Lisa B.'s
Where to Shop Local for Women's Clothing
- 11KudosNew Plymouth CentralKudos is a clothing store that’s been around for years and it always has the latest fashions trends adapted into everyday wearable style. They have all the awesome brands of denim such as Diesel, Pepe, and Scotch & Soda. They have a massive winter sale on at the moment where all Diesel stock is 50% off! They’re already starting to celebrate Spring with new season stock arriving now!
- 21Bettie Monroe - New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralThis clothing boutique has the motto ‘Fun, Fresh & Feminine’, and I can totally agree with that! The clothes from Bettie Monroe are such a high quality (as reflected in the price!) and I would absolutely love to own something. In fact there’s a jacket I’ve been eyeing up for a couple of months but it is a bit out of a student’s price range! Still, I can dream about it for now!
- 31Just LookingNew Plymouth CentralJust Looking is one of the fancier local places in the region for clothes. I went in with my Auntie when she was picking out a dress for her daughters wedding, so if it’s appropriate for a wedding, it’s defiantly going to have some nice clothes! I think it’s designed to lead more towards the mature ladies, but honestly there are some cool things in there that I would even wear!
- 42Oosh - New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralI love Oosh, their sense of style is so fun and quirky, everything is so bright and playful it will put you in the best mood! Although they are colourful, they aren’t over the top and the clothing pieces will make you feel really good about yourself. They have a sister store all the way over in Shannon that share the same intentions; they sell clothes that make you feel good, as well as look good, no matter what your size or shape!
- 51Martins FashionsInglewoodMartins Fashions has two stores, one in New Plymouth and one in Inglewood, and whenever I pass by it’s always packed with customers looking for their retail therapy fix! They have heaps of cool brands that I’ve recently discovered like Elm, Revue, and Blackstone. Something unique about this store is that you can book an appointment with a personal shopper to get down to the nitty gritty of what you want, what looks good, and what doesn’t.
Lisa B.'s
Best Spots for Dogs
- 11Pet Essentials New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralWhat dog doesn’t deserve a pig ear or two every now and then? Pet Essentials in the Richmond Centre has gone to the dogs with everything from teeth cleaning bones and brushes, to jerky and the famous pig ears! You’re dog will love you forever if you feed them this stuff and is a really good method of training them to sit or stay.
- 25Back BeachSpotswoodBack beach is great for dogs in the colder months, they can still run around and have a great time without their poor feet getting bunt by the black sand! It’s such a joy to see them running around and being completely free dogs off the leash. A plus is that theres plenty of sticks to chuck around!
- 31Janes Dog StudioNew Plymouth CentralJanes Dog Studio is somewhere I’ve heard to be very professional and are actually good at their job. The are one of the best places to get your best friend’s hair cut. The first time you visit you can get a free five minute consultation to really get to know you and how you want your dogs hair cut; i love that they take the time to do that!
- 41Pet Sitting PlusOakuraAre you one of those people who have a dog that you love to bits but have quite a tight schedule and a busy life? Or maybe you’ve just gone away for a few days? Pet Sitting Plus can help you out with feeding your dog and taking them for walks when you’re not there. Don’t think of it as a service, think of it as your dog making a new friend!
- 53Huatoki WalkwayNew Plymouth CentralHuatoki Walkway has over 13 different entry points which makes it a huge walk that is bound to tucker your furry friend out! It cuts right through the heart of New Plymouth City so it’s probably one of the better walkways with more sights to see on the way; it’s not only for your dog but for you too! It’s an awesome way to exercise your dog whether you do the whole run or even just half.
Lisa B.'s
Best Organic Food Stores
- 12Bare ThrillsNew Plymouth CentralBare Thrills is my new favourite shop, it’s simply amazing. I stumbled upon it the other day and just had to go in and try it. They have the most amazing selection of food that is all healthy, organic and is made fresh. I love their cold pressed juices that they sell in the little jars in the cabinet. They also sell organic cow’s milk, which is something I will be buying from now on; that way I can be sure there are no nasties inside!
- 22Health 2000 New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralHealth 2000 stock a lot of organic products I would never have thought about. One of their bestsellers is their organic coconut oil. This stuff is an absolute rescue in a jar, you can use it for cooking, a makeup remover, a moisturiser, and probably heaps more uses I can’t think of! If that doesn’t float your boat, they sell lots of Life Foods products such as chia seeds, spirulina powder, and cacao powder.
- 32Down To EarthNew Plymouth CentralDown to Earth is a great place for almost everything you can think of to stock your fridge; from meat to milk they have you covered. Something I never knew about is that they can do saliva or hair testing to see if you’re allergic to any foods, a blood type test, and a PH test; although a bit pricy, that is some great service right there! There are also heaps of skincare products that your skin will just love you for.
- 41Organic MattersWaiwhakaihoOne of the top places you can trust for organic and fresh fruit and vegetables is Organic Matters in the Richmond Centre. Not only that, but they also have meat, lentils, as well as dairy and gluten free foods. They can’t stress enough how much they are behind animal welfare and having an awareness of the environment and what you put into your body, something I am definitely on the same page about!
- 54Fresha Cafe & Food EmporiumNew Plymouth CentralThe food emporium inside Fresha is a dream, not everything in there is organic but there is a lot for a non-organic store. Everything is fresh however and that’s one of the most important things. The deli section is amazing with so many options to choose from you might need a few minutes to decide! They’re stocked with cheeses and pates galore with different crackers that would be prefect for a wine and cheese night!
Lisa B.'s
Best Secondhand Dealers
- 11Taranaki Trading PostNew Plymouth CentralTaranaki Trading Post has been around for as long as I can remember, and they sell almost anything you can think of. They are always show casing their furniture pieces outside on the street to entice customers inside for a little look. It’s well worth a visit, especially if you’re on a budget as the items aren’t overpriced and are of a decent quality. Buying and selling by customers is becoming a huge thing in the marketplace and this is somewhere that will buy your old furniture off of you.
- 21Cash Converters - New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralNot only does Cash Converters sells second hand items, but they allow you to actually make some profit out of the things you want to get rid of! I love this place and have bought so many things from here over the years. My favourite area is the books and video games, it’s also fun to check out all of the old video camera people have sold to Cash Converters; it gives you a major flashback to the 90’s!
- 32Twiggy PrelovedFitzroyTwiggy has turned from an average second hand clothing shop into a trendy and modern recycled clothing boutique. They have a surprising amount of good quality clothes for a second hand shop and the prices are great too; some tops are only around $12 or $15! The changing rooms come in handy when you’re a bit unsure about the sizing of clothes.
- 41Bookstop GalleryNew Plymouth CentralSelling a mix of new and old, Bookstop Gallery is one of the best places in town to browse and purchase some of your favourite books; they even have an online website where you can by books! I love that they display local Taranaki artists’ work in their shop window, it shows they really love the region they’re working in.
- 52Chadz AntiquesNew Plymouth CentralChadz Antiques is one of my favourite shops, I always love coming in for a little look and see what new antiques they have in, beautiful vintage items just line the shop walls. I always remember what first drew me to this shop, a beautiful painting of a Spanish dancer with a bright red dress; it really set the tone for what this shop is all about.
Lisa B.'s
Best Buffet Restaurants
- 14Snug LoungeNew Plymouth CentralI love the Snug Lounge not only because their Japanese inspired food is utter deliciousness, but because they give you the option of all you can eat, or buying individual dishes. Of course I always go for the all you can eat option because I like to stuff my face till I feel sick! They bring you out such a variety of options such as tempura prawns, miso pork belly, and even crumbed tofu; along with rice and egg noodles. The best part is you can order more of your favourite and the $29.50 covers all of it!
- 23Gengy's Mongolian B.B.Q - New PlymouthNew Plymouth CentralGengy’s is amazing, the atmosphere, the decor, but mostly the food; I devour the food from Gengy’s. I would consider Gengy’s relatively healthy as everything is cooked on the grill; it makes you feel a bit better about yourself after eating all that food! The food is fresh and has no unwanted extras in them, which is a must for me nowadays. Overall, if I could afford it financially (and physically!) I would come here on the regular and demolish everything they offer!
- 36The Loving HutNew Plymouth CentralThe Loving Hut is a great option for foodies that are vegetarian or vegan but still love to fill up till they can’t anymore! I know plenty of meat-eaters that refuse to eat any vegetarian meals but will make an exception for this place. The fact that you can load up your plate multiple times with this delicious food is a blessing to say the least; because this food is heavenly! I love their chickpea curries the most!
- 44Marbles BuffetNew Plymouth CentralMarbles is the buffet restaurant you bring the kids, older relatives, and everyone in-between; it really does have something for everybody. Whether you’re a seafood fiend like me, or have a more vegetarian diet, the food is there waiting for you! Not only do they do lunch, and/or dinner, but it includes dessert too. I have to say, Marbles make the best panna cotta dessert I’ve ever had so I always make sure to be a bit greedy and grab two!
- 53Sun WorldNew Plymouth CentralI love all cuisines from around the world, but Chinese food has got to be up there in my top five; and if you’re starving and craving some Chinese food, this is the perfect restaurant to fill yourself up till you pop! Sun World has such a large selection of dishes and not to mention the price is very reasonable for the amount of food available. This is another great place that welcomes kids and has great options for them too.
Lisa B.'s
Free Things to do in Winter
- 12Mt. TaranakiStratfordMt Taranaki is a classic and fun activity that the whole family can enjoy; it’s free, relatively easy to get to, and can occupy your time for the whole day if you let it. Bring anything to play with from a slab of cardboard, to an actual toboggan and have fun in the snow! My favourite thing to do is to find big hills and slide down them on a snow disk, probably not the safest for the little ones but for the big kids it’s so much fun!
- 24Govett-Brewster Art GalleryNew Plymouth CentralThe time has finally come for our new art gallery to open its doors. This month, Govett Brewster has its grand re-opening; it starts at nine in the morning so make sure to dress warm. I love all the reflective metal they’ve used for the side of the building, it’s an architectural dream, dedicated to Len Lye (the same person who designed our famous wind wand), and from the opening day onwards, there are various activities you can take part in to do with the Len Lye and his work.
- 35Back BeachSpotswoodThere’s something about the beach in winter that is different to in the summer. It’s not crowded and the only sounds are the ocean and maybe wind if it’s a harsher day. It can be a great place to relax and take a small stroll; it’s best to dress warm with scarves and jackets and just stick to the cliff line as the sea can get pretty gnarly at times! I like to put on either gumboots or high boots and take someone with me to have a nice catch up.
- 43AnimatesNew Plymouth CentralDuring the school holidays this July, Animates is hosting a special treat for all you fish and reptile lovers out there. Animates are huge animal lovers, so they’re taking the opportunity to educate the kids about how to properly care for their pets or any future pets. I’ve always had fish growing up so this is something I’m definitely interested in! Also every child that attends the session will receive a certificate of completion to hang on the wall!
- 51East End Skating RinkStrandonRoller derby is back in session, and for kids aged 12 and under, the tickets are absolutely free. The kids will have so much fun here; the event starts on the 18th of July at 6pm. Watch the Taranaki Roller Corps take on the Hellmilton Roller Ghouls, it’s guaranteed to be an exciting night. I’ve never seen roller derby before so I might have to tag along!