known local artists, this free gallery in Civic Square is best enjoyed with regular visits. Whether stopping in on a rainy afternoon or making a point to see Len Lye's kinetic sculptures before they vanished, Wellington's City Gallery provides thought-provoking entertainment time and time again. Multiple exhibit spaces span two floors, and the gallery plays an accommodating host for writers and other speakers with a generous but cosy amphitheater. Just remember to recharge with a flat white and a donut from the Nikau Cafe located on the ground floor of the gallery before you leave."

"There are so many amazing secondhand book stores in New Zealand (Wellington in particular), but sometimes you need something specific and you need it now. Turn to Unity Books in your time of need. With a great selection of New Zealand writers, an entire, stretching wall of fiction, both classic and extremely contemporary (like Tao Lin's Taipei, only out in the States in June), and many pockets of specialty books scattered throughout the shop, you may have stopped in for a specific title but you'll find yourself browsing for hours. As an added bonus, the staff is exceedingly knowledgeable and ready to help-- Unity is one of the only book shops I've been to where those staff recommended titles are truly appealing."

"Taking cues from the American dive bar, Golding’s is big on craft beer, a bit of a hole in the wall, and, if you don’t know about it already, can be easy to miss. Hidden away down Leeds St. (more like an alley) past Six Barrel Soda and Pizza Pomodoro, this long and narrow cavern sports buckets for lampshades and skiis above the bar. The atmosphere is lively but civilized, the tap beers change daily, and pizza specials on the wall are hauled in from nearby Pizza Pomodoro. Definitely worth a gander."