Jeep 4WD Adventure Park in Helensville lets you bring your own 4WD or use one of theirs for a two-hour extreme adventure, or all day drivers training. Guaranteed fun in any weather, you can even spend the day driving the first Hagglund Personnel Carrier ride in Auckland - the ultimate in thrill seeker’s buzz.

Around forty minutes’ drive from the city,Hampton Downs MotorSport Park is the home of driving legends, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come to stay and play too. They have regular public driving days where you can book in a few laps here and there, as well as racing experiences available depending on your badge of choice. A voucher for a trip around the track in a Lotus, Ferrari or Lamborghini makes for a great gift for the speed freaks in your life too, and definitely won’t go unused.

A spot loved by Auckland adrenaline junkies is Papatoetoe’s Hyper Stimulator New Zealand – the home of racecar simulation in New Zealand. Hyper Stimulator offers not only real race car drivers – like fan Jonny Reid - a valid and valuable training tool, but also everyday drivers the chance to experience what it is like to be at the wheel of a V8 Supercar. A great day out for groups too.

Like the idea of abseiling down waterfalls, jumping off cliffs and sliding down polished rock chutes, all in a prehistoric, subtropical environment? Then a day with Canyonz is definitely for you. Blue Canyon has 18 waterfalls, ranging in height from 2 to 30 metres, and the easy part is the handy pickup from – and drop off - outside SkyCity!

SkyCity is where you'll find New Zealand's highest jump (pictured). Called SkyJump, it is one of Auckland City's “don't miss!” experiences - leaping off Auckland's famous Sky Tower - 192 metres straight down! You'll fall very fast (approximately 85 kph) for around 11 seconds, and then it’s a smooth landing below. They also offer the SkyWalk, which let’s you walk 360 degrees around the Sky Tower with nothing but air either side of you.

The historic Three Lamps Plaza in Ponsonby is home to Sidart, an intimate dining space and the only restaurant in New Zealand to change its menu weekly. Every Tuesday the new menu is introduced and trialled by owner and chef Sid Sahrawat, and you can even book in for the test kitchen at $80.00 per head. From Wednesday to Saturday they offer 5 courses for $95 and 10 courses for $140, wine matches additional.

Since its doors opened in 2004, The Grove has secured itself as one of Auckland’s top restaurants. Head chef Benjamin Bayly offers a great degustation in beautiful surroundings, with tasting plates carrying treats like Confit alpine salmon with lardo di colonnata and Tortellini of goat's ricotta with confit dates and earl grey. There is also a vegetarian tasting menu on request and a vast wine list.

The French Café is one of Auckland oldest, much loved and much awarded dining establishments. Serving up stellar modern French cuisine, the restaurant offers a nine-course chef’s tasting, a six course tasting that includes a vegetarian option, and an a la carte menu that has been carefully designed to be enjoyed in four courses.

One of my all time favourite restaurants to visit when there is something very special to celebrate is Clooney, which brings a little New York to Auckland and is packed with style and great food. Head chef Des Harris seems to garner one award after another with good reason, and there is even a private dining area if you like the idea of a secluded spot all your own. We love you Clooney!

As well as being home to one of Auckland’s finest menus, Chef Sean Connelly’s restaurant The Grill takes pride in serving up fresh fare creating using some great local artisan brands. These include Harmony Piggery and the much loved Kokako coffee roasters, as well as Olaf’s Artisan Bakery and locally crafted tools like St Clair Copper Cookware. They also do one of the city’s best Sunday roasts, posher than most but absolutely delicious!

A phenomenon so hot that it even had its own Twitter hashtag for a while, Barilla Dumpling turn out what are widely believed to be Auckland’s finest Sichuan dumplings. Reportedly over 37 varieties of dumplings at that, all from a petite premises on the legendary Dominion Road. 

Eden Noodles on Dominion Rd serve up stellar noodles (naturally), soups and dumplings at insanely good prices. The dan dan mian (street peddler’s noodles) is a standout dish, the name referring to how the noodles were carried in the past i.e. the street peddler carried two pots, one on each end of a bamboo pole over his shoulder - one pot filled with noodles and the other with the sauce.

For tapas style dining with a difference we love trips to Pintxos for some Basque Region specialties, not to mention the eclectic and super affordable wine list. A great way to while away an afternoon and well into the evening.

Ken Yakatori serves up fresh, fast and always extremely good Japanese food cooked yakatori style and is a favourite for before and after movie or show dinners. The gyoza also come highly recommended, along with the yummy green tea ice cream dessert.

Ponsonby Central may have some great foodie residents in the house, but for tastiness coupled with value - and speed - you can’t go past the original purveyor or amazing international cuisine at incredible prices. The Ponsonby International Food Court is pretty much always bustling with locals and visitors alike, and the fare is varied and delicious. We love the Vietnamese for its fresh spring rolls and lemongrass chicken, whilst the Massaman curry is the best tasting in town and the fresh juices from the fully licensed bar always appeal. You can’t visit Ponsonby without a trip to the Food Court and definitely won’t leave hungry.

A Ponsonby institution for over twenty years, SPQR is one of the finest places to begin - or end - a night out. Cocktails like ‘The Slapper’ come highly recommended!

Ponsonby Road institution Santos serves up fresh salads, snacks, juices and reportedly the best Eggs Benedict in town, and is one of my picks for a great lunch spot on a sunny day. The courtyard is bathed in warmth almost all day long and the people watching isn’t bad either!

The sister of Herne Bay favourite Zus & Zo, Zomer is a great spot to hit Pre or Post visits to Takapuna Beach. It has a similar menu to Zus with a few tweaks here and there, and the coffee is just superb. Their yellow and white striped awning just screams Summer (as does the name, which is the Dutch name for the sunny season) but we think it’s a top place to visit any time of year.

Kokako offers up some of the best brunch options in town, all vegetarian, some vegan and many gluten free. Meat lovers will barely know the difference though as the flavours are so fresh and tasty, and they even do kid sized portions if you’ve got small people on board. My fave is the organic hash (above) with the porridge coming a close second.

This new branch of Little Bird is over twice the size of the original but already buzzing with people and packed at lunchtime, so get in early to grab a seat. The daily favourites include raw tacos, an amazing falafel plate and even on occasion a raw food take on lasagne, all of which will get your tastebuds humming and your body thanking you for making the effort.

Always worthy of a visit, the Superette store on Ponsonby Road has the perfect edit right now of men’s and women’s winter clothes. Its racks are jam packed with high end street and casual labels like Bassike, Vanishing Elephant and Nudie jeans, as well as top notch sneakers and the Beau Coops shoe collection. If you’re on the other side of town their Newmarket store is also a great place to browse - and spend.

Takapuna’s The Department Store totally changed the face of the previously tired seaside suburb when it opened a few years ago, and it constantly offers some of the city’s best retail therapy. Recent arrivals include a careful edit of I Love Ugly, Sylvester and Ruby’s latest collections, as well as beautiful lingerie in The Dressing Room.

I love designer Kristine Crabb of Miss Crabb fame for both her amazing personal style and her killer use of colour. You will always get a kick out of browsing her rainbow hued racks, and most likely leave with a beautiful new addition to your wardrobe that isn’t black! The store also stocks some of my other favourite labels, including the uniquely classic Penny Sage and Curio Noir candles.

The new Karen Walker store in Britomart’s Pavilions is my favourite of the internationally loved Kiwi designer’s stores. The staff are absolutely wonderful, whilst the winter collection in store now makes my credit card tremble with good reason. I especially love the warm winter coats and party frock options, and she even has some perfectly designed wooly hats and scarves for when the mercury really drops. Retail heaven.

One of my favourite homewares and gift stores in Auckland is Tessuti on Jervois Road. They stock all of the beautiful brands that I wish my home was filled with, including Missoni Home, Vida Stonewashed Linen and Herve Gambs. They also share their space with the wondrous Ingrid Starnes, so you can stock up on frocks whilst shopping for gifts. An amazing collaboration.

A visit to the new Bobbi Brown store at Britomart is like walking into heaven on earth for a beauty junkie like me, I could literally spend all day in there. The products are naturally amazing, and the staff are so approachable and knowledgable that you learn something new about the global mega brand every time you pop in. It is the perfect place to spend some time having a bit of a winter makeover too - let the experts work their magic and then hit the town!

The best place to buy the kind of fragrances you won’t find on a department store counter is World’s stores, in particular the Tyler Street and Newmarket branches, which are my favourites. They stock legendary classics from the past as well as super innovative and uniquely beautiful brands like the amazing Nasomatto and Juliet Has A Gun. For those who definitely don’t want to smell like anyone else!

If you are a beauty freak like me then the news that San Francisco brand Benefit had finally arrived in New Zealand would have been greeted with much joy. They are renowned for their cute, quirky campaigns and their amazing brow bars, one of which can now be found smack bang in the middle of Smith & Caughey’s Queen Street branch. They do a fast, seriously great job and work with what Mother Nature gave you, as well as taking walk ins. Hallelujah.

If you love things a little luxe yourself or know someone who does, the fragrance shopping doesn’t get much better than Britomart’s beautiful Jo Malone store. They stock the iconic British brand’s cologne, body cremes, scented candles and more, as well as offering tips on fragrance combining so you can customise as you go.

This branch of the famous Farmers department stores is spacious and well laid out, as well as being one of the biggest stockists in the city of great perfume. They have all of the big brands covered off and then some, and the staff are super helpful if you’re gift shopping too.