32 Epic ideas for your work social club and how to start one at your company

Work social clubs can be great for employee bonding and team building experiences. Check out our list of awesome social club activities for anyone based in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.

Collaboration, socialisation and interaction between employees is important in the business world. And there’s one thing that every company can use to allow their staff a sense of belonging in the work place: the social club.

Aly McNicoll of the New Zealand Mentoring Centre has said, ‘Organisations that choose to organise or promote social clubs are making a gesture in creating an environment where people have a sense of belonging and a friendly place to work.” They are also instrumental in increasing connectedness as Aly comments that, “they create more trust and open communication.”. 

If you’re a new hire and wanting to break the ice, there is no easier way than to get acquainted with your colleagues outside of office hours, away from deadlines and instead focused purely on enjoying a fun social activity. 

Whether you’re in a large business or a smaller start up, it’s possible to implement a social club. 

If you’re in a big company, put a committee of staff in charge of scheduling and planning out the events for the year. If you’re a smaller business, you can easily put forward ideas to the whole team and arrange for votes on the next activity.

Worried about the cost? 

You can pull off a successful social club without hurting your back pocket. One option is deciding on a fee that is automatically removed from your pay check to cover social club activities. You can also have it optional for employees to pay double to bring their partner along to the events. To find out how much you could save your business using n3, click here. 

Stuck on ideas? 

We’ve listed a few epic ones to help get you started

1. Gather your work mates to cheer on New Zealand or local teams at sports games 

If you’re in Auckland: 

Eden Park

If you’re in Wellington:

Westpac Stadium

If you’re in Christchurch:

Te Kaha Stadium

2. Get in touch with nature on day walks, surf lessons, stand up paddling or kayaking 

If you’re in Auckland:

Ferry trip and hike up Rangitoto Island

Surf lessons at Piha 

If you’re in Wellington:

Orongorongo Track

Kayaking at dusk in the Wellington Harbour

If you’re in Christchurch:

Arthur’s Pass Day Walk

Aoraki/ Mt Cook Tramping 

3. Keep your taste-buds happy with cooking classes, wine tasting, themed dinners or trying new restaurants around town

If you’re in Auckland:

Social Cooking

Waiheke Island Wine Tasting

If you’re in Wellington:

Social Cooking Team Building

Wellington Cocktail Tour

If you’re in Christchurch:

Akaroa Cooking School

North Canterbury Food & Wine Trail

4. Boost competitive team spirit with charity fun runs, tenpin bowling, mini golf or trivia nights

If you’re in Auckland:

MetroLanes

Believe it or Not Quiz Nights

If you’re in Wellington:

The Colour Run

The Lanes

If you’re in Christchurch:

The Summer Starter

Caddyshack 

5. Indulge in arts and culture with cinema nights, concerts, theatre or the ballet

If you’re in Auckland:

Auckland Theatre Company

Royal New Zealand Ballet

If you’re in Wellington:

Orchestra Wellington

World of Wearable Art

If you’re in Christchurch:

Christchurch Gig Guide

Isaac Theatre Roya

6. Get everyone’s heart racing with adrenalin pumping adventures

If you’re in Auckland:

Auckland Jet Boat

or if you dare…. Spookers

If you’re in Wellington:

Adrenalin Forest

Seal Coast Safari

If you’re in Christchurch:

Big Rock Canyons

White Water Rafting

We’ve compiled a list of activities for three main cities, but it’s only the beginning. 

Most of these and more can be found in your own city or a nearby region of New Zealand. Use this guide as a starting point for brainstorming what you’d like to do with your work social club.