Sarah M.'s
The best op shops for bargain hunters
- 11SaveMart ManurewaManurewa, WiriPrepare to get lost in the wonderful world of SaveMart. Picture a big warehouse filled with pre loved clothing at bargain prices. Yes that’s right - a whole warehouse full - I’m not joking when I say prepare to get lost. This is not the type of place where you will want to bring your boyfriend who is disinterested in shopping and certainly not a place to bring little kids who have a tendency to get swallowed up amongst clothes on racks! In my opinion this is the best of all of the SaveMart stores, I’m not even going to try to explain why, I just seem to have the best luck here. The prices here aren’t quite on the same scale as the Salvation Army but $20 is bound to get you a couple of items. Go and shop your heart out, but be warned - you may end up spending a few hours sifting through the racks.
- 215Paper Bag PrincessNewtonKrd is swamped with op shops but Paper Bag Princess has always managed to stand out from the rest. Everything is $20 and under, which is hard to find at an inner city op shop these days. This is not the place for shoppers who need a few hours to decide whether or not to make a purchase. Chances are while you are trying to decide whether to get the jacket or the shoes another eager beaver will have made the decision for you and you will be left forever wondering what if. All proceeds go to charity, so this is shopping with a conscious at its finest.
- 317Tatty's Designer RecyclePonsonbyTatty’s is not the kind of op shop where you should expect to find anything cheaper than $40 and for that very reason it is where you need to put your bargain hunting skills to good use. This is a high end op shop, the kind where you find bargain designer brands in immaculate condition for a fraction of the price. Think Ponsonby throw aways, last seasons fashion which has been replaced by the latest trend. This is where you will find the good stuff!
- 419Recycle Boutique Auckland CityAuckland CentralRecycle Boutique has an impressive collection of clothing for you to sift through and find your next favourite wardrobe staple. This is where I would suggest you come if you are looking for jeans, especially if you are looking for smaller sizes which can be hard to find at the mall. If you are like me and can never have enough shoes then I would suggest you come armed with a wallet full of cash, they seem to always have an impressive range of Chuck Taylors and who can pass up a pair of new kicks?
Sarah M.'s
Get in shape for summer
- 118Long BayLong BayYou may have seen 10 year old boys hitting the beach on boards skimming across the shallow water and thought to yourself what on earth are they doing? Well things are as they appear, welcome to the art of skimboarding. It may look easy, but trust me, unless you are a young one with awesome balance or a skilled skateboarder then you will probably end up in the water more than you would like to admit . With enough practice though you will perfect the glide and Long Bay is one of my absolute favourite places to practice. As the name suggests, its long - which means if you head right to the end you get the privacy you need while you work on becoming a pro. Did I mention it is a killer leg workout? Say hello to toned thighs and tight abs. Because the boards are so light make sure to head to the beach when there is little wind and pick up some surf wax on the way for grip. This beach gets packed in the summer time so try and get their before midday to get a park and a prime spot on the sand.
- 223Rock climbing was always one of those extreme sports that I imagined myself being awesome at. Over time I have come to realise that this is probably not going to be the case. Putting my dreams of becoming an extreme athlete aside I have found comfort in the fact that I can head to Extreme Edge, hire a harness and push my limits on the wall. This place is awesome, the staff are friendly, there is always a good atmosphere and the walls are challenging. If you want an all over body workout while pushing yourself mentally then rock climbing is for you. This was the first indoor climbing place I had been to and none of the others have ever come close to being as memorable. Bit of a tip: wear comfortable pants and a top that won’t ride up - you don’t want to be hanging mid air with a wedgie when you are trying to impress a girl.
- 32Iyengar Yoga Centre of AucklandGrey LynnYoga has always kind of intimidated me, I’m not the most flexible of people and group classes aren’t really my thing. Deciding to bite the bullet and give it a go I ended up at the Iyengar Yoga Centre on Great North Rd and I was really impressed by the beginners class. Susie was our teacher and she instantly made my partner and I feel welcome. Some of the poses can be a little awkward at first but with a little guidance they are easier to get right. For a first timer like myself I would without a doubt recommend heading along and getting out of your comfort zone, I definitely left feeling a little euphoric - I can see why this would be addictive!
- 42Health & Sports Fitness ClubKingslandOk, so it takes a lot for me to say that I love going to the gym - I’m more of an outdoors kind of girl - but Health and Sports in Morningside may have turned me to the dark-side. First off, they have a pool! Secondly, there isn’t that poser vibe that makes me feel like I need to go to the gym with a full face a makeup. The personal trainers are really helpful and there never seems to be much of a wait for any of the machines . For someone who doesn’t like the idea of going to a gym it didn’t take me long to feel at home here.
- 510Totara ParkThe GardensUnless you live out south chances are you’ve never heard of Totara Park - which is a shame because you are missing out! This is a park I have been going to since I was a little kid, draw cards back then were the two awesome adventure playgrounds (especially the hidden one with flying fox) and the horses trotting along one of the treks. Oh and the outdoor pool! Now days its where I head to when I want a decent walk through the bush for a bit of a light workout. With the new addition of mountain biking trails Totara Park is definitely an all rounder.
Sarah M.'s
Start your weekend bright and early
- 12The Organic MechanicParnellNo doubt you are feeling a little worse for wear after a long week at work or perhaps a Friday night on the town. The boys at The Organic Mechanic are brewing up a storm down at the La Cigale French Markets and make the most delicious organic smoothies to kick start your weekend. Not only have they won me over with their amazing smoothies but the boys are possibly the friendliest faces on the block - I hear they even give out free hugs on request. Consider me a smoothie convert!
- 221Good OnePonsonbyThis cafe is one of my favourite spots to dream away a Saturday morning. Tucked away in a gorgeous industrial warehouse conversion these guys are known for their brew bar and impressive range of single origin beans. As more of a hot chocolate kind of girl myself, I can tell you that it’s not just the coffee that they do well. I love that I can head there on my own and end up having an inspiring conversation at the shared table – this cafe definitely pulls in the creative crowd. Did I mention I could spend hours getting lost in their huge selection of National Geographics? So much to love about this place - just make sure you get in early to get a seat!
- 32Lake WainamuWaitakereOnce you have made it up and over the massive sand dunes - without giving in to the urge to roll all the way back down them - you will come to the beautiful Lake Wainamu. If you are anything like me you will have also trudged through the river on your way because you chose to park in the first of the two carparks. The walk around the lake is the perfect way to clear your head on a Sunday morning and suitable for all fitness types. In the winter it gets a little muddy so I would recommend sturdy shoes but on those hot summer days make sure you bring your togs - it’s hard to resist that refreshing fresh water. Speaking of refreshing, part way down the track is the perfect spot to bring out your inner dare devil as there just happens to be a sturdy tree branch which hangs over the water - perfect for jumping off. Time and time again I find myself wishing I had brought a piece of cardboard to slide down the dunes on, next time it will be the first thing I pack!
- 42Otara FleamarketOtaraAn early morning stroll around one of Auckland’s many markets is one of favourite ways to start the weekend and there is no other market quite like this one. The Otara Fleamarket is an experience unlike any of the others – it oozes culture. There is everything you could need all in one place; food from around the world, clothing, home ware, jewelry - I kid you not, this market has it all - including the kitchen sink! Without out a doubt it is the huge selection of fresh produce that brings me back time and again and I have learnt to go on an empty stomach because trust me, you are going to want to buy food here. I recommend taking the bus - the market is so popular you don’t want to waste your time in carpark gridlock.
- 511Rug up warm and head out to Wenderholm Regional Park with your fishing rods for an early morning lesson in patience. The mouth of the channel is the perfect spot to cast from and is generally a quiet spot to contemplate life’s big questions. There are BBQ’s on site so make sure you bring a gold coin to cook up your early morning catch. If you are up for a bit more of an adventure you can hire a kayak and head along the Puhoi River, grabbing a beer at the tavern at the end of your journey. This is one of my favourite Regional Parks in Auckland and you will want to start early to make the most of all it has to offer.