Dianna and Bruce have a great deal of knowledge and experience with jewellery and gold soveriegns…read moreand other types of collectibles. They are also very trust worthy

I found Abbey Antiques the best place to come to when the girls and I were looking for 21st…read morebirthday gifts for our friends. These vintage pieces are just so stunning and classic, they're never going to date and they're something stunning you can have with you for years to come. They have a large range of beautiful jewelry and watches; they also have some antique furniture, records, china and much more. It's not a very big store but there is still A LOT to be fascinated by and look at. The prices here range from inexpensive to quite expensive, but that's what you need to expect from gorgeous vintage pieces. If you're looking for something a little different from your usual mainstream items, pop in here and check it out, there are some real beauties.

I don't know how long this place has been around but it's like wandering into someone's garage…read moresale. There's stuff in no particular order scattered haphazardly about, some in boxes, some not. I walked in and had a good look around with the two women who I think run the place paying me no attention at all. I guess a lot of people just come to look. That's not to say it's not chocka full of bargains at prices cheaper than most op shops. There's "artworks", lightshades, plates, ornaments and a lot of other random homewares. It doesn't feel particularly permanent and the two large signs painted on the walls that someone's taken a lot of care with are actually from a previous incarnation as Lucy Mae Sparkle's boutique. Whatever, hopefully it will be around for a while yet. Bargain hunting galore.

If you live in or around Grey Lynn, you've probably seen the shop that sells secondhand items, cut…read moreprice trinkets and things that can only be featured in the "one man's trash is another man's treasure" section of homewares. Trouble is, no one really knows what the name of the place is, and generally just calls it "the junk shop". The owners don't appear to care that no one knows their name either - they haven't bothered to properly paint over the old fruit shop signage that still hangs above the door. Check my photo if you're looking for a pointer. If you're in the market for some cheap collectables to fill your home, this is the place. If you're willing to search throughout the store, or are even just lucky enough to be there at the right time, you might find something amazing. Otherwise, the place is generally packed with stuff that looks like it should cost no more than $10.

This antiques store has so much character. From the first moment you walk in, you get a whiff of…read moreancient and expensive things; much like the old smell you would get if you were to venture into your grandparents storage room. It is almost impossible to find what you are actually looking for in this store, it literally has so much stuff piled on top of so much stuff that I doubt even the owner would be able to locate a specific item. The dazzling glare of shiny trinkets and silverware is almost overwhelming (seriously so much silverware!). And just when you think you have reached the end of the shop, a small right turn comes out of nowhere and takes you into yet another room filled with antique goods. Everything here seemed to be so expensive in my opinion, but I know nothing about the price of old collectables. I just had a good time getting lost in this shiny wonderland.

Antiques of Epsom is a cluttered adventure store for people who like antiques. The have a mélange…read moreof exciting items to browse through including silverware, china, art bottles and cameras, instead of the usually sparse selection of bulky furniture. Most pieces have a descriptive tag attached or knowledgeable staff members nearby. I was disappointed by the way a staff member gouged at a fob watch with a butter knife when I visited recently but the shop is so much fun to browse I can't help but return, especially as I have my eye on a great pewter beer mug. Finding a deliciously old, dusty volume or conversational piece is easy in this comfortable antique store.

Oh my god I love this shop! It's a place to spend hours but sadly I don't have a lot of those spare…read morethese days. They call themselves primarily "costumers" because the quality and sometimes outrageousness of the vintage clothing on offer here is THAT impressive. The antique costume jewellery here is utterly beautiful and unique - and there's lots of it. Victorian Gilt stock textiles, sewing tools, ornaments and more but for me, it's a dress-up box of epic proportions and there's not another place in Auckland that does what they do here. The staff are so lovely and helpful and make you feel more than welcome to just browse and exclaim over the beautiful things.

The Christian Resource Centre sell mostly orthodox Christian books, under a banner of sections -…read morebibles (of course), a wide range of children's books, (and some not too heavy handed of the faith, eg. picture story books of C.S. Lewis' Narnia tales), biographies, (even Oprah has cashed in on writing one about her take on Christianity by the looks of it), plus lots more. They also stocked quite a range of CD's and DVD's on the shelves, none that particularly caught my eye, but there is obviously a market out there for that stuff. A few bookmarks and crucifix's with aphorisms that you probably would give as a gift. The lady behind the counter was friendly and unobtrusive with my browsing when I was in for the first time recently. I was a bit disappointed to not find any reprints of ancient Christian texts, such as the Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Truth, etc, or texts on theology, even some information on comparative religion has a market and would have been nice to see.

The Christian Resource Centre is filled with, as you know, Christian books, tracts, Bibles, fiction…read moreand non-fiction, gifts, DVDs and CDs. What you probably don't know is that a guy operates out of an office here a few times a week and has an amazing outreach to the homeless of Auckland City. He teaches them, feeds them and sometimes helps them find work. On the day I went here with some friends, we met this guy (who's name I can't quite recall) and he told us all about what he does and the impact he has. He also offered to pray for my friend who was travelling to Thailand the following weekend. It's that sort of love for humanity that makes you realize this guy is the genuine article and walks out his faith. It challenged and inspired me. Hope you bump into him. If you don't, there's some great stuff to look at here and enjoy. Don't expect to be blown away my the decor, but these guys have been around for a 150 years, so they are probably due for some redecorating.

This place is a dreeeeam and I'm even hesitant to review it on here in case it becomes too 'known'…read more But I guess any publicity is good publicity for the business owners, right?! Think gorgeous French antiques, refurbished furniture and oodles of atmosphere. I would buy anything and everything, had I the money to do so. If you follow them on Facebook you can see what new items they have arriving in store. You can often find second-hand authentic Tolix chairs, industrial-style lights and shades and gorgeous, reasonably-priced vintage bottles. They hire out furniture too - perfect if you've got a function coming up or even just want extra seating at home over busy periods like Christmas.

This place defines 'local knowledge'. It's so hidden, I walked past it everyday for a year and…read moredidn't know it was there. When I eventually discovered it, I was so excited. Filled with French antique delights, its like a Parisian treasure trove. There are tables, chairs, huge lights, rustic medicine bottles, and cabinets packed with hundreds of gems. Loads of cafes like 'Foxtrot' have their antiques as their café furniture and if had my own house, I know where I'd be heading to fit it out. When I talked to the shop assistant he said that they also hire out the outdoor tables and chairs for functions. They would be perfect for weddings.

This is a great place to have a rummage around in. It's big and filled with all sorts - from…read morecrockery to prints, jewellery, postcards, furniture, and vintage mangazines. It's a more approachable kind of antique shop, by which I mean, you can go in and actually find things you can afford, plus, it's not the kind of place that gives you that dreaded feeling in your gut that if you turn around too quickly, you're going to break something worth more than your earn in a year. Which is never that much fun, is it? I recommend coming here to sift through their excellent button collection, which they sell individually - so handy if you're into reworking vintage clothes or crafts of any kind. Also, they have a cute and extensive range of vintage postcard, which are great for making unique birthday cards from. The jewellery is also definitely worth a rummage.

When driving down Mt Eden Road recently the colourful chairs outside Koko Classics caught my eye…read moreand lured me inside. Upon entry I was greeted by a particularly friendly chatty woman who happily gave me a tour of the store. Koko Classics stocks furniture and eclectic objects - or 'objects of desire' as they call them - that are imported from around the world. Wrought iron letters, vintage clocks, taxidermy, wooden drawers, chandeliers, huge lamps, writing desks, ottomans, platters - the store has it all and I literally loved everything. Except the large zebra hide that was draped over the staircase. Zebras are my favourite animal and that was kind of hard to stomach! The beautifully large ornate mirrors were probably my favourite thing in store, though they ranged in price from $400-$1400, I might have to wait a while to buy one! Even though Koko Classics is a bit out of my current price range, if I was decorating a house especially one with large living spaces, I would definitely want to invest in some of the fantastic things this store has to offer. Tip: One of the most commanding objects in the store was a mounted moose head. It was huge, and apparently weighs over 50kg! It's worth popping into Koko Classics just to have a look!

If only I could afford to buy one of the gorgeous industrial style filing cabinets they sell here…read more I can't think of anywhere else that sells them and when I next have a spare grand or so I'm getting one. Not so much with the cowhide rugs, cushions and throws but each to their own. There's a cool mix of stuff here, mostly reproduction but no less appealing for the fact and the one-offs they do find are truly beautiful pieces. It's kind of industrial meets rustic meets gentlemen's club and I particularly love the range of brightly coloured metal chairs. There's furniture, furnishings, lamps and cool signage and wall hangings. The shop is a beautiful space in a gallery-like building and although you have to be a bit careful of the pedestrians (and traffic light poles!), there's a couple of carparks right outside.