8 Places To Buy Unique Souvenirs In Auckland

Auckland is the ideal place to go on a shopping spree. If souvenirs are on top of your must-buy list, New Zealand’s biggest city will give you plenty of interesting trinkets to scour through. Here are a few unique ideas from nine shops you need to know about.

The New Zealand Maritime Museum Gift Shop

Museum, Shop

The New Zealand Maritime Museum showcases the country’s rich maritime history, from early Maori settlement right through to present times. Aside from educating visitors about the City of Sails (a common nickname for Auckland) and the New Zealand harbour, the museum has an interesting gift shop to look through. Books, knick-knacks, homewares and even traditional Kiwiana souvenirs are some of the items available for those on the prowl for a memorable relic to take home.

The WildZone Gift Shop at Auckland Zoo

Zoo

Here’s something for those of you who are travelling with kids. Auckland Zoo’s WildZone Gift Shop is renowned for selling a range of sustainable products – including souvenirs, books, clothing and children’s toys. WildZone holds interactive story time sessions for preschoolers at 10AM every Thursday too – perfect for keeping the tots entertained while you’re having a proper browse. Aside from the gift shop, the zoo also does souvenir photos at the Magic Memories booth.

The Fantail House

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Nestled in a little alley inside Parnell village, The Fantail House has been serving as a platform for New Zealand craftspeople to showcase and sell their creations for more than 30 years. This hidden gem will provide you with a trove of authentically Kiwi pieces, from bone carvings and woodwork to Pounamu (greenstone) jewellery and skincare.

Greenstone Factory Shop

Shop, Store

A budget-friendly souvenir shop that stocks and array of greenstone and Paua shell artifacts, among various other artisan pieces. The Greenstone Factory Shop is located in the inner-city suburb of Kingsland, and is highly dedicated to providing quality souvenirs and gifts for all occasions. Flax ketes (which are traditional Maori baskets), glassware, ceramics, whale and beef bone carvings, and woodware are a few other items to keep a close eye out for.

Pauanesia

Shop, Store

Hand-made stuffed kiwi birds, artisan jewellery, merino scarves, locally-made homewares – if it’s an uniquely New Zealand gift that you seek, Pauanesia will surely have it. Straying away from tacky souvenir shop aesthetics, this artistic Antipodean store is filled with quality items that are primarily sourced from local creatives. Sales proceeds from selected items even go towards bird conservation projects – so just about everything you’re buying is going back into the community.

The Poi Room

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If you’re willing to spend a little extra, The Poi Room’s artistic objects, contemporary artworks, and Maori taonga (treasures) inventory is worth considering. With locations in Newmarket and Ponsonby, the shop is dedicated to representing emerging and established Kiwi artists and artisans as they make an impression on national and international spectrums. Prints, paintings, blown glass items, and mixed media sculptures are among the various items you will find in this refined souvenir store.

Texan Art Schools

School, Shop

With more than 25 years of history and five stores Auckland-wide, the Texan Art Schools have sealed their place in supporting local designers and creatives from the area’s tech and art schools. The shop’s name has got nothing to do with Texas, FYI: it’s merely a play on the words ‘techs and art’. Whether you’re on a tight budget or you’ve got a little extra to spend, this is a great place to snap up some New Zealand-made fashion, accessories, homewares, jewellery, stationery, and art.

Painted Pacific Pottery

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Timeless ceramic pieces made entirely by two Auckland based potters. Chrissie and Charlie Seakins have been creating special, New Zealand inspired items for more than 30 years. Along with their Northcote Point headquarters, Painted Pacific Pottery items are stocked in retail stores nation-wide. Mugs, vases and crockery all draw from the country’s natural landscapes and wildlife – from native pohutukawa plants through to fantail birds and the black sands that are characteristic of the West Auckland coastlines.