The Tannery has many quirky gift shops and original one of a kind gifts that your loved ones will adore. Plus it will give you an excuse to go check out this cool new Melbourne style arcade that is bursting with style and fashion.

The Colombo in Sydenham is the perfect destination for those creative bodies who just need a bit of colour and patterns to get their creative minds flowing. There are many interior design stores, designer clothing shops and home ware and fabric stores to keep your eyes busy. There are also some delicious new eateries, which can keep you satisfied while you stroll through looking for that perfect Christmas present for someone special.

If you want a Christmas gift that screams originality and is made with handcrafted quality then this is the perfect place for you. This outdoor market held at the Riccarton Race course every Sunday is the largest market in the South Island with food and gifts to satisfy a small army! One warning is to try having an idea of a present before you go, otherwise you will be bamboozled with what the market has to offer!

Everytime I’m in Blenheim I head to Thomas’s. It has fantastic brands and the only downside is that it’s open Sundays!

A great stocking filler, fudge is a tasty Christmas gift. Get yours from our favourite sweet shop in Blenheim, The Fudge Factory.

The vegetarian burgers at Samo’s are second-to-none. With Lyttelton roasted coffee and a great view of the harbour, what’s not to love?

The title has attracted me already. On a summer evening, after a tiring day relaxing in the sun, there is no better place to go than Burgers and Beer now with two locations on Cranford Street and Colombo St. The relaxed vibe makes you feel at home while you devour their famous chips and gravy which everyone must taste. Plus they even have a ‘treehugger’ burger for all the vegos out there. Come on in and feast your eyes and stomachs on these hearty delicious burgers before I eat them all!

BBB stands for Bloody Big Burgers and the name does not tell a lie. With 18 different burgers to choose from, these bestselling beautiful beefy burgers should be on your bucketlist so you need to make quite a few visits to try the whole menu! This establishment is the first of its kind in Nelson with a new one opening in Wellington soon.

Not only do Porkys do a good fish and chip but their burgers are pretty darn good too.

A great family restaurant, and you guessed it- it is Dunedin’s best Italian. Pizza and pasta galore, even the staff are Italian! Great value and great food, you really get a bang for your buck. Make sure you order the Penne Al Verde- a parmesan, pine nut, basil penne pasta that melts in the mouth and you will truly think you have been taken to Italy.

Near the Steamer Wharf in Queenstown, this restaurant is one for the family. Massive meals, all- you guessed it- flame grilled to perfection. A variety of meats, including salads and burgers, I don’t know what kind of marinade they put on their chicken breast meal, but it takes me to the happiest place. Truly delicious and great value.

Specializing in seafood straight out of the Dunedin harbor, their seafood dishes are always cooked to perfection. Actually, everything is always cooked to perfection. Whatever you order, you can guarantee quality. Great size portions too, there is no worry about not feeling full after your meal!

In a second story Octagon view building, this old but classy feel gives off that exact vibe. The gigantic bottles of Veuve Clicquot and Moet might also be giveaways. Dim lighting, fine wine and exceptional food contribute to this restaurants first place spot. Get the crème brulee as a dessert, trust me.

An award winning café and restaurant. That says it all I think! The menu changes often, and much of the produce comes from the restaurants very own home grown vege and herb garden out the back. The restaurant is coupled with the most amazing stores, similar to a homeware store but x100. Incredible food, and a great atmosphere top off this spacious and light restaurant.

While this option may be me copping out, I promise I will get more specific! Regardless, the Meridian Mall has a multitude of shops, in which you can find just about anything for just about anybody. Sweets, clothes, homewares and jewellery, it is any persons Christmas shopping dream. They even have a station where other people wrap your presents for you! Ahh, the convenience.

Located in both Queenstown and Arrowtown, this little sweet shop is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to the region. Overflowing with candy from all around the world, and fudge which is made on the premises (crème brulee and salted caramel are to die for) create amazing gifts for loved ones, whether you are travelling or even a local.

For the kids- For ages 1-12, you will find something here for the kids. Let them run around trying things out before you buy, while you wait you can always pop into aforementioned Arthur Barnetts (it’s right next door!). Oh, and did I mention; this store is in the Meridian!

For him and for her- This department store has everything you need and want. Need makeup Check. Need last minute Christmas decorations? Check. Need glassware and whiteware? Check. Two floors of heaven. If you cannot find anything here for friends and family members, you are a lost cause.

The gift shop that has almost everything. Quirky and modern, Redcurrent is located all over the country, most notably in this case, both Dunedin and Queenstown. Buying gifts here is almost too easy. Soaps, candles, bags, throws, prints, clothing- for men too! Cook books, décor books, baby products, mirrors- everything you could want under one roof.

The students favourite bookstore. The perfect place to buy all textbooks and interest books at a reasonable price (due to the cheeky student discount, thank you very much), and located across the road from University! Talk about key location. Not only for students though, many locals use this bookshop to get away from the crowded chain stores, or if they are looking for the best of the best fashion, art and history books.

You can’t go wrong with an awesome second hand bookstore. There is no telephone, no internet, no website and no eftpos terminal. The till still rings sales up in shillings and pounds. Though this quaint store is a Dunedin icon, this ‘world class’ status has not taken away from its original purpose- to sell amazing quality books to its customers.

Confusing signage, politically incorrect ornaments… have I sold you on heading Ravens’ way? Despite these things, this odd little shop and its odd pricing system is funky and different, the complete opposite of what you imagine a bookstore to look like. Order, organization, alphabetization are things of the past in this store, and it is one of the main reasons it makes the list. That, and the weird amount of unsold first edition books gracing the shelves.

Located in the beautiful Victorian Precinct in Oamaru, this bookstore has a wide range of books, from 1800’s Women’s Day magazines, to Shakespeare’s folios. Organized by genre, it is not hard to navigate around this store, and all the vintage books are kept in a glass cabinet, so not to get ruined.

While first and foremost a cinema, this endearing space is becoming more and more known for its great book collection. Mainly biographies, they tend to have incredibly awe-inspiring people and their stories, but also many interior books as well as children’s books and from time to time, collectors items.

With forever fresh blooms that sit out on the street, this colourful florist is a must see and buy. Innovative bouquets, arrangements and posies seem to be a specialty, as well as a dabbling interest in gift baskets and a love for roses in their purest form- alone.

In a small lake town about a 30 minute drive from Queenstown, you will find Riverton. This store is a non-profit shop run by volunteers and stocks the best organic produce it can find. Shelves are always bursting full of stock and shoppers can even enjoy a tea of coffee while they browse.

Seeing as hundreds of couples migrate to Wanaka for the summer months to get married, it would make sense that naturally, a beautiful cake store was formed to keep up with a bride-to-be’s demands. And boy, do they deliver! Free range ingredients and Central Otago fruit is used, keeping it all in the happy South Island family. They will make your special day truly special.

Te Anau. Stop here on the way to Milford Sound or Fiordland for a bite to eat. Namely, one of these pies. Tender meat, gravy full of flavour and buttery, flaky pastry. Always a popular restaurant, you may want to time your visits here, it tends to get especially busy between the hours of 11-1.

There is nothing better than staying on the beach and enjoying (both watching and partaking) in surfing- for competition and pleasure. With an abundance of restaurants and cafés close-by, as well as multiple walking tracks along the beach, you cannot go wrong with this popular tourist destination.