Easy peasy. Park right outside, don't have to deal with oodles of people and BOOM you're walking…read moreout with the perfect gift for yourself or the men in your life. I love boys tees, jumpers, jackets and hats so even though Arcade predominantly supplies men's clothing (with the exception of the beautiful Sunday Misfits range) I still manage to find something I love every time. I am a self professed Moreporks junkie so love that the beautiful NZ made brand is stocked here. The latest range of Arcade shirts are also made in NZ too as well as Sunday Misfits so there are options for the sustainable shoppers out there. They have also recently started selling second hand Polo gems that you wouldn't be able to find after hours of internet trawling. Other brands are quality labels from a variety of places sure to tempt your wallet. If you head to Mercs for the sushi make sure you take a stroll down Cross St to see what these gentlemen have on offer

Before setting foot in the door of Arcade you'll see traces of skaters. The ramp outside, the…read moreVans-stickered custom table, the groups of guys in baggy tees and caps loitering at its gates. Don't worry though - they look more threatening than they really are. Once you make it inside you'll see this is essentially, a clubhouse. A clubhouse that sells skateboards and street wear to be specific. The place doesn't so much cater to the fairer sex, but if you're anything like me and love men's clothes, you'll be fine. Arcade stocks (amongst others) the likes of ONLY NY, Vic and NZ's upwardly mobile Moreporks brand. Get amongst.

This may sound a bit weird but this store smells so good; just like new store smell. FCO in Mt…read morewellington is absolutely massive! There is nowhere else you need to go for fishing, camping and other outdoor equipment. If these guys haven't got it, then it doesn't exist. The fishing section is amazing, shitloads of rods, shitloads of reels and everything in between. Sean, the fishing specialist in there is such a nice guy and really really helpful. My friend was wanting to buy a new surfcasting rod, and Sean was happy to spend probably about 20 minutes going through all the different models, discussing the pros and cons, as well as answering all questions that we threw at him. He obviously knows what he's talking about and is quite an experienced fisherman. He offered to spool the newly purchased rod and we were off, with less cash in our pockets but priceless knowledge.

Walking into a golf store is quite intimidating, and the Golf Warehouse is no exception. This place…read morescares the shit out of me for some reason. I enter this shop and instantly get disoriented. But the staff are a good friendly bunch who are always willing to help. It's impossible for me to leave the store without making a purchase (well I guess I go here with that intention from the beginning). The super discounted bargain bins near the entrance of the store are usually pretty sweet if you can find something. This place exists for all your golfing needs. They have these cool indoor driving ranges at the back of the store where you can test out the equipment before buying it. I don't know much about golf, but buying an expensive club that you later find you cannot hit well is more than just annoying.

Working Style, as the name would suggest, is for the man who wants to look right in the work…read moreenvironment. With no corners cut, this is where the business man can go and know that not only will they get the right cut suit, they will get the shirt, the tie, the socks, the shoes, and the cuff links. My marvellous suited man tells me that there is no chance of him falling for a sexy sales assistant as waifish men in tight suits just aren't his type, however, he would trust their taste any day over 'a young girl who doesn't know what she is talking about'. Occasional deals come up, but if you want to look in the right season don't wait. Don't expect to get change out of $1500 for a suit, and shoes are in the $300's. Not a discount store. The decor is old fashioned and luxurious and makes the man feel special. As would be expected there is a tailoring service, my Mr Suit has actually lost some weight so he thinks he might wrangle the tailoring on the suit he got there free of charge, however I am not so sure.

Working style is a menswear store with a big focus on classy classics. New seasons suits, jackets…read moreand shirt/ tie combos are what they excel at: from business to smart-casual. The staff are well groomed and, as a bonus, easy to talk too. The interior of the store is made that bit more suave by adding leather chairs and using a pool table as a display table. My attention was caught by a measuring tape draped over a mirror which is an absolute essential in any store specializing high quality, and therefore high priced, jackets or suits. If your wallet allows it, you will be looked after and rewarded with quality outfits.

Fantastic level of safety, I would trust my 83 year old mother to this team. Great success seeing…read morethe rare effect. Don't forget shoes that go in the water or be ready to step in mud to get into the kayak's.

You ask any Kiwi if they've heard of Mr Vintage, and I guarantee you 75% of the time, ALL of them…read morewill know about them. They're primarily all about t-shirts, men's, women's, kid's, but have branched out as the years go on, hoodies and singlets to baby onesies, cushions and jewellery, all with a distinctly kiwi twist. The best thing I love about them is the identity they put into everything they do, it's always uniquely kiwi, and always damn funny!

Mr Vintage is classic kiwi humor and culture at its arty best- presented in the form of up to the…read moreminute t shirt designs. I do have a number of cool tees and singlets myself, and love how original each piece is, I have yet to walk down the street and see a mirror image of mine yet, although I know they are out there! Not only does Mr Vintage sell eye catching t shirts for adults, there are a few kids tees too! My son rocks the Ma is White Infant design and really how adorable are our kiwi kids in real kiwi designed clothes! The best. Mr Vintage is a super neat store if your looking for that slightly creative cool gift, if your not after clothing, they also have a great choice of other items; really vibrant cushions, crazy bright clocks, and four square Warhol coffee cup's to name some stand outs. Always on top of the game with the latest saying, they are just O for awesome!

As a reluctant shopper, Co-Lab, an offshoot of the Nike Britomart store, is one of the few stores…read morein Auckland I will visit. Positioned in Auckland's newest mecca of shopping, Britomart, Co-Lab offers a fresh mix of streetwear including Nike SB, Converse and Hurley. Although it has a surf and skate feel, I find this sometimes helps when buying clothes and you can often get more comfortable and suitable attire for unexpected activities (i.e. going for a bmx or playing soccer when you're least expecting it). The service is extremely friendly and are never afraid to suggest another store, if they know what you are looking for. As with most places in Britomart, parking is a nightmare/expensive so the best option is to just fork out for the adjacent parking building next to Les Mills, that is if you don't want to fluff around for what could be 1 or 20 minutes looking for a park in the surrounding streets.

Queen Streets Rip Curl store is better than most inner city surf stores. They don't take themselves…read moreas serious as some other stores, who think street wear is high fashion. Also, unlike some other brands, Rip Curl actually stock boards and wetsuits aside from their clothing label. While this might not be super important on Queen St, it's nice to see a surf store that is more than a label. The front half of the store usually stocks the latest fashion and current sales, then the store bottlenecks at the counter and sunglasses section. Upstairs houses the majority of the surf related paraphernalia. Staff tend to be quite clued up and friendly. A great spot to pick up some cheap but sturdy jandals during summer or look at the latest big production surf video.