When I was a youngster, there was no bigger punishment than antique shopping, and now that I'm a…read morefree thinking adult, there is no bigger joy than the shopping for classically built furniture or wooden chests. Okay, not the biggest joy, but I like it okay. The Antique Shop in Howick is one of the better antique stores in Auckland, and they stock some of the best furniture and chests you can find in the country. Not cheap by any means, but you can find items here that you simply can't find anywhere else in the world, and even if you can't afford them, it is a great place to meander about.

The Antique Shop is really self-explanatory, but let me divulge to you the treasures I found in…read morethis little cave. Music records made before I was born, Bunnykins merchandise, quaint teacups and saucers, old copies of Charles Dickens and an old-fashioned merry-go-round horse. There were a number of stuffed dear heads and also a deer skull painted an awful golden colour, which makes you wonder if there's a taxidermist somewhere nearby. Not really my thing, but certainly someone enjoys that traditional English hunting decoration for their living room. As always, Antiques come with a hefty price tag, but you get what you pay for. There's a huge collection of jewelry, but the only really interesting thing to me were the brooches. It's so hard finding them these days! Only $20 each - not bad.

Now this place is a real find. It sometimes feels like these kinds of gift shops are everywhere and…read moredoing the same old boring thing with the same old expensive brands. Passionata though is part vintage treasure trove, part reproduction costume jewellery mecca and also stocks the MOR range which I adore (Marshmallow love) and other random homeware, gift and fashion items. Everything fits in with the romantic vintagey theme and there's a lot of really beautiful delicate dresses (bridal included), and Lady Gaga even shopped here and bought one! There's a massive range of vintage evening bags with everything from sequins, maribou, fake fur and a dedicated Oroton section. The jewellery alone is worth coming here for and this is my new favourite place to send my man when a gift-giving opportunity is on the horizon. Apart from the clothing, the pricing is better than most comparable shops and I'm very glad they chose somewhere so close to my home for their new location.

Any vintage or retro lover out there knows that to get the real deals, you've got to leave the…read morecity. To find quality vintage at cut price items can be a chore, but it's made all that more enjoyable if the little places you visit are clean, well laid out and staffed by friendly volunteers; Papatoetoe's hospice shop is all of the above. The shop is often inhabited by a lot of older people who bring clothes in and take more out, I think it's only fair to warn you that there is a large contingent of Miller's shirts in this store... much like there is in many other stores of this nature! The Miller brand isn't always the most desirable pick for a vintage shopper, but if you can dig through the collared nightmares, there are gems to be found. Amazing dresses, skirts and shorts for just a few bucks each. And because it's out of the hipster radius of 10km from the city, there's always plenty of vintage/retro stuff to choose from.

This is quite a good little op shop, with very reasonable prices. They have a fair selection of…read morewomen's clothing and a small selection of mens, for about $4 an item. They do tend to err towards the elderly fashions, though. A great selection of sewing patterns and a bin of sewing remnants, HEAPS of furniture, lots of kitchen appliances, crockery, glasses, etc. Definitely some good bargains to be had!

This is a neat store. Fairly large. Has a wide variety of items to offer. Pricing is very…read moreaffordable. They have furniture, clothing, books, games, CD's, DVD's, bric-a-brac, homewares, tools...and renovation items such as a kitchen bench. Park you car outside the store. Will be back

As far as Hospice Shops so I like to frequent them, I like to donate clothes to them and I like…read morewhere the profits go, to Hospice. More than one family member of my extended family has used the service of Hospice and we appreciate the amazing work this organization does. So as far as Blockhouse Bay Hospice Shop goes, this is a lovely one. Very room inside where the racks aren't too cluttered. I liked the bargain boxes outside and had a good rifle through them on this hot afternoon. Prices are right, cheap, and there is loads of stuff here, clothes, nick nacks, household effects, shoes, pet gear, you name it and the best thing is that there is always a different bargain to find because that's just the ever changing nature of op shops. Thanks to the hard working, really friendly volunteers who man these shops too!

What a beauty little hospice with two areas of home decor stuff, crafty things, a small kids…read moresection, men's women's and kids clothes, frames and pictures and more. Located on the main drag in Blockhouse Bay township it's easy to get to. Parking is out front if you're lucky or nearby. Did I mention the ladies in there are dolls who seem to enjoy volunteering there and are very happy to converse about the weather and life in general. What a wonderful addition to Blockhouse Bay and long it may live. Feel free to donate anytime. :)

This is a gem in Browns Bay. The clothes are fashionable and pretty unique. There's a small…read moreselection of sizes in each item so you can almost be sure you won't turn up to a party in the same outfit as someone else. I've recently done a few trips down in an attempt to find something awesome to rep to the 21sts I have coming out of my ears. I've yet to be so lucky. This is the kind of place you need to sift through the racks and you're either going to find something great that happens to be in your size or find nothing at all! I always head down to the back where the sales racks are! There are pretty darn good prices on some of the dresses. But there are also pretty horrendous prices on other things. Again - you have to search and find. My sister just bought a great bikini from here and a friend of mine was looking stunning last night in a blue peplum dress she found hiding in the sales rack!

It's only really recently that I even noticed Covet exists. Located on Richmond Road, it is not…read morelocated in a group of shops I would usually stop at. What made me finally spot Covet was this gorgeous cream chiffon dress in the window, and I'm glad I finally went inside! Covet is a secondhand/vintage store that specialises in all things pretty. And designer. Covet doesn't just stock any old secondhand clothing or accessories. No, Covet only stocks quality items that are in good condition, and many of the garments and footwear I looked at were by big names - Trelise Cooper, Mi Piaci, Jeffrey Campbell - there was no shitty Farmers clothes in this place! While the stock is undoubtedly lovely, the designer nature of the store does mean it is a bit pricey. Covet isn't a thrift shop - don't go there if you're hoping to pick up a new wardrobe on the cheap. But if you're after some designer bargains and an all-around nice shopping experience then Covet is a good place to start! Bonus: Taxidermy! There is some brilliant taxidermy in Covet. Though the thought of it kind of freaks me out, the little rabbits and deer that are in Covet really add to the eclectic, pretty nature of the store. And the peacock by the counter is amazing. Soooo pretty!

Covet is a sweet little consignment store in the Grey Lynn neighbourhood, right next door to Ripe…read moreand RIchmond Larder. The store sells on behalf of artists, crafters, jewellery-makers and people who have cleared out the wardrobes to make room for more. Some of it's brand new and some of it isn't, but everything is in excellent condition. The atmosphere is more boutique than second hand, with one side of the shop displaying hanging garments, and the other side housing a ceiling-high bookshelf with all manner of arts, crafts, ornaments and other bric a brac. Definitely worth a browse when you're next in the area, you might just bag a bargain.

I popped in here for a wee look after having driven past it a number of times. Inside you can find…read moreeverything, both male and female clothing, boys and girls clothing, toys, wine glasses, cutlery and crockery, books, house hold décor items, even large furniture items. This large store is a perfect place to come if you're flatting and need to find some cheap house hold items, or if you're one of those people who love to find antique goodies and get some decent bargains. Plus everything that is purchased from here goes towards the Mercy Hospice which is a great cause. If you have items that mean nothing more to you and you'd like to dispose of them, instead of thinking they're worthless, bring them down here and donate them to charity. It's a great cause and every bit helps. Located just before you enter the Ellerslie village, you cannot miss this lime green store.