Watching NZ play Australia in World Cup cricket. Couldn't get tickets to the game so had lunch at…read moreMamak and now am at Vulture's Lane. Seems to be the place to be. Massive selection of beers and nachos are $5.00 today. Had a pint of Garage Project and now thinking about a pint of 8WiredSemiconductor!

A charming little lane off Queen Street with lots of good bars and other shops of interest. It's…read morethe little lanes like this that make the CBD interesting and offer welcoming relief from the blandness of Queen Street. There's a few good bars, namely The Belgian Beer Cafe; O Carrolls Irish bar and the best of all: Queensferry Hotel. The first time I came here in 2007 (on holiday) I recall browsing in a cool record store and buying a Bob Dylan album. That store is gone now but it indelibly marked Vulcan Lane as one of the cooler places in the CBD. The Vulcan cafe is a good spot to watch the people go by and another useful addition to the lane is Wishbone Deli. In case you haven't read my review, it's got a great selection of pastas and risottos which are great if you are on the go. A bit of cult place to Aucklanders, there's a lively vibe here and there is always something going on.

Since when did craft fairs become sooo cool? I'm pretty sure that back in the day craft fairs were…read morejust full of knitted jumpers and painted eggshells. Well, that is certainly not the case these days. At Crafternoon Tea specifically, you'll find cool terrariums and succulents, beautiful prints of pencil drawn animals (look at the photos), modern jewellery and these adorable woolen hot waterbotttle covers (ok, so that's sounds a little nanna-ish but trust me, they're cool). The fair runs one Saturday a month from 10am - 2pm in the old church at the top of Bond St. Head along first thing and then stop in at one of the many cafes nearby to refuel. Perfect Saturday morning activity!

Crafternoon Tea is such a good market to visit. It's held in Kingsland in the Trinity Methodist…read moreChurch Hall in Kingsland, a great hub for lots of creative and crafty people. It's usually packed with loads of stalls and people milling about them. There's everything from soap, to clothes, cupcakes, jewelry and more. And the best thing about it is that anyone can have a stall for around $30. However, they stress that it needs to be handmade or retro and nothing imported can be sold. I think this is such a good idea to keep the market, well, a market. It's so great to see local people using local resources to create awesome Kiwi products. They also have lots of tutorials on their website that show you how to make some of your very own handmade delights.

I have to say, as free events go, this has to be one of the best I've been to, be that here in…read moreAuckland or back in Blighty (to be honest, the council would have charged for this kind of event back in the UK). The imagination behind the installations at this years Art in the Dark was amazing, with so many of the pieces having my wife and I going "wow". I had no idea that Western Park was so big, as I've only ever passed the park from Ponsonby Road. The event organisers made great use of the space and really showed off the natural beauty of this park. Although, better lighting on some of the footpaths may be something to think about for next year, especially the paths being lifted up by stretching tree roots. From the very cool QR Code mobile to the giant fish riding around on cycles, we very much enjoyed our first time at Art in the Dark and look forward to next years.

I feel like I'm a couple of years late to the Art In The Dark party…read more.. Awesome idea - wander through Western Park in the dark, check out light installations for FREE. The only problem was it was waaaay too busy. Painfully so. The line moved at a snail's pace and with people packed in like sardines it was rather claustrophobic. This was my first time to Art In The Dark so I don't have a point of comparison but I think it was particularly bad this year because of the weather. It had been raining, hard, for a couple of days beforehand so you couldn't leave the paths without the risk of falling over, which we saw several people do. Hilarious, when it's not you... Also, the bad weather meant that come Sunday (the last day and also the first break in the miserable weather), every man and his dog were there. Plus we went just after it got dark. Rookies. My recommendation is to go a little later, after all the kids have gone to bed. I think it's awesome that Auckland plays host to annual free events like this and it's unfortunate that the weather didn't play ball but I can't help that think that perhaps it's time they moved to a bigger (and flatter) park.

A lovely place to visit and walk around the gorgeous lush tropical like native NZ gardens and walk…read moreto the top of the hill and look at the amazing views over Auckland and out to Devenport and further. There is even a resident hen, and gold fish in the pond, which gives the place a lovely homely feel. The entry store has some great gifts too.

I came here for the first time with a couple of my girlfriends late last year. I didn't even know…read moreit existed to be honest but it does, this beautiful garden in the middle of the city. We came around the end of tulip season but still got to see the tulips and so many other beautiful flowers as we wandered through the gardens for over an hour. There are also native birds which you can hear singing amongst the trees, it is really idyllic. There is also a waterfall and if you want to take your walk to the next level a path that requires 'appropriate footwear', worth it though for the view. Eden Garden is a nice place to visit, even if just the once so you can experience the beauty of nature that lay hidden within Auckland city.

I probably like Milford park more than the average punter because I grew up down the road…read more Throughout my childhood, I spent many a day at Milford Park climbing the trees, playing BYC and go home stay home. Trip down memory lane aside, Milford Park is still a great spot to bring the kiddies. There is a freshly painted, bright blue playground, toilets, BBQ pits AND the Beach is right next door. Not to mention in Summer there is frequently concerts or outdoor movie screenings. Oh, and for all those runners out there every Wednesday night there is a fun run that leaves from the Milford Cruising Club in the park and goes to Takapuna and back for only $7 ($3 for kids), free drink included!

I shouldn't review the park as high as I would prefer to keep this to myself - but better to be…read morehonest. A good little suburban park - good parking, safe kids playground, beach volleyball courts and the beach a hop and a skip away. The Creek provides a bit of action if the tide is in as the yachts and fisher boats trailing and out over the 4 hours of tide. Good takeouts and coffee close by in Milford and it is not surprising the number of people who get fish and chips from PJs (another secret) and eat them on the picnic tables worth a visit

Right beside Morningside train station is some of the best graffiti art in the area. More than just…read moretagging, these images link and overlap in interesting and creative ways, livening up otherwise boring and ugly cement walls. One wall is a mixture of images, including an evil octopus, house on the run and demonic kitty-person, while around the corner is a portrait style masterpiece of a woman with traditional pacific designs weaved around her. This graffiti artwork reflects the multiculturalism of Auckland and also the talent of our young graffiti artists. It may not be worthy of the Art Gallery, but I love seeing local talent and creativity displayed on the streets and in some ways by being right by a train station, these walls are the best gallery of all. Hundreds of people see this artwork every day. Don't be the one to miss out, next time you're in Morningside check them out.

Khartoum Place is a square situated between Kitchener and Lorne St in the heart of Auckland city…read more It is right beside the Auckland Art Gallery and is just as worth a visit as the gallery is. The Place is characterized by a multi-level waterfall and paintings of the Women's Suffrage Movement - a part of history very important within New Zealand, as we were the first country to give women the right to vote. This pedestrianed square therefore acts as a memorial to women's suffrage. Not only is a Place the quickest way to cut through from the university to Queen St, it is also a lovely place to meet friends for lunch or coffee. A downside however is that it doesn't get much sun so it can be quite nippy there in the late afternoon. I recommend taking a jumper and grabbing a hot drink from the Esquires cafe located directly opposite the Place.

Nestled between Lorne Street and Kitchener Street beneath the Art Gallery and Albert Park beyond,…read moreKhartoum Place is perhaps my favourite public square in Auckland. The surrounding buildings give the square a feeling of being a semi-enclosed outdoor room, while the two large plane trees set in the middle of the square always keep it feeling cool and secluded. It's somehow serene in a way that belies its central city location, and ever so slightly grungy with the arty types (and homeless) that often occupy the space. The stairs that take you up to the Art Gallery are a tiled artwork/water feature commemorating the Womens' suffrage movement, so there's even a bit of history built in. In short, this little square has character in spades - great place to just sit and people watch.

I had no idea how popular Movies in Parks was. I mean, compared to Silo Cinema it's not that huge…read morebut that's a good thing as it means you don't have to show up 2hours before the movie just to get a good spot! Movies in Parks starts in Late Jan and runs through to April, with a movie almost every Fri/Sat and sometimes Thursday! Normally they are family-friendly options although tonight I went to The Great Gatsby, which i'm not sure kids would enjoy! The venue changes each night so make sure you check their website to see when they are coming to a park near you!

Movies in Parks is organised by the Auckland City Council and the local community boards around the…read moredifferent areas of Auckland. I have enjoyed watching movies in Grey Lynn Park and Dudding Park, beautiful relaxed outdoor setting, just grab a picnic blanket or bean bag, some drinks and food snacks, and head over to your local park, if there is a film showing on either a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Films usually start around 7-8 pm, and if it's a rainy night then they have a rescheduled day too. There is always a stall or two serving coffee and snacks to keep you energized through the film. The kids always enjoy the film selection as well, fun family friendly flick's, and sure to keep young and old happy.

Awww how I wish we had something like this in Hawaii. ALL the foods looked great. The smoked salmon…read morewas by FAR the best I've had. So delicious, wish we had bought more! But it was our last night in Auckland. Some of the extras actually made the journey with us to Queenstown. Enough vendors to get your fill on the spot as well as to go. A nice assortment of foods that you still need to prepare, sides, breads, smoothies, etc. Worth a visit as a local or a tourist!

Voted Auckland's best food market by a local newspaper, La Cigale French Market is held every…read moreSaturday from 8 AM to 1:30 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 1:30 PM. This market is inspired by the wonderful food markets found in France. This market didn't exist when I lived in New Zealand in 2003, but I figured it would be an eye-opening experience to compare and contrast the Otara Polynesian Market. This market is just a 20-minute drive from the Otara Market, but will feel worlds away with its much pricier food options, perfectly primped dogs, live jazz performances and wine bars. If you're into high-end experiences, this will be your jam.

LOVE what Aucklands been up to lately! I feel like over the past decade and particularly the last…read morefive years we have transformed into a cool city with lots of great public spaces. Silo park is the epitome of this with it's markets, free concerts, free dance lessons on a Sunday, basketball hoops, water features and much more! They also have a great range of events in the Silos themselves such as art exhibitions with my favourite two thus far being the time lapse of NZ landscapes with accompanying music through headphones while lounging on beanbags and if course Tom Gould and Anna Delanys Two of a Kind exhibition. Added bonus that you can go for a fish off the rocks a bit further down Keep up the great work Silo Park!

Definitely a community park with a unique history, Silo Park in Auckland NZ is located right off of…read morethe harbor in Wynyard Quarter. When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, it was very much alive with children, many of whom were practicing to ride their bikes (some with training wheels, many were not) at the adjacent parking lot. It is so named because of the 7 silos that dominate the scenery around the park. They were built and used to store cement, but have now been converted into an art and exhibition center and movie screen for outdoor cinema. How cool is that!