Catherine & Lin from New Brighton Community Gardens

Established in 2005 and still going strong, The New Brighton Community Gardens is our favourite place in New Brighton. We love the variety of people who we get to meet, work and spend time getting to know. We often hear that most of our volunteers would never meet outside the garden gates in daily life. Being a space that provides that sense of community is perhaps our most significant achievement. We have a job and space for everyone, regardless of background, skills or abilities. Head to the New Brighton Community Gardens Facebook page to keep up with what we are up to. It’s our own little paradise.

Studio, gallery and curiosities store, The Grotto won’t be a hidden gem in New Brighton for long! Creator Matt Morris is about showcasing local and New Zealand artists’ works that have a connection to the natural environment and sustainability. Did you know he is also the local sauerkraut maker among us? The Urban Monk makes the most amazing sauerkraut and tonics and is worth a try. You can order them from his website and at The Grotto.

Artisan Emporium, 105, is a great place to get a present or treat for yourself. There is always something that will catch your eye. Sustainable handmade options are easy to find, and the biggest issue when you discover a present for someone special is not to buy a second one for yourself. When you go a bit further to the back, you will find “When Your Sister is a Witch” by Sam Brown. There are healthcare and beauty products - the rose and camomile face mist is a must, and the dried flower bouquets are just stunning and will last. If you are ever stuck in your mind, body or soul, a massage from Sam will give you wings. 

Walking and stopping along the way to take in the beauty Mother Nature has to offer, she is the best artist. The morning dew on the plants has such beauty. If you have a magnifying glass, fun for hours. We love the Southshore Spit Reserve, especially the bench seat there. 

We work with Switch New Brighton by taking their eggshells, which we clean, dry, crush and distribute back into the community garden, like the coffee grounds and green waste. Each week they drop three bins into our gardens, and we return them. It’s this spirit of working together that we love and feel represents New Brighton. They also make great-tasting salads. The Karma Free Cafe’s Tiramisu slice is also addictive!

We are so lucky in New Brighton to have the ocean and its raw beauty on our front steps. Sitting on top of the dunes and watching the ocean puts your mind at ease. Add a sunrise to this, and boom, your creativity flows. On top of that, we love seeing the Sand Mans designs! How awesome are his works of art?

The Mosaic Girls are amazing! The beauty they create within New Brighton is just on a different level and gives a nice feeling of the community too. It just pops up wherever you look. There’s a beautiful piece opposite Switch café. We have a mosaic birdbath and are dreaming of a mosaic sofa for Brighton or the gardens!

We don’t get much time to read, but when we do, we love to sit in the New Brighton Library. The view is just excellent, and those big chairs are comfy enough to have a snooze too. We have worked with the library and hosted some garden talks there, also. The great thing about Brighton is that you can start the morning here and keep entertained the entire day or weekend, and you still would not get through it all.

We are big believers in reducing our footprint in this world, and fixing rather than throwing things has got to be the way to go. The local shoe monger, Happy Feet, is fantastic. They have been in business for over 35 years. We love the smell and the craftsmanship when you go in there, and they will fix your boots with quality and care. There’s something very genuine about this shop.