Fun ways to expand your mind in New Zealand

"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."

"Conch Records is one of Auckland’s best spots to pick through popular and rare vinyl. It’s also got a great collection of clothes, collectible toys and they make a dam good coffee. Their backyard has recently been opened as Boteco, a South American eatery, that’s on my list to try."

"The Hard to Find Book Shop in Onehunga is my favourite book store in the world. Crammed into the small space is a labrynth of sections spanning from classics to the occult and everything in between. Here you’ll find many treasures and curiosies that will excite even the most jaded of book buyers! If you love books, this is your place."

"Capitol Cinema is a cinema with character. They play a great, but small, selection of well chosen art house and foreign films. It’s the perfect accompaniment to hitting up one of the dumpling houses on Dominion Road. Well worth checking out."

"It was with a heavy heart that I farewelled season three of Game of Thrones. To combat the post season depression the girlfriend and I enrolled ourselves into a cheese making course ($60 including the cheese making kit which was worth $40) at Cook the Books. Over the course of the evening nine cheese beginners of us learnt the art of making halloumi, ricotta and feta in the shop's demonstration kitchen. The actual process was easier than I thought and I'm looking forward to trying it at home. Post-cheese making we all sat down and enjoyed the fruits of our labour in the form of a grilled halloumi salad with a few cheeky wines. All in all it was a really enjoyable experience. I'm going to put this out there, cheese making might be perhaps a better time than watching Game of Thrones.  "