Swinging & the lifestyle in Dunedin

For its size, Dunedin has more going on than you'd expect — two venues, against Christchurch's none, and a steady flow of young, curious members thanks to the University of Otago. The scene is friendly, informal and affordable, which makes it one of the gentlest entry points anywhere in the country.

Why Dunedin?

The student-city influence keeps the crowd open-minded and the prices low, and the two venues give the scene real structure. Tawse Manor's move down from Christchurch brought experience and a ready-made member base with it. Smaller venues and a friendly regular crowd mean far less of the intimidation factor you can feel at a big-city club.

The clubs

Club Risque — the regular

Dunedin's dedicated swingers club, centrally located on Liverpool Street and easy to find. It runs every second Saturday from 9pm until late, which gives the local scene a predictable rhythm — and because it's fortnightly, the crowd is largely regulars who know each other. That makes it warm and social, though newcomers should introduce themselves rather than wait to be noticed. Couples and single women welcome; single men by arrangement. Small venue, so pre-booking is wise — and don't turn up on the wrong Saturday.

Tawse Manor — the relocated house party

A well-known venue that relocated from Christchurch to Dunedin and now runs as a house-party/club hybrid in a private setting. Smaller and more intimate than Club Risque, with a mix of old Christchurch regulars and new Dunedin faces. Events are less frequent, so check the calendar — but if you prefer a house party to a club floor, this is your room.

New to all this?

Club Risque is the obvious first stop: the fortnightly schedule makes it easy to plan, the central location is a breeze, and the smaller scale is far less daunting than Auckland's CCK. After something more private? Tawse Manor is smaller and more exclusive — just check ahead, since it runs less often. Book in advance either way; both venues have limited capacity, and CheekyKiwis is the easiest way to meet locals before you go.

• Mind the calendar — Club Risque is every second Saturday; Tawse Manor is irregular. Don't show up on the wrong night.
• Book ahead — both are small. Cash is safest at the smaller venues.
• Go at your pace — a friendly, low-key crowd means there's never pressure to play.
• Discreet by design — your identity stays yours, on CheekyKiwis and at the door.