Your guide to the best shops in New Zealand I Neat Places

The Heart of Thorndon Quay: Four Traders Who Have Stood the Test of Time

Story Wellington

A walk down Thorndon Quay is a quick reminder of the strength, resilience and creativity of Wellington’s business community. Even as challenges have reshaped the area, a collection of beloved local businesses remain as an enduring anchor of the community. From handcrafted furniture and authentic French cuisine to vibrant textiles and personalised hairstyling, these enduring traders reflect the heart of the Quay – inviting visitors to explore, enjoy, and support the places that have long been part of its fabric.

Toi Store at Pātaka

Place Porirua

Gallery and museum gift shops are sometimes seen as a nice-to-have, a neat place to peruse some trinkets on the way out.

Kai Tahi

Place Porirua

Porirua is well-known as a proud harbour city, with its glistening waters an indelible part of its social and aesthetic identity.

Goodness Boutique

Street view looking into clothing store Goodness in Lower Hutt Wellington

Place Hutt Valley Lower Hutt

Goodness Boutique is a mainstay on Jackson Street, Petone, providing great wardrobe choices to the fine people of greater Wellington since 2005.

Schrödinger's Books

Male worker behind the counter of an independent bookstore in Petone Lower Hutt

Place Hutt Valley Lower Hutt

As the winner of NZ's Best Bookshop Award in 2021, Schrödinger's Books will hold any bookworm captive with its well-curated selection of books housed in a beautifully restored space in Petone.

Take Me Back Traders

Eclectic mix of ceramics and vintage prints on walls and shelves of vintage secondhand shop

Place Hutt Valley Upper Hutt

Take a trip down memory lane at Take Me Back Traders, a family-run vintage and retro store that specialises in sourcing one-off treasures – from unique collectables to furniture and homeware.

Humble & Grand

Homewares on display on shelves at a retail store in Upper Hutt.

Place Hutt Valley

Making its home in Upper Hutt is Humble & Grand, a homeware store stocking an assortment of contemporary and classic goodies.

Wanda Harland Design Store

Colourful clothes and candles displayed inside Wanda Harland in Petone.

Place Hutt Valley

Balancing fun and frivolity with being kind to our planet, Wanda Harland is a store in Petone that sells a range of sustainable home goods designed to last the distance.

The Merry Go Round

Retro posters on the wall, an old Space Invaders arcade game, and a vintage wooden table laden with retro crockery for sale at The Merry Go Around.

Place Hutt Valley

Head to The Merry Go Round to find out why one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Forage Merchants of Wellington

Interior of an artisan food shop with chilli oil on shelves, retro lampshades and antique chairs and table

Place Hutt Valley Lower Hutt

With a range that includes food and drink, health and beauty, art, music and so much more, Forage Merchants celebrates the very best of what the greater Wellington region has to offer.

Goldie

Clothes and homewares on display on shelves in a retail store.

Place Hutt Valley

Nestled in the seaside village of Eastbourne and online, Goldie is a beautiful home and lifestyle corner store (and paradise) for design lovers.

Hendrix Lifestyle Store

A woman working behind a white counter in a beautifully decorate store.

Place Kāpiti Coast

Located just minutes from the beach at Waikanae, Hendrix Home & Lifestyle Store is a one-stop shop for all your seaside living needs.

Penray Gardens

A fruit and vegetable display inside a large barn.

Place Kāpiti Coast

Penray Gardens is a pick-your-own paradise located in Ōtaki on the Kāpiti Coast.

Dinner and a Show: Where to Eat, Drink, and Be Entertained in Wellington’s Courtenay Precinct

People dining outside by a building covered in vines.

Story Wellington

Courtenay Precinct is where Wellington’s nightlife and culture collide. Packed with theatres, cinemas, bars and restaurants, you’ll find top-notch spots to eat, drink, and be entertained – all within a few blocks. Here’s our guide to the perfect pairings for an evening well spent.

Good as Gold

Place Wellington

From the giant yellow smiley faces peering down at you to the curiously carpeted walls and display stands, Good as Gold in Wellington is a fashion store that likes to do...

Iris Store + Studio

Place Wellington

Nestled in a creative corner of Wellington and surrounded by like-minded boutique neighbours, Iris Store + Studio is much more than a one-stop shop for all your beauty needs.

The Axe

The exterior of a building painted in white and light purple.

Place Wellington

A beautifully curated furniture and homeware store with a twist.

The Wilderness

Place Kāpiti Coast Paraparaumu Editor's Pick

Stunning seasonal blooms, dried floral installations, indoor plants, terrariums, candles, chocolate… it’s well worth popping in to admire all the lovely items in The Wilderness.

One of a Kind Finds in Porirua

Homewares on display inside Toi Store Porirua.

Story Porirua

Shopping is one of the best ways to explore a city, and by sifting through Porirua’s many unique local businesses, you’ll uncover a true melting pot of cultures.

Milk + Ginger

Clothes, shoes and bottles hung on wooden display racks and shelves.

Place Kāpiti Coast Paraparaumu

A hub of quality, affordable fashion and lifestyle in the heart of Raumati Beach, Milk + Ginger is a store well worth visiting when in town.

Abel Fabriek

The exterior of the elegant Abel building with a white weatherboard outside.

Place Wellington

Hidden away from street view on the main Aro Valley shopping strip, you’ll find Abel Fabriek, part perfumery, part elegant retail store.

Monkfish

Place Wellington

A cosy refillery and off-licence that’s strictly about good vibes, Monkfish is your Vivian Street stop for your beer, wine, and spirits needs.

Vessel

Place Wellington

Vessel specialises in artisan products, with an emphasis on locally made pottery. You could spend a day perusing the exquisite bowls, plates, and cups.

Bottega

Place Wellington

Authentic Italian delicatessen Bottega is borne from a desire to bring a taste of home to the neighbourly suburb of Berhampore,

Zelati

Place Wellington

From the texture to the rich, bright flavours, their range of sorbet and gelato offerings are impressive on the palate and pleasing to the eye.

Untouched World

Place Wellington

If there’s one clothing store that really understands sustainability, it’s Untouched World. The first and only lifestyle fashion company in the world to be recognised by the United Nations for sustainability, Untouched World gets things right from the get-go.

RUBY Wellington

Place Wellington

A New Zealand favourite brand is well at home in Old Bank Arcade.

Kowtow

Place Wellington

Kowtow inspires shoppers to think a little more before handing over their credit card.

Good Housekeeping

Place Wellington

An eco-friendly and DIY shop by the owners of The Powder Room.

Sustainability Trust

Place Wellington

An organisation with a big heart, working for a greener city and a fairer community.

Union Tattoo

Place Wellington

Covering a variety of tattoo styles, including fine line and delicate works, the team at Union Tattoo liaise closely with clients from paper to skin.

Eat, Play, Explore: A Family Weekend in Wellington’s Courtenay Precinct

Story Wellington

Courtenay Precinct might be well-known as Wellington’s go-to for nightlife, but it’s also packed with plenty of family-friendly fun.

With its mix of food, entertainment, and outdoor activities, there’s no shortage of things to do. Here’s how to spend a fun-filled family weekend in and around Wellington’s bustling Courtenay Precinct.

Natty

Place Wellington

Part studio, part shop, this sweet space in the middle of Beramphore has come a long way from its previous life as a butchery.

Aro Video

Place Wellington

Stocking an eclectic selection of quality films for hire, Aro Video offers just an inkling of hope that the Internet hasn’t killed the DVD, yet.

Yoyo

Place Wellington

Yoyo celebrates the creative talent of New Zealand designers in furniture, homeware and lighting.

Wellington Apothecary

Place Wellington

Find a complete range of botanical tonics, teas and skincare, all handmade in small batches at this local apothecary.

Dinner, Dessert & Dancing: An After-Dark Guide to Wellington’s Courtenay Precinct

Story Wellington

When the sun goes down, Courtenay Precinct lights up. Whether you're after a bite to eat, a round of drinks, or a night of dancing with friends, this is where Wellington goes to let their hair down. Here’s our guide to making the most of the Courtenay Precinct after dark.

Iko Iko

Place Wellington

The home of all things fun and fancy free, Iko Iko will treat you to something just a little different.

twenty-seven names

Place Wellington

Unique to Wellington’s offering of New Zealand boutique designer fashion is twenty-seven names, with the first store of designers Rachel Easting and Anjali Stewart open on Ghuznee Street.

Pegasus Books

Place Wellington

Pegasus truly is a bibliophile’s delight.

Slow Boat Records

Place Wellington

If you prized hours of crate-digging or the thrill of a new favourite sound, make this your next port of call.

Bicycle Junction

Place Wellington

Catching on to the retro cycles trend, the clever people behind Bicycle Junction's new neighbourhood bikery, describe themselves as “Urban Specialists.”

Deadly Ponies