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.

The team at Watersports South Pacific are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable type of folk…read more They specialise in kitesurfing and I bet most of them do it too, as they have a bit of sports-specific knowledge to offer. They also sell Stand up Paddleboarding, Kitesurfing and Wakeboarding gear, so if you're into watersports this is a good place to visit. Unfortunately they don't offer rental equipment, so if you're a beginner look elsewhere. But if you're a pro looking for the best of the best, Cabrhina and North are tocked here. They also do lessons for those wanting to learn the sport, with equipment included.

do NOT go to this beach. my whole family got bit by something and gave them red itchy bites just by…read moregoing in the water. Also we saw plenty of poisonous jellyfish which could've sent my babies to the hospital

Narrow Neck Beach is simply the most beautiful beach in Auckland !…read moreNear Devo, this beach is very large and quiet. Here, you will find clear water, fine sand not forgetting a wonderful view. But the photographs will talk better about it than a long explanation. Just the perfect place to go and relax after a working day.

Northbeach is really expensive but they sell the most trendy stuff. They are always coming up to…read moreyou and asking "do you need any help" which is kinda nice but can be annoying sometimes. They are really helpful and smiley and I find there are no problems when I shop here. They really should lower the prices tho. It's really expensive there. And I do find sometimes that they don't have what I went there for. But in all a good shop to get your stuff at

I was pretty excited to hear about North Beach finally being a bit (A LOT) closer to home when it…read moreopened up opposite Sylvia Park. The store is big and spacious and there's a lot to look at. They could probably fit loads more stock on the floor but the flow of the store is great. They've got a wide range of denim here for women, and since I live in jeans, it was a great sight. North Beach is also home to all your favourite surf brands and you're bound to find what you're looking for from wallets and dresses to boardies and watches. My first visit here was pretty good and I made a very nice investment in a new bag. The staff here seem really chilled out to me and are really nice to talk to, not overbearing but always willing to lend a hand, which is how I prefer to be served when I'm out and about. They also stock my favourite New Zealand brand, RPM, and this branch is one of the only two surf stores I go to in Auckland to check them out, because their service is far better. Unless you're after something specific, you could easily spend a good half an hour or so in here just browsing, especially since you's have to walk across the road from the mall, or drive to get there- may as well make the most of your trip! I for one am looking forward to making a trip here in the winter for some Huffer knits and Wrangler jeans- its your perfect all-season store.

St Helier's Bay Beach is just like Mission Bay Beach, but with heaps fewer posers. So if you'd…read morerather sunbathe, stroll, or swim without feeling like you're in a meat market, keep driving a little further around from Mission Bay and you'll arrive in the beautiful St Helier's Bay. If you can, get a spot under the massive trees that line the road just before the shops, otherwise be prepared for a ten minute stand down while you ventilate the car and wait for it to reach an air temperature cool enough for human habitation. There are plenty of shops handy to St Helier's Bay Beach, including some of the nicest cafes and restaurants in Auckland, plus there's a wee supermarket and a couple of great bakeries, so it's easy to make a day of it without dragging a picnic along.

St Heliers is slightly more peaceful than the Mish and is less crowded with teenagers and tourists…read morewhich is fine by me. Call me selfish but I do get a bit sick of sharing sometimes in Auckland - I remember when there was more than enough room for everyone and I can't help but miss that. The restaurants here are great and fish and chips will never taste better than if you buy them from The Fishmonger across the road and eat them on the beach. In fact that applies to most of the food places on this strip - while you can eat in if you want, why wouldn't you make it a picnic? Summertime is made of this and I only wish I lived close by.

I recently was out and about looking to buy a dive torch for a friend's birthday. I went to a…read morecouple of Dive places that I remembered off by heart but their ranges were pretty far out of my price range so I was still searching. I did a quick search on the internet and Performance Diver come out as one of the first. It was a little bit hard to find as it is tucked behind the big Flower Wholesalers, but I called the guy to say I was lost and he was lovely in helping me find it. When I got there he greeted me warmly and straight away showed me to their torches, They had a really good range, although not big it covered a large range of prices and so was perfect. He helped me get the one I wanted and all the connections and then asked what kind of diving I did. When I said we were planning a visit to the Poor Knights eh offered us a spot on their charter. Nice guy and great range.

I found this place quite by chance online, made sure my passport was up to date before crossing the…read morebig bridge ;-), they are located quite close to the motorway which was a real benefit for us Southerners. They staff were very friendly and helpful, talked with me exactly what I wanted the gear for and made some suggestions as they had quite a range of equipment available. For me, it was worth the drive over to the other side, I'll be back when I need some new sea toys.

I think the days of shopping at surf shops are behind me. Whenever I walk into one I get a wave of…read moreform 1 socials and trying wy to hard to impress boys. Still, for the odd thing, it doesn't help to look. I really like Amazon Takapuna because it's on the road, meaning not in a mall, meaning 100x better. I often waltz into here when i'm walking down this street, just to have a wee lookie. The staff are super friendly and chilled in the way you'd expect from a surf shop and leave you alone until you start to look like you might need some assistance, which i really like. There is a good range of boys and girls surf stuff in the fron and a pretty massive surfboard selection out the back. Theer are also wetsuits, shoes, sunnies, beanies and other surf and skate stuff. plus a few gears for the snow. The store is fun and vibrant and is perfect for the products. Being just up the road from Takapuna beach, it always feels pretty summery and relaxed in here which sets the scene nicely for the place.

This is such a hip skate and snowboard store located in the Botany Mall, which funnily enough sells…read moreskateboard and snowboard equipment and clothing; and not a bad selection either. But like any store that sells new season and top of the range gear, this store is sort of on the expensive side. Even so, it is probably one of my favourite snowboarding stores to visit. The guy who works in here is a really friendly person who was only too happy to offer help and advice. We spent ages having a yarn about the different snowboards that they stock as well as the advantages of some of the different boards that he has ridden. Good advice from firsthand experience.