A small shop for your immediate needs if you're driving through Gossamer drive to connect with…read moreeither Pakuranga Road & Ti Rakau Drive. I popped in here to grab some Eclipse mints (can't go anywhere without those) and found the shop attendants to be very aloof. When I walked up to the counter, I got no smile or greeting. Just '$3.20', the price of the mints. That was all he said to me the entire time. Didn't get a 'hello' or 'thank you', despite the fact I could've gone to a stack of other places, as mints aren't exactly a speciality item. If you're looking for a lotto ticket or some food item urgently, this place is fine. Just don't expect amazing customer service, because you will be disappointed.

I didn't know this place existed - just happened to stumble upon it in the heavily South African…read morepopulated capital of Highland Park. The owner, Isak, was especially nice, offering to describe each of the delicious meats that were on offer - everything from boerewors (cheese, garlic, etc) to spare ribs. He handed us a sample of their shop made snack sausages, which were delicious and clearly fresh as you can get. My eyes landed on their rusks (also shop made - basically these guys must have a small carbon footprint! haha) and a few imported snacks, such as fizzers and ghost pops. Truly a good selection of the best South African goodies. There's another branch out in North Shore if you can't make it out East, and really if you appreciate this sort of ethnic food, you will appreciate them.

A good place to stop by and grab an ice cream or that milk you just ran out of. Like most…read moreconvenience stores (or dairies, as Kiwis like to call them), it has most of the essentials of everyday life that you're likely to need between weekly grocery shopping. The service is fine, but nothing personal. Still, they go out of their way to please you and ask how the weather is, which is all you really want when you're in a hurry. The location is good, as it's just en-route to most places if you live around the Highland Park area. It also has a seat outside where you can enjoy your ice cream or cold coke before heading back on the road. A great addition for a hot summer's day.

This is actually quite a big dairy. They have all the usual supplies, like milk and junk food and…read morebread and things like that, but they also do Lotto, and have a massive fresh flower selection, and even have quite a decent grocery selection. And sewing and craft emergency supplies. Friendly staff as well who are keen for a chat. They have eftpos, and until recently have been the eftpos cash out service for the takeaway next door...

Being miles away from home, I quickly get cravings for the good old South African things, like…read moreboerewors sausages, Simba Chips, Rusks, Melk Tart - the list goes on. The great thing is, you can find all of this here at Inside Africa. Now, it doesn't really look like Africa inside, but an extremely patriotic shrine to the wonders of SA. A large South African flag (and a few small ones to buy if you'd like to stick it to your car), a few pieces of beaded jewellery, isles of your childhood favourites, like Zoo Biscuits or Jelly Tots, and a good old Cape Coloured man to give you a hearty welcome. He's always keen for a good chat and remembers you if you walk in more than once. It's a cure for home sickness and a great adventure for those with a taste for different cultures.

I use to come to this little dairy all the time when I housesit across the road. It's a pleasant…read morelittle shop and you always get a smile when you come in. What I liked most about it was the range of fresh bread - baguettes, ciabattas, vienna loaves. They were all really fresh and crusty when you cut into them. The Pandoro bakery down the road also does excellent fresh bread but this place was on the doorstep and I couldn't be arsed walking the extra distance. I also use to buy milk here but at nearly $5 for a two litre bottle, we are talking Parnell prices here. There's a good range of the sort of food available at most dairys but there's some unusual and quirky stuff here too which always made it a pleasure to shop here.

The only things I come to this dairy for are the bare essentials like milk and bread, and still…read moreonly then when I am desperate. If this store wasn't so close to my house, I wouldn't actually come here for anything. The convenience factor is the only attribute that saves it. I mean the store is old and dirty, and basically always has its fridges and shelves stocked with the most limited amount of items possible. Variety is pretty much non-existent in this place. You can choose from a few chips, chocolate bars, one flavour of powerade, and a couple of different soft drinks and that's about it. Quite poor really and the prices are high.

Used once. Staff were unfriendly. My child spent his pocket money and was charged $2 for a packet…read moreof 13 ten cent sweets ... so they have no problem exploiting children's gullibility for marginal profit. Never, ever, again.