This is a brilliant shop for dress up parties. But it does have so much more - whether you are…read moreafter a rubber chicken or supplies for your next crafternoon, Ike's will likely have it and at reasonable prices. As a relative newcomer to Auckland, I am pretty jealous a shop like this didn't exist in my hometown. It would have made dress up parties so much easier! Ike's is great for a fun look around, and for a funny quick photo opp (get a photo of yourself wearing the Fred Flinstone hat for Instagram)?! #dressup Their stock is ever changing so you never know what you may find at Ike's!

An amazing selection of party supplies, crafty stuff and ribbons and sewing necessities this place…read morehas everything. The staff are super helpful, a bit quirky and definitely add to the Ike's experience!

Most times I enter a toy store, I lie to myself and say I'm looking for something for my little…read moresister.It's not true. It never is and everyone knows it, including me. But this time I had a legitimate excuse. I had a mission and even the usually inattentive staff noticed me. My partner has never played Snakes & Ladders! While Toyworld is generally suited to children under 8 (Barbies and trikes and Lego and what ever the latest movie merchandise is), they do stock a range of board games and the very fun Nerf guns. The staff members know their product well, though they frequently stay behind the counter or quietly stock their shelves. And really, what kind of person can resist a twinkling sale sign in the window of a giant yellow toy store? For now, I have to convince my girlfriend how extreme Snakes & Ladders can be...

Before I developed my love for independant bookstores, Whitcoulls was my go-to for Christmas…read morepresents. A book (or board game, if I was feeling generous) for each family member and I was done. Despite being a chain, they've got a relatively good selection and the staff that i've interacted with seem to like and read a number of them, which is always a plus. Whitcoulls of course, also have stationery, magazines and a small selection of puzzles too. If you desperate for a gift, they're a one stop shop that's often open late but personally, now that we've got our own independent bookstore in Milford, The Booklover, I'd much rather support them and get a recommendation that's sure to wow!

This shop is a regular life saver for me. Be it a Kiwibank transaction, paying a car registration,…read morebuying a last minute birthday card (some are only $1 or $2 - wow!) and a pen to write in it with. The number of times Mitchell's Paper Plus has come to my rescue is countless. I don't know the names of the family that own this business (I'm pretty sure Mitchell moved on years ago) but they've been here at least 10 or 15 years and they are always lovely and polite to deal with. The pile of jigsaws/cookbooks etc out the front which are permanently on sale also make a good last minute Xmas or birthday gift.

Today, the worst experience happened to me in this shop. A salesman was not satisfied with my…read morelittle girl who is just 2 yrs touch the stuff in the shop and come to complain to me. His voice is so loud and his attitude is so impolite, even not say 'excuse me'. Children are naturally curious, I could not completely stop her but I already tried to. My daughter is not a naughty girl, and she just touched gently. Although she is not right, do you need so badly to us? In the past 7 years, I usually went shopping in northcote shopping center once a week. Most of time I went to this shop for paying the bills or a car registration, or buying some books for me and my daughters. But today's bad memory makes me will not go to that shop again.

In my opinion, the single greatest bookshop in Auckland and I'm loath to tell anyone about it…read more Brazzers jokes will not be tolerated. I'm secretly happy this place isn't open often and it used to be the highlight of my morning run, where I could disappear for an hour in unkempt literature luxury. Leather bound books with gilded edges and embossed titles everywhere. That musty, bookish smell. This shop is the epitome of the TV series Black Books. If you have seen the show you, will know the chaotic, wonderful displays and service to expect. If you haven't seen it, you don't deserve to know and will never fully appreciate this place. (This store is opened sporadically on the whims of the owner.)

Have you ever seen the British sitcom Black Books starring Bill Bailey and Dylan Moran? Because it…read morewill give you a far better idea of what this place is like than anything I could write. For those of you who haven't seen it, imagine the stock of several normal-sized seconhand bookshops all crammed in to one room. Organise the books less around subject or the alphabet and more around the concept of the pile, and then use those piles to prop up other piles. It's incredible. There are treasures here, if you can find them. The biggest downside about Brazier's, and for me this is a fatal flaw, is that the owner and his friends smoke inside the shop. Firstly, books are very flammable. Secondly, they absorb smells and retain them forever, so a smoked-over book is a smoked-over book forever. Thirdly, it's a very small and poorly-ventilated shop and it reeks of cigarettes and I can feel lumps growing through my lungs just going past the door. I like books but I'm not willing to die a slow, timorous death to find them. Sorry.

This is one of my favorite stores to visit for interior inspiration. Tesori has elegant products…read moredirectly imported from Europe hand selected by the owners and the store layout and window displays are like something out of an interiors magazine. Tesori has beautiful accent pieces from chandeliers to vases as well as mirrors and art work. There is a large range of kitchen staples such as glass storage jars and an outdoor area which has vintage looking lanterns and other interesting pieces. There is always something new in store so best to check in often as there are small quantities or often one off pieces that may be gone if you don't snap them up straight away.

My wife and I have enjoyed many lovely hours wondering through this store and we have brought some…read morebeautiful French antiques and other very unique pieces which has added that extra special something to our home. The store owners are friendly, helpful and offer excellent advice. This is our favourite store!

All booklovers have a favourite place where they can find books that were waiting for them. Book…read moreMark in Takapuna is my place. I love to walk in there and absorb the culture, the smell and the hundreds of years of toil that went into their creation. The art books impress, the biographies inspire and the novels make me realize what I'm yet to achieve. Maybe it is not in my future to write a novel, but at least I know where I can go to find great works of written art. For fans of military works, you will be impressed with their large collection, and for those simply wishing to browse, you are more than welcome. Maybe you'll even see me there.

ZABOL - four stars,but only just... A unique store I have…read morevisited a few times. Each time I am instantly drawn in by the shop window items, middle eastern treasures of brass ornaments and detailed exotic rugs, beautiful and traditional. Although the venue is small they also stock some traditional pottery with unique geometric designs, also stunning in my opinion. Think Moroccan. Lanterns, jewellery, a few bits and pieces but mostly rugs/kilims, which was my particular purchase aim. I have honestly however walked out empty handed each time, they are far beyond my price range. I will consider this a high end art gallery I guess, beautiful items to be admired only. They have an amusing sign on the front door regarding the opening hours. Lets just say their hours of trade are 'subject to change' regularly, and I can attest that this is very true! Weekdays are likely to be between noon till 5pm, but no guarantee's they will actually be there either. RING first! They are also happy to have you come visit/buy outside of these times but once again call and ask. They staff are very friendly and happy to help where they can.