Tips and where to go to buy things, Auckland New Zealand
Delve into Auckland’s shopping districts packed with well known international brands, New Zealand innovative designer stores, contemporary shopping malls and traditional main streets in suburbs such as Newmarket, Parnell, Takapuna and Ponsonby. Auckland has some of the best places to go shopping in New Zealand. Whether shopping therapy is your idea of a perfect holiday or you adore checking out the local boutiques and arts and crafts stalls, Auckland has something for everyone. Second hand stores, recycled goodies to award winning New Zealand designers or art and craft galleries showcasing local creative talent. Amazing Auckland is a shopping heaven.
-
Souvenirs, heritage department stores, bookshops – Auckland city centre
- QUEEN STREET. A classic city central main street with local department stores and international brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and Hugo Boss. Queen Street is a shopper’s destination and a great place to explore. Souvenir shops are concentrated towards the harbour end of the street or tucked away in arcades. Top international luxury labels are housed in its lower, harbourside and on Customs St.
- HIGH STREET & CHANCERY is home to one of New Zealand’s premier book stores stocking an exhaustive range of books, maps and memorabilia about New Zealand. There are cobblestone plazas, tiled steps leading to city parks and the art gallery. Plenty of hole in the wall cafes for office workers and the dedicated shopper. A great place to grab a bite to eat.
- BRITOMART, one of the city’s major transport hubs, is home to flagship stores including A.C, Allbirds and FABRIC – an imaginative boutique full of carefully selected men’s and women’s clothing. Another hip destination for an afternoon cocktail or a slice of decadent chocolate from local delis frequenting the area.
No vehicle or want to get around. AT (Auckland Transport) has an excellent guide to getting around major shopping destinations in Auckland. It is superb and at your mobile fingertips.
-
Off beat, quirky – Karangahape road (‘k’ road)
Personality plus on K road with upcycled stores, edgy designers looking for a name and a number of stores supporting ethical trading. There are interesting souvenir shops with creative talent marketing kiwiana goods. The road is a fascinating blend of faded glory for nightclubs, funky shops and retro goods. High street fashion easily sits next to a strip club or an interesting emerging talent shares space with retro clothing. The area is known for its music shops selling sought after vinyl collections and instruments.
K Road is known for its cafes which can be pop up venues in buildings looking for short term tenants. K Road is part of the older inner city suburbs and within easy walking distance from the city centre. Or hop on one of the frequent AT public buses.
-
Urban slick, sophisticated Ponsonby
Ponsonby, once a run down inner city suburb is now a flourishing gentrified wealthy inner city suburb. Ponsonby is known for its clothing and homeware designer stores. Beautifully dressed front windows in retrofitted Victorian premises make for an attractive cityscape. There are a number of restaurants and cafes lining the main street adding to the shopping vibe.
-
Victorian charm – beautiful Parnell
A doyenne of city shopping the suburb’s shopping street was reimagined over thirty years ago into a stylist mecca for art galleries, designer clothing stores, handcrafted jewellery and crafts. Parnell Road is known for its Victorian and Edwardian villas now gracefully converted into stores, cafes and shops. There are a number of street murals on the side streets and a highlight for any visitor to Parnell is the Auckland War Memorial Museum and Domain which bookmarks the end of Parnell as it merges into Broadway and the suburb of Newmarket.
Heritage Parnell
Heritage Parnell has Ewelme Cottage. The cottage is a well-preserved early colonial dwelling, linked with the Anglican community in the Auckland region as well as a number of colonial homesteads and churches.
Parnell is New Zealand on a plate for shopping with kiwiana interspersed with galleries, eateries and character folded into heritage buildings.
-
Contemporary flair – Newmarket
The brash newer cousin of Parnell with the major shopping street Broadway a mixture of recent Asian food stores, several budget branded department stores, large furniture stores and side streets where designers and craft shops have found a home. Internationally known designers such as Karen Walker, Julietter Hogan and Kate Sylvester have flagship stores in Newmarket. There is a large contemporary shopping mall and with easy convenient access to Britomart and transport links Newmarket is a local favourite for Aucklanders intent on a shopping day. There is a very active Newmarket business association keeping visitors up to date with events and happenings. Check out Newmarket.
-
Mt Eden & Remuera
Brunch is your idea of shopping therapy then Mt Eden OR Remuera have a quaint village atmosphere with several cafes, delis and eateries making for a leisurely day out shopping and relaxing. There are local favourite bookshops, clothing stores next to second hand outlets and curios. There are several galleries representing local talent. Both suburbs are on commuter Auckland transport public bus routes.
-
Devonport
Discover a local favourite Devonport. Jump on the ferry at the Auckland viaduct and spend time exploring Devonport. Devonport has retained its seaside charm with a Victorian beauty gracing the promenade and a main street of Victorian era buildings. Devonport is known for its galleries and is a great place to stay. Check out Day trip to Devonport town, travel guide, what to do & see: Best Bits for inspiration about what to do and where to go in Devonport.
Road access to Devonport, due to the narrow isthmus, can experience traffic congestion. Take the ferry and relax and leave the traffic jams for the office commuters.
-
Takapuna
Discover a shopping destination with over 400 shops under the portfolio of ‘I LOVE TAKAPUNA’.
As befitting a major beach community there is beachwear, summer clothing galore and summer BBQ homeware goods. The Sunday markets are a well known weekend destination with artisan baked goods, emerging artists and designer stores all competing for attention. Intertwined with these shops are some of Auckland’s best cafes, bars and restaurants.
Travel pack information
Auckland transport – shopping – journey planner
Find Auckland’s best shopping
Some of Auckland’s most exciting shopping destinations are easily reached by public transport. Make traveling easy by using an AT HOP card, a reusable prepay smart card for buses, trains and ferries. The AT HOP card will save you money on fares, at least 20% discount off single trip cash fares*. Simply tag on and tag off.
Plan your shopping adventure with the AT Mobile app, which will help you find the quickest and most convenient way to get you to the shopping destination of your choice or use the easy to use journey planner.
Read more about places to visit and things to do in Auckland in our Auckland travel guide.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE
Best Bits travel guide is published by nzjane.com. Owned and managed by PacificJane Ltd.
Our editors independently visit tour operators, purchase tickets, pay for accommodation, and rate products and places. We are not paid to go on a tour or visit a place. We only make money if you decide to purchase a product through our website links. We promise to never accept free products from manufacturers in return for boosting their products. Read more about our affiliate programme in the terms and conditions HERE.
