Places of interest. Auckland.

Finally, I think I'm almost finished putting together the Auckland World Tour for Bloesom blog.

 Thank you for your suggestions!What do you think? Got everything? Ready to submit once the last photos are in?


Auckland isn’t really thought of as a creative city but I promise you we’ve got talent! Here are some of our talented people and their spaces you shouldn’t miss on a trip to Auckland. First off in the CBD, there are some great places to visit if you just head off the ever beaten Queen St. Head up the Canterbury Arcade and onto High St, making sure to stop in at Skylark Boutique. Pretty clothes, soda and sweets. It’s a small shop owned by local Kathleen Waite and the clothes are designed by the clever lady too.

Address: Skylark Boutique, Canterbury Arcade, 47 High St, Auckland CBD.

Photos from Skylark on Facebook.

Another more touristic stop would definitely be Pauanesia, (a slightly bias suggestions as I work here!) pop in here for souvenirs that are a little different. It’s been at 35 High St for 15 years and strives to support creative locals with a lot of handmade products. That's it's glowing window there on the right.

Address: Pauanesia, 35 High St, Auckland CBD.

Right across the road from there on Fridays and Saturdays is the Auckland City's Designers Market. A group of local girls who make some really great clothes, Flox pieces are favourites of mine.

Head up Queen St and into Myers Park for a more pleasant stroll up to K Rd. Warning the stairs at the end of the journey are a bit of a killer but do bring you right up into St Kevins Arcade and there is so much to see here! If you’re pooped from the walk grab a drink at Alleyluya, the great café at the back of the arcade. You won’t miss it, it’s always packed. Make sure to pop your head into Aunty Mavis, a NZ vintage retro store- it really has the feel of your mad great aunts place crammed full delights. A great taste of NZ bygone eras.

Addresses: Alleyluya, St Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.
Aunty Mavis, St Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.

(Aunty Mavis photos to come)

Right across the arcade is ‘Pleased to Meet You’ the new store of a brilliant NZ artist, Tanya Thompson, known as Misery. The store stocks grown-up and kids clothes as well as quirky plastic shoes and pieces of Misery’s art. It’s a visual feast with flowering vines covering the ceiling and Misery’s covered the walls in some incredible illustrations.

Address: Pleased to Meet You, St Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.

Just round the corner from St Kevin’s is a bright and mischievous store, Iko Iko, if you miss this in Auckland they also have a store in Wellington on Cuba St. They sell kooky designed products from all over the world, including a small NZ designed section too. You will definitely find something here that you can’t live without!

Address: Iko Iko, 195 Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.

Not far from here is Cross St where a new little store has popped up. A Tiny Space. Owned by a local graphic designer, Cara and her boyfriend they stock vintage and retro homewares as well as some very reasonably prices wears. Plus jewellery and cute stationary to boot!

Address: A Tiny Space, 22b Cross St, Auckland Central.

Back on K Rd there are plenty of great cafes, I love Revel. It’s laid back with plenty of spots to rest your weary legs. Find it on the opposite side to St Kevin’s Arcade.

Address: Revel Cafe, 146 Karangahape Rd, Auckland Central.

If you make it to Ponsonby there is a lovely shop there called Tatty’s. It’s a designer recycle boutique that is constantly full of our local designers pieces. Plenty of Karen Walker, Zambesi, Kate Sylvester etc, plus vintage pieces to choose from and all in brilliant condition. I recommend it if you’d like to take home some of our big name designers bits but at a more swallowable price!

Address: Tatty's Designer Recycle, 159 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby.

(Tatty's photos to come)

And a little further on from there, a brief stroll down Richmond Rd, you’ll get to Flotsam and Jetsam. ‘Where good goods are found’, truly, most of the things in here are found treasures and walking through the store makes me feel like I just might have found the friendly version of Borgin & Burkes from Knockturn Alley. A hike, but worth it, further along Richmond Rd on the last Sunday of every month will get you to Kraftbomb. The city’s youngest and edgiest craft market held in the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Rd.

Addresses: Flotsam and Jetsam, 168 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.
Kraftbomb Market, 510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn.

Photos from Studio Home Creative

Just a few more places to note. if you make it to Kingsland, just one bus stage from the city, make sure to visit Royal Jewellery Studio (NZ designed modern jewellery), Fly by Night (another brilliant vintage/retro store, that only holds short leases and ‘flys by night’ between them so please check if they are still here!) and to eat here absolutely you must go to Shaky Isles or Fridge, both equally as delicious as each other and right across the street from one another. Good luck making the decision! Kingsland is also home to the great Crafternoon Tea market held the 3rd Sunday of every month right by the shops in the at the Holy Trinity Church, cnr. of Sandringham and New North Roads.

Addresses: Royal Jewellery Studio, 486 New North Road, Kingsland.
Fly by Night, currently at 500 New North Road, Kingsland.
Shaky Isles, 492 New North Road, Kingsland.
The Fridge, 507 New North Road, Kingsland.
Crafternoon Tea, oly Trinity Church, cnr. of Sandringham and New North Roads.

Salvage is a beautiful vintage fabric and haberdashery store owned by local creative, Kay Wooff. Everything in here is worth owning, all hand picked by Kay. It stands right next door to Crystal Palace, a small theatre popular in the 1920’s, it’s closed but still stands, and the most brilliant vegetable and herb garden, have a peek over the fence down at it.

Address: Salvage, 537 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden.

Phew, nearly there. A stroll to Victoria Park is a must if you are in the city- it’s our second biggest inner city park and my absolute favourite café lives near by.Queenies Lunchroom! It’s so picture perfect with delicious muffins, macaroons and good coffee. Get to it by walking behind the large New World Supermarket and up Spring St.

Address: Queenies Lunchroom, 24a Spring St, Freemans Bay.

Another (I swear this is the last one) café/store worth stopping into in the city is Deus Ex Machina, it’s new and still a lot of Aucklander’s don’t know it exists yet. A motorcycle shop, café and gallery, it’s huge and in one of the old sheds just down towards Victoria Park from the Sky Tower.

Address: Deus Ex Machina, Shed 5, 90 Wellesley St, Auckland CBD.

Well I think that covers it and I hope there is a little something for everyone. Come visit us!

PHEW!