How to get a root, the honest way
If you're searching how to get a root, you already know the problem isn't wanting one. Everyone has had the night where they've thought "I want a root" and had no idea where to start, while some mate of yours seems able to ring a root any night of the week. It's the gap between wanting and actually having someone in your bed, and for most people that gap is made of bad timing, mixed signals and a lot of polite conversation that goes nowhere. This guide closes it. No pickup lines, no tricks, nothing you'd be embarrassed to be caught doing. Just what works for Australians who'd like to get laid more often, with less mucking about.
How to get a root: find people who want it too
The number one reason a night goes nowhere is that you picked someone who was never going to say yes. They were taken, or after a boyfriend, or out with the girls and not looking. You can be charming, funny and good-looking and still strike out all night if you're aiming at the wrong crowd.
So the first move is to find people who have already said they're up for it. That's the whole point of a site like Root Buddies: everyone has joined for sex and something casual, and their profile says what kind. It flips the odds. Instead of one in twenty being interested, everyone is, and the only question left is whether the two of you click. It's the closest thing there is to a shortcut if you want to find a root tonight rather than next month. You can browse who's keen near you and see for yourself.
Write a profile that gets replies
Your profile does the heavy lifting before you've typed a word, so give it some thought.
Photos. Two or three, recent, in decent light. One of your face if you're comfortable, one that shows the rest of you. Nothing from 2019, nothing with sunnies and a cap hiding everything.
What you want. Spell it out. "Looking for a regular thing, can host weeknights, south side" tells someone everything they need. Vague profiles get vague replies, or none.
A bit of personality. One line that sounds like you. What you're like on a night out, what you'd rather be doing on a Sunday, a joke if you've got one. People want to root someone they'd also enjoy having a beer with.
The first message
Keep it short and specific. Mention something from their profile so they know you read it, say what you liked, and ask one easy question. "Saw you're after something after the pub on Fridays. Same. Where do you usually end up?" beats any line you'll find online.
Don't open with a body part. Don't send a paragraph. Don't send the same message to thirty people, because it reads exactly like that. And if they don't answer, move on without a sulk. People are busy, and there are plenty more on here.
From chat to an actual meet
The longer a chat drags on, the less likely you'll ever meet. After a bit of back and forth, once you can tell it's going well, suggest something concrete: a drink, a day, a suburb that suits you both. "Fancy a drink Thursday? I'm near Newtown, or I can come your way" is direct without being pushy.
For a first meet, pick somewhere public, busy enough to feel normal and quiet enough to talk. One drink, maybe two. You'll both know within twenty minutes whether it's heading back to someone's place. If it is, lovely: the walk back is all hands and stopping in doorways, and you'll barely remember getting the key in the lock. If it isn't, finish your drink, say it was nice to meet them, and go home. That's a perfectly good night too.
Tell a mate where you're going, have your own way home, and keep your phone charged. It's common sense, and it lets you relax and enjoy yourself.
Reading the signals
Knowing how to pick up in Australia still matters once you're sitting across from each other, because nobody here likes being worked on. The tells are the same as they've always been: lots of eye contact, leaning in, touching your arm when they laugh, suggesting another drink or a change of venue, mentioning that their place is close. If you're not sure, ask. "Want to get out of here?" is a perfectly respectable question between grown-ups who met on a hookup site, and the answer is rarely a surprise.
What you never do is push. Yes means yes, maybe means not tonight, and no means no. Everyone on here wants a good time, and part of a good time is knowing you can change your mind at any point. If you want to sharpen up the chatting side, our page on banter that gets you somewhere is a quick read.
Turning one night into a regular thing
Plenty of people get a root and stop there, and that's fine. But if the night was good, say so the next day. A simple "had a great time, keen to do it again" is all it takes. Many of the longest-running arrangements on Root Buddies started exactly like that: a one-off that both people enjoyed enough to repeat.
Once it's regular, a little honesty keeps it easy. Be clear it's casual, be on time, and be decent if one of you wants to stop. We've put together the unwritten rules that keep it fun for when you get to that point.
Where to get a root if you're in a capital
Every city has its own rhythm, and it helps to know it. Sydney is spread out and suburb-proud. Brisbane runs hot and early. Adelaide is small enough that your root might know your cousin. We've written up local versions for each capital, starting with the Brisbane way of hooking up and what Adelaide is like for a casual root.
Getting a root: quick answers
What's the fastest way to get a root in Australia?
Talk to people who already want the same thing. On a hookup site like Root Buddies, every member has joined for sex and casual fun, so there's no guessing whether someone is interested. Write a clear profile, message people near you with something specific, and suggest a drink once the chat is going well.
What should I say in my first message?
Mention something from their profile, say what caught your eye, and ask an easy question. Keep it to two or three lines. Skip pickup lines and anything explicit until you've both warmed up. A message that shows you actually read their profile gets far more replies than a clever opener sent to everyone.
Is it normal to meet for sex on the first meet?
On a hookup site, yes, it often happens, because both people joined for the same reason. That said, nobody owes anyone anything. Meet for a drink first, see if the chemistry is real, and let it happen if you both want it. If one of you isn't feeling it, that's the end of it.
How do I stay safe meeting someone new?
Meet somewhere public for the first drink, tell a friend where you'll be, and sort your own way home. Keep your phone charged and don't share your address until you're comfortable. Trust your gut: if something feels off, leave. Most meets are perfectly fine, and a little planning keeps them that way.
Stop wondering, start meeting
The hard part is finding someone who's keen. On here, they already are.