Discovering Auckland, New Zealand

In my last blog post I took you to the first two cool addresses I checked out in Auckland – see it here. Now I am still in New Zealand, currently on the South Island, and I thought it is about time to continue with some more Auckland tips – most of which I have discovered thanks to my Auckland based friend and blogger Mel of Styled Canvas.

Little & Friday
Yet another fab breakfast spot if you like good, yummy and healthy options to kick start your day. Little & Friday has four addresses across Auckland. I went to the one closest to me which was in the buzzing Ponsonby quarter. Taste their amazing toasted organic muesli with coconut yoghurt panacotta and stone fruits – delicious. Plus they serve very good coffee and tea from local Kiwi brands.

Flotsam + Jetsam
A real treasure chest for interior stylist, hobby decorators and vintage lovers. I went to their store in Ponsonby, but they also have a bigger warehouse in Grey Lynn open on Fridays and Saturdays. They have wonderful vintage pieces, many with a special Kiwi twist. I got myself a little porcelain trinket with a New Zealand motive.

Everyday Needs
A fine boutique with a carefully chosen selection of homewares and garden accessories. Look out for some great pieces from local designers and artists as well as pieces from Australian and Japanese artists. The shop is run and curated by local interior designer and stylist Katie Lockhart. For the upscale kind of design shopping!

City Works Depot
Now this is a fab address if you are after good food, coffee and shopping – all in one former industrial complex now named City Works Depot featuring some amazing restaurants, shops and cafés. My favorite spot was The Botanist, a cool concept that combines a florist and plant shop with an adjacent café and restaurant serving delicious food. Another great place is Odette’s Eatery – definitely a great address for your Auckland trip!

Father Rabbit
Another name you should know as a design lover is Father Rabbit – they have two shops in Auckland, one in buzzing Ponsonby and the other close to Mount Eden (see below). They feature a beautiful selection of homewares, kitchen accessories, home textiles and more – all of which appreciate the simplicity of design and a simple but thoughtful lifestyle.

Città Design
Città Design is yet another great New Zealand homewares brand. They have a big shop close to Mount Eden (in the same building with the aforementioned Father Rabbit shop) and they run an outlet next doors where you can get lots of their products on sale. I actually got some great cushion covers in their factory sale.

Orphans Kitchen
A great address for dinner. This restaurant is located at the cool Ponsonby road and offers delicious treats, a cool atmosphere and their own rooftop honey (peek at the beehives if you go upstairs to the restrooms).

Mount Eden & other scenic routes
Now let’s round this up with a little scenic walk in Auckland. Mount Eden is a perfect choice to get an idea of Auckland’s vast size. The city is spread out to all sites and Mount Eden is the perfect spot for a 360-degrees view of the City of Sails. It is an extinct volcano and offers nice walking paths to its summit. Another great spot is a walk along Auckland’s waterfront, especially the vibrant Wynyard Quarter and all the way down to Britomart. From there it’s great to walk up the main shopping thoroughfare, the Queen Street, all the way up to the city’s landmark Sky Tower. And I also warmly recommend a good stroll along Ponsonby road and all the way down to Herne Bay where I was staying – fab restaurants, bars, cafés and shops all along the way (some are mentioned in this blog post).

I hope you enjoyed this little Auckland visit with me. Stay tuned for one more favorite shop from Auckland and more New Zealand discoveries!

Photography by Igor Josifovic