I always come to this post shop, (my trade me sales go through here) maybe it is because this post…read moreshop is small and in the village but it is so much friendlier than any of the other post shops in central Auckland. The four staff that man this post shop are so helpful too. There is a bit of stationary and greeting cards, that sort of thing and an impressive magazine selection so I usually pick my Vogue and Harpers Bazaar (including the international air shipped titles from here). Best post shop ever.

When I first walked into the Mount Eden Post Shop looking for a birthday card, the first thing I…read moresaw was all the overpriced commercial Hallmark cards opposite the magazines. I thought to myself, "why is it so hard to find a card that is different to all of these soppy as cards 'for her' that are always covered in flowers and birds", but then I fortunately made the good move of going around the corner to the other side of the shop - I found much more tasteful cards that weren't pink or purple and covered in sickly sentimental messages. The Mt Eden Post Shop continued to go up in the ranks when I realised how large the range of magazines they had was; definitely much bigger than your average selection at a lot of other post shops and stationary stores. The guy at the counter was super nice and helpful, which I find is definitely a pleasant surprise at a post shop. Definitely would be a regular if I lived in the area.

Post offices seem to be the bane of most people's lives. It's never a pleasure, the layout, the air…read moreof impatience, the waiting in line - because there's always a line, isn't there? Mount Eden Post Shop is slightly different. Yes, there's sometimes a line, but more often than not there isn't. I think it's because the place is tiny - nobody knows it exists. Come think of it, the establishment is smaller than my bedroom. Cramped yes, but I like to think of it as cosy. What they lack in size they make up for in politeness and sometimes even friendliness - especially towards the regulars (ie. Me).

If you follow this route out West, it takes right up to the Te Atatu exit. It's a bit of a hike to…read morecycle all the way out to West Auckland from the city but worth it if want to have a peek around the peninsula. When you get to Te Atatu, you are better off going right to the peninsula as there is not much in Te Atatu South. Here you can have a bit of lunch in the likes of Luscious Foods or the Fuze cafe. You can go down to some of the secret beaches nearby and there is long walk trails by the shore - in case you get tired of cycling all day. You can also cycle towards the Tui Glen Reserve from if you take the exit at Te Atatu South. This is a beautiful route by the river and the air is so clear and fresh, you would be forgiven for thinking you are out in the country. The Tui Glen reserve is a good place to stop off as there are seats and you can stock up on water. A pleasant day out and you will feel great after the big workout.

Parnell Library is an absolutely stunning building located in the outskirts of Newmarket, just…read morebefore you get into Parnell. Even if it's not a book you're look for, to come and enjoy the fabulous architecture of this place is sensational. This library is relatively big and good to come to if you're after something not to specific. If you having something more specific in mind it might pay to head into the library in town as they have a larger variety, however the Parnell library has a great selection of good reads. Parking here is fantastic, as it is located in amongst a private hospital and a living store/restaurant, so there will be no shortage of parks. If there happens to be there is also plenty of street parking. If you're not a member of the Auckland libraries and would like to be, I would recommend going in prepared with two forms of ID that show your physical address. When you're a member you are able to loan books from any Auckland library.

The library is located in an enormous old building at the top of Parnell Road and houses a great…read morecollection of books from childrens to cookery and everything in between. It's not the biggest in Auckland but it has everything you really need, including wifi so I'd recommend bringing your own laptop rather than waiting for the library's own computers. With only four of them, it can often be quite hard to get online during busy times (although I have never found myself waiting more than half an hour to get a place) and they can be painfully slow at times. The staff are all really friendly and helped me out when trying to print off things and to order me in a book from another library in the city. There is ample amounts of parking at the building, which is great as the location is a bit of a climb!

Highwic is the Gothic colonial villa of a prominent colonial stock trader. The home was occupied by…read morethe family until the 1970s and the bought by Auckland city council and renovated as a museum. The rooms are decorated in a period style with some family belongings original to the house. When I arrived it was a quiet summer afternoon so the docent had the time to explain all about the family and life of the house. You could really imagine living here with the bustle of children (21 in total), balls in the living room and tennis on the lawn. That being said, knowing that a wealthy family in Auckland only had this kind of a home reminds you of how precious everything was in New Zealand at the time, so far from Britain. I toured the home and then strolled the gardens. I'd recommend a picnic lunch and a visit if historical houses are your thing. If in doubt come, it's a beautiful piece of history.

Highwic House is a wonderful illustration of what enrichment heritage buildings can bring to a…read morecommunity. Smack bang in the middle of the busy Newmarket shopping precinct, it seems a rather incongruous place to find such a place, but it has stood the test of time in this location, its been there since 1862! Up a steep driveway and surrounded by a lovely manicured lawn and trees, its hard to believe that you are still in one of Auckland's most bustling areas. The day I was there, I was there solely for a visit to the 'museum', the inside of the house itself has been preserved as would have been back in the day, which provides a interesting insight into this specific time period. I loved all the old antiques and things. My friend who came with me actually commented that she had been before as her cousin had his wedding/ reception at Highwic and she thought it was an amazing venue for that sort of thing. That it is.

The Hollywood Dairy has been part of Balmoral's culture for as long as I can remember. A family-run…read morebusiness, this is a really well-stocked and organised convenience store that is guaranteed to have the latest new ice block/chocolate bar the kids want to try. You can also get your usual stuff - bread, milk, even butter and sour cream, and the freezer is well stocked with a range of gourmet frozen foods. Down the back of the shop is a fully functional post shop that also sells a good range of stationery and office supplies. The best thing about the Hollywood dairy is its community feel - you are guaranteed a friendly face and warm greeting every time you visit.

It's a hard road smoking cigarettes these days. You can't even see what your buying , let alone…read morechoose between a range of different prices. Hollywood Dairy used to have an impressive behind counter display of tobacco and cigars, but now it is all covered up with a blank wall of metal. I'm sure the lack of the tempting display possibly does stop kids wanting to try smoking, but it really is annoying not being able to browse. However, Hollywood Dairy understand. The owner knows what a kick to the pocket buying them is, and always updates me on which one is the cheapest. They also sell ... pretty much everything. It used to be a post office, so they have all that kind of stuff under wraps, as well as the usual dairy supplies.

Ugh, this place is steeped in bureaucracy. It is possibly one of the most poorly planned public…read moreservice offices I've been to yet. First off the lifts are terrible, they are so jolty that I felt pretty uncomfortable going up in one! Then I arrive at the floor the office is on and I see a large line in front of me blocking my access to the office. That's because some idiot put a customer service desk right in the entry way. Smart. Then I join this line only to find out I would have to wait OVER AN HOUR to see someone at one of the booths. This is ridiculous, all I need to do is sign some forms, how long could that possibly take!? So I'm told to come back earlier the next day. I arrive the next day right on opening and find the waiting area already packed with people. There are several booths but only 3 or 4 of them have anyone serving people. After waiting a good 30 minutes for my turn the whole experience is only saved from a 1 star review by the apologetic and polite person on the other side of the booth. Get your shit sorted DIA, this is ridiculous.