| Often called the San Francisco of New Zealand, Wellington is the southern end of the North Island and is about an eight-hour drive south of Auckland. It’s an easy and inexpensive hour flight on Air New Zealand. | |
| Like San Francisco, Wellington is very hilly. Many homes are built with private phone booth-like cable cars that hoist residents from the street to their hillside homes. It also boasts a San Francisco-sized cable car that is open to the public. A quick ten-minute ride will take you from downtown to the lush Victoria Park, complete with walking trails and spectacular gardens. |
A Wellington cablecar overlooking the city. |
As the country’s capital city, Wellington is home to
New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. Even if you’re
not into museums, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find
something inside that won’t fascinate or entertain you
there. Admission is free and its modern history
department includes a section that documents the
struggle for gay rights in New Zealand.
BARS & CLUBBINGThe only gay club in Wellington is Pound/Sovereign on Dixon Street near Cuba Street. The club is mostly gay men but draws many lesbians as well. It’s on the second floor of a shopping complex in a popular nightclub district of the city. For a walk on Wellington’s wild side, the cruise club, Sanctuary, on 45 Courtney Place, is a short walk from Pound/Sovereign. Checkmate, a men’s sauna and health club, is on 20 Garrett Street.BED & BOARDGay friendly accommodations include the Kauri Trees B&B, in a beautifully restored 1890 home. It’s owned by a delightful gay couple from Belfast, retired designer, Daniel McKeown, and his partner, Gerard Walsh, a doctor. High in the hills above Wellington, is the Koromiko Homestay. It bills itself as a B&B for gay men and their friends. The three men who own the home also run occasional adventure excursions. Its funky mattress-on-the-floor guest rooms are not for everyone, but it boasts a great view of Wellington, a unique outdoor bathtub with a view, and a penthouse skylight room where you can sleep under the stars.
The new and upmarket Youth Hostel Association New
Zealand in Wellington is steps from the Te Papa
museum. It’s managed by an openly gay man, Hamish
Allardice, and very gay friendly. A private room is
about 28 GBP and if you want to do the dorm thing,
you can stay for less than 11 GBP.
CHRISTCHURCHChristchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city, after Auckland and Wellington. With about 330,000 people, it has the largest population on the country’s South Island. Christchurch is best known for its English colonial architecture.
Its gay clubs include Chameleon on 170 Tuam Street and
Cruz on 90 Lichfield Street. Christchurch’s
sauna/cruise club is Menfriends on 83 Lichfield
Street. Gay-friendly accommodations here include “80
Lichfield” and Dorothy’s.
NELSON |
| Although it has no gay-specific venues, Nelson, on the north end of the South Island, boasts the sunniest weather in all of New Zealand and is known for its liberal, bohemian ambiance and countless art galleries. Nelson is just a 25-minute plane ride from Wellington. Just outside Nelson, Happy Valley Adventures features something for all adventure-seekers including a thrilling chair lift ride through spectacular scenery. |
Go east from Nelson. |
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Gay friendly accommodations include the Wakefield Quay
House, run by UK expat Woodi Moore and her husband,
Johnny Moore, a sailing instructor. Woodi is the
Auntie Mame of Nelson and a perfect host famous for
her gourmet breakfasts.
The Moores’ good friends, a gay couple, Richard Hewetson and James Taylor, own the popular Te Puna Wai Lodge B&B. It’s just up the hill from the Moore’s place in an elegantly restored Victorian home.
For gay men who want to get away from it all in a
country setting, the Autumn Farm is scenic 90-minute
drive from Nelson. It’s clothing optional, and yes,
it’s really a farm. It is a very popular camping spot
and has some rustic cabin-like accommodations.
QUEENSTOWN |
| Queenstown is New Zealand’s tourist Mecca and is a must-see stop. It’s on the South Island, south of Christchurch. It is set on Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the Southern Alps and 310 meters above sea level. Although it has no permanent gay venues, gay activities can be found on the Web site queenstown.com. Queenstown is the site of the gay ski week scheduled for September 3-10, 2005. |
The stunning view from Queenstown of the Southern Alps. |
| Queenstown is a thrill-seeker’s paradise, with countless adrenaline-inducing activities from bungee jumping to speed boat racing. | |
| Be sure to take the Skyline Gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak for a spectacular view of the city. You can also take a luge ride around the peak. Gay friendly hotels include The Mountvista Boutique on a quiet hill but just a five-minute walk from downtown. The ultra-luxurious White Shadows Country Inn is a perfect place for couples, just a 15-minute drive from downtown. It’s owned by a gay couple from LA, Bill Bailey and Mike Harris. |
The Skyline Gondola overlooking Bob's Peak. Bungee jumping was invented in New Zealand and you can a see a spectacular jump platform here. |
It just opened five years ago but has already
developed a devoted following. It’s closed during New
Zealand’s winter, our summer.
At the other end of the spectrum, you can get a
private room for two at the Backpackers Downtown Lodge
for 25 GBP. That includes breakfast and the free
use of one of its Internet terminals.
MoneyYou will get about 2.5 New Zealand dollars for a Pound. Auckland is overall New Zealand’s most expensive area. New Zealand is proudly a non-tipping country. If you are given exceptional service in a restaurant, you can tip 5 or 10% but it’s not expected.WEATHEROverall, the weather in New Zealand is very mild. The temperature rarely dips below freezing in Auckland and the rest of the North Island. The weather in the South Island is more seasonal. For example, it often gets below freezing in Queenstown during their winter, our summer, although it seldom snows at ground level. The average winter day is crisp and sunny.Christmas time through February are the warmest months, with daytime temperatures in the 80s but it’s also the busiest tourist season, so if you go then, you will have plenty of company. To give you an even greater incentive to visit in the quieter winter months, many hotels discount their rates and you can usually get better flight deals. GETTING THERESingapore Airlines fly to Auckland via Singapore and you can check other airlines at ebookers. You can find a big selection of hotels at special online prices at our partners Bookings.
Photography by Ed Walsh except Sky Tower courtesy Tourism New Zealand. | |
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THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK Tourism New Zealand: www.newzealand.com www.gaynz.com | |
