My name is Aksha, and I’m addicted to quizzing.
It all started in high school, with our chaotic, last-minute house quiz competition that I joined on a whim. Not expecting much, I somehow found myself buzzing in faster than anyone else. Each correct answer sent a tiny rush of triumph through me, a hit so small, so ridiculous, yet so intoxicating. We won that year, and next year, when they begged me to compete once more, we won again. That spark of victory ignited what has become a full-blown obsession. Honestly, if you’re going to be addicted to something, pub quizzes are probably the healthiest, most harmless option imaginable, and I just can’t get enough.
Fast forward to 2020, and I’d just landed in Ōtepoti: bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, ready to experience the quintessential student lifestyle. I’d heard about pub quizzes through friends, but it felt like something reserved for a crowd I wasn't a part of. For a few years, my quizzing fanaticism lay dormant – a trivia-strain of rabies, if you will. My friends were into other things, and I didn’t even know when or where these elusive quizzes happened. It wasn’t until two years later that I finally took the plunge.
I started with Mondays at The Bog with a few friends, and soon added Wednesdays at Kensington to the mix. Back then, it was casual, a once or twice a week social thing. But then… everything changed. There were more. The Baaa Bar ran one on Tuesdays, Rope & Twine on Thursdays. It felt like I’d unlocked a hidden side of Ōtepoti, a secret world of quizzes that only the lucky few seemed to know about.
The real game-changer? With the exception of The Moons Bar and ADJØ, nearly every pub sourced their digital quiz packets from the same company, Believe It or Not! Here’s the genius bit: each pub on each night gets a completely different quiz so no repeats. Every night, a fresh set of questions. It was a green light to go full throttle. Four nights a week? Easy. Dangerous. Perfect. The kind of thing that makes an addiction feel entirely justified.
But it’s about so much more than just the points. Through quizzing, I’ve met a huge variety of people and now find myself in four different dedicated quiz group chats. You end up hearing about people’s lives, celebrating their wins, and laughing through their losses. It’s surprisingly social, wonderfully collaborative, and has helped me build genuine friendships. For me personally, it’s also boosted my confidence around people, something I’d struggled with before.
Then there’s the knowledge. Week in and week out, you absorb the most bizarre, fascinating little facts about history, culture, geography, and sport that you’d most likely never encounter otherwise. It makes you more curious about the world and more open to seeing it through different perspectives. That’s the real heart of it, I think. Pub quizzes have genuinely enriched my life socially and intellectually. Fun? Check. Addictive? Check. Rewarding? Hell yeah. At this point, I don’t only do them because they’re enjoyable; I do them because I just can’t stop.
The Believe It or Not! Quiz Structure Broken Down — The List, Ponderous Puzzle, and Everything In Between
All the quizzes I hit in Dunedin are part of the Believe It or Not! network. Unlike traditional printed packets that your folks may be used to, these digital quizzes include images, audio clips, and videos, allowing participants to see questions on a screen, listen to music clues, or watch visual prompts. Like I said earlier, each venue receives a fresh set of questions every week, meaning no quiz is ever repeated but also, more importantly, keen teams can attend multiple nights without encountering the same questions twice. Quizathon unlocked.
The structure is consistent: eight rounds split in two halves, with a mid-quiz break to grab a pint and some chippies. Each round generally has ten questions, keeping things fast, unpredictable, and (crucially) entertaining. Before the quiz starts, each team must identify what they believe will be their strongest rounds. They then mark them as the joker rounds, giving them double points for all correct questions. Choosing poorly can result in doubling a low score, while choosing wisely can leapfrog competitors.
Most quizzes begin with a visual round, often featuring celebrity headshots, book covers requiring the identification of the author, famous artworks, or flags to name the country. This opening round is fast-scoring, fun, and immediately engages teams’ attention. The quiz is scored out of a possible 120 points including the main 8 rounds, the 2 jokers, the Ponderous Puzzle, and The List.
The Ponderous Puzzle is the crown jewel of any quiz. It could be a person, place, band, artwork, object, year, or just about anything else, revealed gradually through cryptic clues across the rounds. A correct guess in the first round scores 10 points, with fewer points awarded the later it’s solved. The clues start vague and get easier, but there’s no penalty for guessing early. In fact, it often pays to take a chance as you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
The List Round itself is a compact strategic challenge. Teams are given a category and must list as many valid answers as possible, often in strict order. Categories can range from periodic table elements to U.S. states ending in a vowel. A single incorrect answer or non-answer can invalidate all subsequent correct entries, meaning careful strategy and attention to detail is required for this round.
A top tip for the keenest of quizzers is the Cryptic Clue, which is posted every Monday at 9 a.m. on the Believe It or Not! Facebook page. These three clues appear in every quiz that week, and solving them beforehand gives teams a head start. The difficulty varies, and clues often reward research-savvy teams who engage with them before quiz night.
Several staple rounds recur almost every week: potluck, music, sports and games, geography, and TV and cinema. The fourth round almost always takes the form of a 50/50 or “odd one out” type question, giving teams roughly a 50% or one-third chance of answering correctly. Another consistent marker of a Believe it or Not! quiz is that the tenth question in each round is usually multiple-choice, providing three options for an educated guess. Beyond these staples, other rounds rotate through arts and literature, science and nature, history, “alphabet soup,” and many others. The best teams cover as many of these knowledge areas as possible to remain competitive.
Over weeks of attending these quizzes, certain patterns become clear, making you feel like Sherlock Holmes. One example: If a main round is omitted, such as TV and cinema or geography, the Ponderous Puzzle or List Round often compensates by focusing on related topics, giving teams with experience in one of those sections a chance to show off their skills. Recognising patterns allows seasoned participants to anticipate topics and optimise strategy.
Monday Night Madness
The Bog
The Bog is the church, students are its patrons, and the quiz is the gospel. Held every Monday evening, The Bog pub quiz is a magnet for students, and it shows. Officially scheduled to start at 7:30pm, it almost always kicks off around 7:40 thanks to the mass of teams submitting names and picking their Joker rounds. For anyone hoping to snag prime seating, arriving as early as 6:30 is smart. Otherwise, you might be stuck far from the screens or worse, left standing with no seat at all, desperately using your mates back as a table to write on.
Upstairs, The Bog offers respite: large booths with a bit of back support and a calmer space. Downstairs houses the bulk of the crowd, marked by a buzz of laughter, elbow nudges, aggressive whispered answers at the tables, and shouted drink orders at the bar. It’s loud, high-energy, and packed with students, which can make discussing with teammates a bit of a challenge but adds to the atmosphere and keeps the night lively.
Rounds are presented digitally on screens, with videos, music clips, and images adding variety. Each round typically lasts 5–10 minutes, and the mid-quiz List Round gives teams a chance to stretch, grab a Guinness, and mentally prepare for the second half. Food and drink prices are reasonable, and there’s a quiz-night menu featuring burgers, fries, and steaks.
The quiz host is a young Bog staffer with his own unmistakable style. Casting himself as the messiah of quiz, he presides over each night like a pastor at the pulpit. The ritual is always the same: every question is read aloud, and then, during the answer phase, read aloud again. What should be a smooth procession becomes a sermon in endurance – ask, answer, pause, repeat. His robes are the Bog uniform, his vestments marked by the usual Guinness stains, and his flock waits in equal parts devotion and mild exasperation. It is ceremony, yes, but of the long-winded variety.
Competition is fierce. Prizes are $50 for first, $30 for second, and $20 for third. Two teams, Mixed Bag and Watermelon Men, dominate regularly. They almost always take first and second place, but while it’s tough for newcomers to break through, the occasional off-week for the regulars gives everyone a glimmer of hope.
This quiz wraps around 10:30pm, leaving teams tired, exhilarated, and often with a few laughs at the host’s quirks along the way (“I swear he read that question three times”). Even if your team doesn’t place, the energy, social connection, and sheer thrill of trying to outwit your peers make Mondays at the Bog an unforgettable experience.
Aksha’s Rating: 6.5/10
Tuesday Trivia Showdown
The Mornington Taphouse
The Mornington Taphouse quiz takes place in the Tap House at the back, separate from the restaurant side. Unlike the cacophony of The Bog, this quiz runs with a sense of structure: strict bookings, pre-assigned tables, and a promised 7pm start though, like the Bog, that’s often more aspirational than reality, with quizzes usually kicking off around 7:10. Space is limited, and while the quiz has grown slightly in popularity, organisers can only squeeze in an extra table or two. Arrive without a booking, and you risk missing out entirely. The quiz wraps up just after 9pm, making for a fast-moving, compact evening.
The atmosphere at Mornington is a world apart from the dimly lit, high-energy chaos of The Bog. Brightly lit rooms mean you can actually see your notes and, unfortunately, your own questionable handwriting. Tables are comfortable and ideal for mid-sized teams, with the average group around six players. The crowd is more mixed here, with older local teams making up the majority, though a few student teams still show up. And the food? Absolutely delicious, ranging from a heavenly Thai beef salad to pub classics like schnitzels, burgers, chips, and loaded wedges.
The host is a staff member rather than a dedicated quiz-master and doesn’t read the questions or answers aloud, making it a little harder for complete pub quiz newbies. Answers are marked quickly, keeping the evening flowing, but there’s no announcement when marking is happening. Prize-giving is similarly understated the host simply hands out prizes, leaving the score chart on screen so everyone can see how they placed. If you're prepared to do a lot of reading and shushing your teammates, the Mornington may be the perfect spot for you. This place is for real quizzers.
One thing that sets Mornington apart is the raffle draw. Everyone gets a ticket at the start of the night, and after the list round, three winners are drawn. Prizes can be anything from mugs and hats to local Mornington merch, which is a fun bonus that adds excitement to the evening. Prizes are slightly more generous than The Bog: $60 for first, $40 for second, and $30 for third. While a few regular teams tend to dominate, no single group monopolises first place every week, so new teams have a real chance of placing, especially if they play their Jokers strategically.
All told, the Mornington Tavern offers a lively yet orderly quiz night. The bright lighting, brisk pace, and quirky raffle draws make it a fun and approachable experience, even if the host keeps things low-key.
Aksha’s Rating: 7/10
The Baaa Bar Quiz
The Baaa Bar is the domain of night owls and late workers. Tuesday’s quiz kicks off at 8 pm and wraps up around 10:30, which is not ideal if you’ve got early lectures and a desperate need for sleep. The crowd is mostly students, though the occasional veteran team like Annabelle’s Strays dominates the leaderboard, where their niche expertise forms a powerhouse team in a sea of youthful guesswork.
The host, Tom, reads each question carefully and takes no nonsense, though the trickier words keep him on his toes. Prizes mirror the Bog: $50, $30, $20. The real magic, however, lies in the shared experience: the quiet, nocturnal camaraderie, huddled over pens and papers, laughing at obscure references, and celebrating even the smallest victories together.
All in all, it’s a solid Tuesday night option for anyone who enjoys a late-evening challenge, a student-heavy crowd, and the thrill of trying to dethrone the mighty Annabelle’s Strays. Good luck with that.
Aksha’s Rating: 7/10
Wednesday Brain Brawl
Kensington
Wednesday at Kensington is a more formal, almost sophisticated affair. The crowd leans heavily toward older local teams, with maybe one or two student groups scattered in the mix. You’ll also see a fair few small teams of two or three people. Officially starting at 7pm, tables must be pre-booked as space is limited, and arriving without a booking risks missing out entirely. Seating is comfortable and suited for mid-sized groups, averaging about six players. The host brings personality, engaging with teams while keeping the quiz moving efficiently. His partner also participates solo in the quiz, creating a lighthearted mini-competition between them.
Competition is fierce, with top teams consistently scoring above 100 points. Teams like Rebel Tour almost always take first place, making winnability extremely low for new student teams. Kensington feels like the place where every Dunedin kid participated in their first pub quiz, lemonade in hand, brimming with knowledge fresh from the lips of their primary school teacher. Answers here are marked quickly, keeping the quiz moving, and prizes are awarded as bar tabs: $50 for first, $30 for second, and $20 for third. But the true value of this quiz lies in its community feel. It’s a place where friendships deepen, families quiz together, rivalries intensify, and, much like Pint Night, the quiz becomes a ritual that breaks the monotony of the week.
Aksha’s Rating: 8/10
Cableways Quiz
he Cableways quiz starts promptly at 7pm, with tables generally needing to be pre-booked. The quiz is run by a dedicated and talented quiz-master, who takes quizzes seriously. He adds a good dose of entertainment to the proceedings, keeping the crowd lively and engaged, with the atmosphere staying fun without being overwhelming. The prize structure is the usual: $50, $30, $20, with a quirky twist of a prize for the last-place team. Overall, Cableways is a fun midweek option with an engaging quiz-master and some small, enjoyable surprises, making it ideal for anyone looking for a lively trivia night where you can show off your smarts, have a laugh, and maybe even claim glory or consolation along the way.
Aksha’s Rating: 8/10
Thursday Chips and Chatter
The Rope & Twine
The Thursday quiz at Rope & Twine takes place in a smaller setting with only 11 tables available, meaning bookings are essential. Unlike some other quizzes, the night almost always starts on time at 7pm and wraps up shortly after 9. The host provides unique touches, such as immediate feedback on the Ponderous Puzzle. After each round, she reads out the incorrect answers submitted by other teams, helping participants avoid repeating them in the future. None of the other quiz venues offer this, making it a helpful and distinctive feature.
The food is generally good, with several vegetarian options such as wraps alongside the usual pub kai. A nice touch is that every team receives a free bowl of chips to share, something not offered at any other venues. The quiz also includes small perks, like a heads-or-tails pre-quiz game with a free drink for the winner.
Competition is usually dominated by the veteran Mixed Bag team, though the quiet, focused atmosphere allows for strategic play and careful attention to detail. Prizes are $50 for first, $20 for second, and $10 for third, making the top spot a rewarding goal.
While the quiz is mainly attended by older, long-standing teams with almost no students in sight, the occasional presence of a student group brings a younger energy to the night. For beginners to quizzing, this event comes highly recommended. It provides a gentle introduction to the scene, especially for those who prefer to avoid the usual rowdiness of inner-city venues. Although the winnability is low, a diverse team with particular strengths in sports and games could certainly give Mixed Bag a run for their money. The two hours of quizzing can be intense at times, particularly for new players, but the welcoming atmosphere makes it easier to stay engaged compared to larger, more intense venues.
Overall, Rope & Twine offers a cozy quiz night. And with a host who keeps things lively in subtle ways, solid food options, thoughtful perks, and the rare bonus of starting promptly, it’s ideal for those who enjoy a strategy-focused, intimate experience rather than a high-energy, crowded setting.
Aksha’s Rating: 9/10
Moon’s Bar Quiz
The Moon’s Bar quiz runs on Thursdays, kicking off at 7pm, and tables typically need to be pre-booked due to the small venue. The quiz is run by the same person who writes the questions, which are read aloud to participants rather than displayed on screens. The format is more straightforward and compact than Believe It or Not! quizzes, usually consisting of five to six rounds and without ponderous or cryptics, keeping the pace quick and ideal for those who prefer a simpler, more grassroots quiz experience. For independent players, there may be opportunities to join an existing team, making it accessible even if you don’t have a keen friend group. This is the perfect quiz for anyone looking for a simple, focused, and no-frills Thursday evening of trivia.
Aksha’s Rating: 6/10
ADJØ Cafe
ADJØ has started hosting a quiz twice a month on Wednesdays, run by quizmaster Jamie Green. This quiz is independently written rather than through Believe It or Not!, giving it a distinct character. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served, so it pays to arrive early. The quiz begins at 7pm, (though the café suggests coming from 5:30pm), and usually finishes around 9pm. It follows a compact format of about six rounds with five or six questions each, and since there are no visuals, careful listening is key.
The atmosphere is cosy and welcoming, with an even mix of student and older teams. ADJØ is a café rather than a pub, so the setting is more relaxed. Teams swap and mark each other’s answers before handing them to Jamie to tally the final scores. Prizes aren’t the main draw here; the fun, competition, and lively community vibe are what make this one of Dunedin’s more intimate quiz nights, perfect for anyone looking for a friendly, relaxed, and community-focused midweek trivia experience.
Aksha’s Rating: 7.5/10
Beyond the Pub: Daily Quizzes and Online Training
Quizzing doesn’t stop when I leave the pub. In fact, those quizzes are just the beginning. Every morning kicks off with the New Zealand Herald’s quizzes: a 10-question general knowledge at 5am, followed by another at 3pm. To keep the sports brain cells firing, there’s the “Hat Trick” quiz with a mere three questions – just enough to make you question your intelligence if you miss one.
The Otago Daily Times quiz is my daily Everest: 12 questions focused heavily on Dunedin trivia. Geography, local history, even obscure street names; if you’re not from here, expect to stumble. Newsroom provides a 10-question test with more current affairs, a good palate cleanser for the brain. Stuff quizzes come in heavier doses: 15 questions each morning and afternoon, then on weekends, it ramps up to a 20-question “Weekender” on Saturdays and a 10-question current events roundup on Sundays. Lots of questions, lots of opportunities to feel smug or stupid, usually both in the same sitting.
For targeted practice, I turn to online quiz powerhouses. Geography? Seterra is the ultimate drill sergeant, testing everything from mountains and lakes to flags and capitals. Sporcle and JetPunk cover pretty much any topic you can think of, and they let you make your own quizzes, perfect for tricking friends or prepping to host. Lizard Point is another gem, focused on geography, art, world leaders, and politics, great for fine-tuning that slightly nerdy, “I know that random fact” edge.
Pro Tip: After a quiz, I review the topics we covered and note the questions we got wrong. Then I try to remember them and research the answers. It’s a great memory exercise, helps you strengthen weak areas, and actually learn things you didn’t know before.
Bottom line: pub quizzes are the performance; daily online quizzes are the training camp. Keep at it, and you might just leave next Monday or Tuesday night feeling like a trivia demigod.
Wrapping Up Dunedin’s Quiz Scene
From high-energy, student-packed nights at the Bog; to strategy-focused, intimate evenings at Rope & Twine or the occasional quirky twist at Cableways or Moon’s Bar, Dunedin’s quiz circuit offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, there’s a night and a venue to suit your style, schedule, and appetite for competition. Daily online quizzes and training keep your mind sharp, but the real thrill comes from live quizzing: the camaraderie, the laughter, the nail-biting rounds, and the occasional victory over a formidable team. So grab your friends, pick a night, and dive in. There’s no better way to test your knowledge, sharpen your skills, and enjoy the unique buzz of Ōtepoti’s pub quiz community. I hope I’ve shown you how to get hooked.
Flat Quiz at Home – Edition One
1. What is the name of New Zealand’s national sports museum located in Dunedin?
A: New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
2. How many innings does a team have to play in a full game of softball?
A: 7
3. Where is the only mainland breeding colony of the Northern Royal Albatross located?
A: Otago Peninsula, Pukekura/Taiaroa Head
4. In which sport did Greg Louganis dominate the world?
A: Diving
5. Who has made the most test appearances for the All Blacks?
A: Sam Whitelock (153)
6. Who won NZ's first Olympic track & field gold medal?
A: Jack Lovelock
7. Which building is the most photographed in New Zealand?
A: Dunedin Railway Station
8. Dunedin is home to New Zealand's first authentic Chinese Garden. How many other such gardens exist outside China?
A: Two, one is in Portland, USA, and the other is in Vancouver, Canada.
9. Which iconic brewery in Dunedin was established in 1876?
A: Speight’s Brewery
10. Which famous street artist visited Dunedin and painted a unique Tuatara in Bath St?
A: ROA
Flat Quiz at Home – Official Scorecard
1–3 correct: Breather – barely awake, like surviving a 9 am lecture after last night’s pub crawl.
4–6 correct: Half-Pint Hero – solid effort, like finishing a Speight’s without spilling a drop.
7–9 correct: Otago Scholar – brains fully engaged, like cramming in the library before exams.
10 correct: Full Pint Legend – total local legend, like conquering Baldwin Street and the Octagon in one night.