Welcome to part two of our blog series looking at the top shopping destinations in Auckland! In this edition, we delve in to two different types of shopping budgets and the hidden side streets of Queen Street!
Onehunga
For those like me that sometimes need to shop on a budget, Onehunga will be a paradise for you. Located here is arguably one of the country’s biggest and best outlet malls that feature all the big-brand names from Barkers, Overland, Glassons and more. This mall is filled to the brim with discounted outlet stores that will please all fashion-forward people, and includes a food court for when spending all your hard-earned cash works up an appetite!
Also located in Onehunga is Auckland’s most famous second-hand bookstores: Hard To Find. This famous store is packed to the brim with rare and collectable books to common and affordable paperbacks, with over five hundred thousand books in their depository. Located in a Vintage two-story house, the experience alone of exploring this shop is worth the visit.
Britomart
On the opposite end of the affordability scale, we have Britomart. Located at the bottom of Queen street near the Warf, this shopping inlet is packed to the brim with designer boutiques, award-winning eateries, and classy bars. You’ll find some of New Zealand’s top designer brands located here including Karen Walker, Katherine Wilson, Juliette Hogan, and Taylor as well as hot international brands such as M.A.C Cosmetics, Lululemon, Ted Baker, and Chanel.
But it’s not all boutique shopping here, Britomart has made a name for itself with its exquisite eateries and bars that can please all pallets. Including the hidden New York style bar Caretaker, Ortolana a chic casual dining experience, Milse a dessert restaurant with mouth-watering treats and L’assiette, a little French café with a lot of flavor.
Queen Street
Queen Street is considered the heart of the city for its busy footpaths and many hidden alleyways packed to the brim with stores to explore. One of these such streets is High Street which features an array of top designer brands for both men and women. This tiny one-way street dedicated to everything a man needs for business and pleasure including two suit shops (Barkers and Crane Brother), a classic close shave barber, and a decent shoe shop (Merchant Man). But don’t fret ladies, there is plenty of shops for you to explore as well, including Ricochet, Ruby, Decjuba and Untouched World.
Federal and Elliot streets also connect off Queen Street and offer a more relaxing experience if you are looking to unwind while on holiday. This includes the East Day Spa and Bliss Reflexology which both offer massages and new ways to relax, leaving you refreshed for the rest of your visit!
Auckland has become a haven for shopping, but with a city so spread out as ours, its sometimes easy to get lost or not know where to go, so in our new two-part series we have done all the digging, research (and a bit of shopping) to report to you an in-depth look at what Auckland has to offer in retail!
Sylvia Park
Sylvia Park is renowned for its shopping experience, arguably the biggest shopping complex in the country, Sylvia Park offers everything a shopper needs from food, movies, to all the major retail brands and some international brands that are currently only exclusively located within the mall. You could easily waste a half a day here, send the kids to see a movie at the Imax Hoyts movie theatre while you take in the bevvy of shopping brands at your feet, and once you’ve finished, the food court has a selection of international and local food offerings to sink your teeth into.
The mall is also going under a huge expansion that will be open at the end of the year, so be sure to keep your eyes on this one. This one is easy to get to as well as it is a major stop for both bus links and trains.
Ponsonby
The self-described ‘Auckland Hippest Strip’ has a lot to live up to, and when it comes to shopping it goes above and beyond this title – especially if you are into fashion. When we say this suburb has clothes for all ages we aren’t kidding, there are baby boutique clothing stores, vintage and second-hand clothing stores and all the trendiest woman’s clothing.
Ponsonby Road is a bevvy of local and international clothing brands, including Karen Walker, Smith & Western, Miss Crabb, Suprette, Revie, and so, so much more. The vintage stores in Ponsonby also have the best hand selected offerings in the city including Tattys, Encore Fashion Recycle, and Vintage Vintage. If all that shopping builds up an appetite, there is a selection of award-winning restaurants and bars to choose from as well.
Parnell
This tiny little village located on the outskirts of the city centre is a wonderful place to kill a few hours, not just to take in a beautiful vintage Auckland location, but also to take in the hidden gems that lie within. Parnell is famous for its art galleries that showcase both international and local works, the Alan Pankhurst gallery and Black Door Gallery are high recommendations.
If you’re looking to spruce up your home with a few new pieces of home décor, then look no further than Parnell, it’s a local destination for original and quirky pieces handmade by locals, BARAN DE BORDEAUX offers a selection of sought-after antiques and orso de’ Fiori has a range of accessories and homewares perfect for gifts. And once you have done all your shopping, be sure to treat yourself to the famous chocolate boutique – Bill Clinton visited, and he loved it!
Karanagahape Road, or K road as it is more commonly known as is a famous strip of road in Auckland for many reasons, it has had a mixed history both good and bad but it is mostly remembered and celebrated for its diverse culture and offerings. Located at the top of Queen street, we’re going to take you on a small journey down a stretch of road that has defined Auckland’s Diversity for years.
One of K Road’s crowning glories is its divine selection of chic vintage boutique stores. For all you vintage and second-hand clothing fanatics out there, you’ll want to make sure this stretch of wonder is on your to-do list as it collects some of the most sought-after second-hand stores in Auckland, including Paper Bag Princess, American vintage, Metro Retro, and Thriftway just to name a few.
K Road also features some of Auckland most diverse and famous restaurants and cafes that can appeal to all pallets, including middle eastern, vegetarian, European and more. Some of our favourites include famed local vegetarian outlet Lord of The Fries, a burger joint for vegetarians that is to die for, Carmen Jones is a staple of the strip that offers a large selection of local flavours and is frequented by many local celebrities.
A visit to K Road isn’t the same without a stop at St. Kevin’s Arcade, which features local small business, cafes, Auckland’s famous dive bars, and local art galleries as well. Lets start with the dive bars – if you are looking for an iconic night out in Auckland’s underground, Whammy Bar and The Wine Cellar are to local stalwarts that need to be seen to be believed, you can visit these bars most nights and catch a local musical act tearing up the stage and enjoy a bevy of beers on tap. As for the shopping you can choose between vintage American clothing stores, second-hand bookstores or support a selection of local small businesses offering haircuts, flowers, food, or massages!
K Road is most infamous for its nightlife, and you can choose from a classic location, or some newly opened venues, there is plenty to choose from! These can be the aforementioned whammy and wine cellar dive bars for local live music, Neck of the Woods for some quirky but modern happenings, the thirsty dog offers your classic New Zealand Pub offers and the famous Family Bar is also not to be missed!
So if you have a day to kill in the city and want to get the most local and diverse offering in Auckland, you can’t go any further than K Road.
For more information on This famous stretch of road, visit the Website.
When you see pictures of New Zealand being advertised or wonder what people from overseas think of our country there is a good chance that the Waitakere Ranges are exactly what you’d picture.
The crazy thing is that many people, locals included, don’t realise that these breathtaking views and walks are located just outside of Auckland city – 40 minutes to be exact.
But what exactly can one expect from The Waitakere Ranges Regional Park? To answer that question frankly, it’s the where the pure beauty of New Zealand meet – including pristine bush, thriving native wildlife, and rugged black sand surf beaches. Many who visit the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park describe it as having a ‘wild west’ feel for its breathtaking natural towering sculptures and tranquil serenity that you don’t quite get living in the city.
For all those out there who love a good walk in natural splendor, the regional park boasts 250 kilometers of walking tracks, surrounded by spectacular scenery. Notable scenic spots such as the Karekare Falls, are very accessible by foot – an experience for all members of the family.
For those looking to delve a little deeper into the ranges, we suggest the Kitekite track (45 minutes) which will take you on a tour of the best things New Zealand’s native bushes have to offer, including waterfalls, streams, pools and beautiful native wildlife.
In the summer you won’t want to miss some of the countries most famous beaches which are located At the base of the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park. These beautiful west coast black-sand surf beaches are famous for their long stretching curves and tumbling waves (they can be dangerous – so swim between the flags.) Be sure not to miss the huge cliff-top gannet colony at Muriwai and see majestic Lion Rock, an eroded neck of a volcano that erupted 16 million years ago that has important significance to local Maori.
