We decided to do something a little different with our Saturday and caught the ferry across to Devenport. On the way up to the Devenport lookout we picked up a deep fried package from the Riba Fish and Chip shop. Their was a good menu of options and the staff were friendly and helpful. The fish, chips and fritters, which were ready within ten minutes, were all crispy and well cooked, and boy the view was exceptional!

Jimmy the Fish, in Ponsonby Central, has some seriously fresh fish. Whether you’re purchasing fresh fish or deep fried fish’n’chips it’s all really tasty. I would go as far as to say that it’s my favourite fish and chip shop in the city centre. The service was also great and they gave some great recommendations.

I was introduced to the spicy squid salad from Otto Woo while interning for a communications company while studying. My boss there would shout me a salad when she was feeling generous. The salad, complete with crispy squid, is made up of fresh slaw, crispy noodles and a spicy, tart dressing. It's one spicy kick in the mouth that's always welcome.

The Auckland Fish Market is a great food stop for a weekend stroll along Wynnard Quarter. It’s interesting for the kids to check out the fish, lots of which are freshly frozen. The market is an ideal source to get supplies for coming meals. Choose your fish and watch as the talented staff, gut your chosen sea dweller in front of your very eyes and package it for a take home treat!

Getting fish and chips and hanging out at Mission Bay is one of the must do activities in Auckland. The Fish Pot Cafe is the best place to purchase the edible part of the equation. Although slightly more expensive than your usual ‘in the burbs’ takeaway store it is always fresh and the menu extensive. Sidenote: experience best enjoyed with sun and companions.

Best Ugly Bagels is a brand new bagel shop that offers you the option of either picking up a warm half dozen or grab a filled one on site. I opted for the TAB option - basil, avocado and tomato which was tasty and filled a lunch sized gap. I like what I see, and I’ll definitely be back when my Montreal bagel craving needs to be seen to.

Santos can hold down the coffees. In fact I’ve never had a bad coffee there, perfect extraction and silky milk. I hadn’t ever eaten there before though so I figured it was about time to give the menu the once over. I opted for the haloumi salad which was delicious. I’m a big fan of the salty fried cheese and this was cooked to perfection. The light meal was just what I was after. I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of the menu to see what other delights I can discover.

Savour and Devour is the perfect spot to go to when hungover. The service is friendly, the food large and the coffee hot. We sat in the courtyard, nursed our sore heads and chatted away the morning. I had the salmon hash which was great and was just what I needed. 

After a big night out, like most people I guess, my body craves something a little bit greasy, large and filling. The nachos ($16) at Cafe Cezanne, pictured here, can be found on the lunch and dinner menu (generally if I’m nursing a sore head I’ll stay in bed as long as possible). The nachos, which are only challenged by those found at The Cavalier, are piled high with toppings, cheese and sour cream. The service is friendly and the coffee’s great. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, which I usually am, they also do an amazing selection of desserts and sweet treats. Just what the doctor ordered.

Aside from perhaps the butter chicken pie from Mobil On the Run gas stations, The Fridge has hands down the best pies in Auckland. It’s a great spot to grab a pastry pocket of goodness and a coffee. My personal favourites are the mince, potatoe and cheese pie and the Morrocan lamb pies. The cabinet food is also great and the staff quirky. Don’t be flaky, get amongst.

A new addition to Britomart, this is a bustling yet blissful joint to nibble lovingly hand crafted dumplings and cocktails. It really is the best of both worlds - they achieve the quality and authenticity you expect with every mouthful, as well as doing it with that Britomart swag the area is known for. Definitely recommended.

If you’re in the zone for dumplings then it’s common knowledge Dominion Rd is the place to head. Barilla is my favourite of the dumpling houses on the road (although the rest are great). The bright lime green interiors and menus in plastic folders scream no frills but the food is cheap, cheerfull and delicious. I recommend delving into the eggplant, the crispy beans, the fried squid and whichever dumplings grab your fancy! Top night out.

Dominion Road houses quite a few really good dumpling houses. New Flavour is up there with the best of them. With great prices and a host of delicious choices you won’t leave hungry. Items I’d recommend from the menu are the pork and chive dumplings, the cucumber salad and chicken noodles (pictured). The New Flavour experience is best enjoyed with mates as the dishes are perfect for sharing.

I’m a sucker for a good steamed dumpling. When dipped in soy and chilli the slippery, meat filled parcels of flavour are a treat to the pallete. Genera only I’m a stickler for dumplings on Dominion Rd but we stumbled across No. 1 Dumpling at lunch time and decided to give it a hoon. I ordered a plate of ten pork, prawn and chive dumplings which set me back $7.50 and they were right up my alley. The texture and flavours were spot on and the service was great.

West Auckland gets its fair share of flack, some deserved and some not so much. I’m a native of the area and proud of it but I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to food the highlights are few and far between. Ko’s dumplings is one of those highlights! We ordered steamed pork and chive dumplings ($10) and the tofu and minced pork in a spicy sauce ($15). The dumplings were slippery pockets of delicious flavour and the tofu was also very moreish! There’s a saying west is best, and when it comes to dumplings this might just be true!

Western Park is my favourite inner city outdoor area. When I need to switch off from big smoke life, I head to this park located in the suburb of Freemans Bay. It’s a midsized park with several walkways, a kids playground and a small performance space amongst the scenery. If you need an escape Western Park’s well worth checking out.

If you’re in the city fringe and looking for the perfect spot to watch the sunset I would recommend heading down to Cremorne Bay. At the bottom of a step set of stairs you’ll find a small sandstone ledge with foot holes. Navigate your way to one of the plateaus and grab a seat. From here you’ll have one of the best views in the city. Romance? Guaranteed.

If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a few lazy beers in Kingsland, I would recommend Neighbourhood Brewbar. There is a large courtyard in the front and the back windows let in a generous smattering of sunlight. The music is laidback, the beer cold and the fit out spacious. Great White is my choice of what they have on tap, but I guess that all comes down to personal preference.

The last time that I visited Waiwera was on a school trip and I got a blood nose from the black hole. Regardless it was a good time. Since then Waiwera has been through a little bit of a transformation. Over the years it has morphed into more of a health spa. For OSH reasons only two of the slides remain. It may have lost a bit of the fun factor but as an adult it's still a relaxing day away from the big smoke.

The smell of La Cigale, Parnell’s French style market, is what hits you first upon arrival. It’s a wonderful concoction of organic fruit and vegetables, freshly roasted coffee and mouthwatering food cooking. With an emphasis on being organic, the produce is all locally grown. Along with this there is a wide variety of artisan bread, cheese, preserves and hot food. If you’re in the mood for nibbling on something I’d recommend the freshly made paella or perhaps a hot rotisserie chicken to take away!

Located in what used to be West Lyn organic butchers is Freida Margolis. The small space has a homely vibe and is the perfect atmosphere for conversation. The barman knew his beer and was the type of character who could spin a yarn no matter the subject. On top were some great craft bars and there was a large selection of spirits on offer. Recommended.

Apparently the Britomart Country Club is the largest courtyard bar in New Zealand. The light bar meals, gourmet pizza and extensive drinks menu mean a lot more than this fact though. The container ringed space, complete with a putting green and petanque court, is a great place to share food and conversation. This city oasis is well worth a look!

If you’re looking for a spot to enjoy a few lazy beers in Kingsland, I would recommend Neighbourhood Brewbar. There is a large courtyard in the front and the back windows let in a generous smattering of sunlight. The music is laidback, the beer cold and the fit out spacious. Great White is my choice of what they have on tap, but I guess that all comes down to personal preference.

Freeman and Grey is a relatively new kid on the Ponsonby Road block. I dropped into their Sunday session for a couple of beers and a pizza. The service was good, the beer cold and the food tasty. In the past when I’ve been there the music wasn’t great but today it was on point!

Brother Beer is a relatively new addition to the Shed 5 revamp. Located just around the corner from Ugly Bagel it is a ramshackle bar specialising in craft beers. We sampled a red ale and a Yeastie Boys wheat beer. Both were tasty and the accompanying toastie was also a good time. Definitely worth checking out!

The Auckland Art Gallery is a world class space with a truly enchanting collection. I’m a big fan of the Ralph Hotare work that the gallery houses. It was renovated around two years ago and it has recieved quite a bit of attention for it’s suberb architecture. The cafe is also worth stopping in to if you’re looking for a coffee or some tasty food.

Outlet stores don’t have the best reputation with me. Last seasons dregs are last seasons dregs and they probably didn’t sell for a reason. In saying this outlet haven dressmart is one destination that bucks this trend though. Amongst the coal you are sure to find a couple of diamonds! Be prepared to search though! Shops I recommend are the Nike store, the Converse store, Country Road, Huffer and Barkers.

I went to see the Hunt (a Danish film about a man who is wrongfully accused of being a pedophile) in the weekend at the Capitol cinema on Dominion Road. The cinema is beautiful but the movie was dark and haunting. The movie left me feeling a little icky so I headed along to the Event Cinemas in St Lukes for a slightly lighter experience. This time we opted for Baz Luhrmann's 'The Great Gatsby' which was a style over substance, fun adaptation of the book. The cinema was hooching due to it being deal night ($11 for a ticket, $15 if it's in 3D) and the smell of buttery popcorn was in the air. The staff were all professional and the seats, which i guess are a big part of the movie, comfy. If you're not looking for a gourmet, art house experience and are happy to enjoy a big Hollywood blockbuster and slurp on a frozen Coke this is the place for you.

As a 24 year old male buying homeware isn’t on the top of my priority list. I'm pretty happy to use my parents tired outcasts but that's not to say that I can't appreciate a well crafted whisk or a Bodum coffee machine. When the turning point comes and homeware becomes a priority in my life Smith and Caughey's will be one the stores I will shop. The upmarket department store has pretty much a whole floor dedicated to kitchenware, appliances and linen. They stock quality brands and it can get a bit pricey. At the end of the day though you get what you pay for what you get so sometimes it's better to spend a little more.

Have you ever seen an overweight climber? I haven’t and there’s a reason for that. Climbing is a great way to build your back, biceps and it works your core like crazy. To top it off scaling a cliff side with little more than your own two hands is pretty dam manly. Clip’n’Climb is perhaps Auckland’s premier climbing facility. It is like a theme park for climbers, the walls are all themed and enticing. The auto belay system also has to be mentioned as this makes the whole activity easier! Step up and give it a go.