Is one of my favourite stores to shop for anything to do with the outdoor. I love that Kathmandu…read moreTakapuna has everything from clothing, to shoes, tents, and sleeping bags, baby carriers, baby clothes, and so many cool accessories and knick knacks for your outdoor adventures. A visit to Kathmandu for me cannot be complete without spending a good hour roaming the store, looking at the sales items, and fining out the latest gadgets for camping. The cheerful and helpful staff make your shopping experience a memorable one, even though the staff may not know completely everything about every single product in store, they make you feel like they do or want to learn more about it anyway. If you join up as a member for a small fee, you are kept in the loop of the latest sales, and also get sent a catalogue once every few months. I really think Kathmandu staff are a really active and positive bunch and always enjoy my time in store.

I would like to mention the great service which I recieved whilst shopping here. I was preparing…read morefor a backpacking holiday, the kind of thing which Kathmandu caters for beautifully. The lady who was working asked me a few questions about what I planning for, she then walked me around the store showing me what she thought might be helpful. I ended up buying quite a lot stuff, and she managed to negotiate a bit of a bargain. Somehow or another I got my compact windproof unbrella for free, and she signed me up for the Kathmandu club, which actually cost me money, but resulted in an overall saving.

Whether you believe in the Bible's version of creation or Darwin's theories of evolution, both…read moreoptions confidently presents humans as land animals. And since I'm leaning towards the second option, it is millions of years since we've left the water, so there is no need to go back. But when a friend of mine invited me to go fishing, I could not decline, well not for the third time anyway. And how bad could it be drinking beer, catching rays and maybe even snaring a snapper or two... I prepared myself by going fisherman shopping in Milford, a bit of an oxymoron I know, but a necessary task nonetheless. I wouldn't know where real fishermen shop anyway, and Hunts is a great place to get all the gear you need. The owner was on hand to ask me unreasonable questions about what I'm trying to catch, where I'm going to fish and what rod and reel I'll be using. I explained it will be fish, in water and a long stick, but the expression on his face gave the impression he was hoping for a more definitive answer. I settled on a few items, and left looking like something between an American tourist on an African safari and a fly fisherman on a hunting trip in the Amazon. I caught two beauties, and my host none, ah the joys of beginners luck.

I used to think it was outrageous to spend $125 on yoga pans, but that was before I bought myself a…read morepair of Lululemon's Wunder Under Pants. I know what you're thinking - "I could get 4 (maybe 5) x pair of spankies from Cotton On for that price or even 2 pairs of Nikes" - and you'd be right but the quality of these bad boys is like no other. Firstly the material is incredibly breathable without being see-through. Secondly, they don't fall down when you run or god forbid, your trainer makes you do burpies. Lastly and perhaps, most importantly they're unbelievably comfortable! I am yet to purchase any other items from their range but I've got to say, I finally get what all the fuss is about. One final note - the service is outstanding. They have designated 'pant experts' who man the pant wall and run you through your options. They also put your name on the dressing room so the staff can ask by name if there's anything you need.

Dom from Rebel Sport, Wairau Park is a fountain of knowledge where sports shoes are concerned. My…read moredaughter needed a new pair of trainers and Dom was able to help, providing us with much needed advice. My daughter walked away confident in the knowledge that she'd purchased an awesome pair of shoes that fitted perfectly. Thanks Dom for your expertise. We will be back in the future all thanks to you. Cheers, Sue and Sophie

Whenever I need sporting goods or clothing I seem to end up at this particular Rebel Sport in…read moreWairau Park. It's a decent enough size to have everything you need, without being too big to even attempt wading through. The layout of the store seems fairly straightforward and I usually find what I need with little effort. Rebel Sport is similar to Briscoes in many ways in that you'd be silly to pay full price for anything in-store - there is ALWAYS a sale of some sort on so wait until they have 25% off storewide or better! No point paying more for something when it'll likely be half price come the weekend. There is adequate parking and although it gets busy on the weekends it's still worth a visit.