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Wellington Shopping

With its colourful arcades, boutiques and historic shop fronts, Wellington offers a great shopping experience.
 
Lambton Quay
Serious shoppers should check out The Golden Mile – the local nickname for the main downtown retail area of Lambton Quay. This elegant inner city quarter has several shopping centres and a wide range of designer boutique stores, as well as tempting cafés, bars and restaurants. A highlight for shoppers is the Old Bank Shopping Arcade. Designed by John Turnbull 100 years ago, this is one of the capital’s most famous landmarks and has been beautifully restored to its former glory with galleries, restaurants, cafés and speciality stores. A visit to Wellington institution, Kirkcaldie & Stains (165-177 Lambton Quay), is another treat with its elegant surroundings and upmarket goods. This classic department store was established in 1863 and is one of the oldest in the country. Lambton Quay is close to the Wellington railway and bus stations and on the city circular service.

Thorndon
Wellington’s oldest district is another good place for interesting finds. As well as some fine examples of early colonial architecture, there is a good selection of arts and crafts, antique shops and art galleries.

Courtenay Place
The city's entertainment zone is most lively by night, but there are plenty of boutiques to tempt shoppers on Blair, College and Vivian Streets, and on Oriental Parade. The Wellington Market on Wakefield Street has a varied range of craft and gift stalls, and also sells second-hand goods and furniture.

Cuba Street

Known for its cutting edge artisans, fashion boutiques and interior designers, Cuba Street is one of Wellington’s hippest hang-outs. Buskers ply their trade in front of shops offering everything from crystals to lava lamps, and there are plenty of alternative-style bargains including second-hand book shops and music stores, retro clothes, markets, and galleries showing original design works. 

Willis Street

One of Wellington’s key shopping quarters, Willis Street spreads to Victoria and Manners Streets, offering an eclectic range of gifts, souvenirs, designer labels and ethnic restaurants. Manners Mall is a popular haunt for buskers and street entertainers.

Crafts & Clothing
Wellington has an excellent selection of quality craft and clothing shops, and a huge range of New Zealand-made souvenirs and crafts. Souvenir hunters after something uniquely local can pick up paua shell jewellery, greenstone (New Zealand jade) or bone carvings at reasonable prices. Other good gift ideas include sheepskin products, jewellery, ornaments, furniture, ethnic art, toys, shoes, handblown glassworks, Celtic goods and a huge range of quality clothing including woollen, ski, outdoor wear and designer labels.

Wellington Markets
  • The Wellington Market (cnr Cable & Taranaki Streets)
    A good range of NZ crafts and souvenirs with ethnic food shops. Open Thurs-Sun and public holidays.
  • James Smith's Corner
    A range of retail outlets and a market offering everything from jewellery to designer clothing. Open 7 days. 55 Cuba St.
  • Porirua Market
    An excellent ethnic-style market open from 6am Saturdays at Cobham Court, Porirua.
  • Upper Hutt Flea Market
    A craft and flea market held every Saturday from 9am to 12pm.
  • Riverbank Market
    Crafts, clothes and produce. Saturday 8am-3pm. Riverbank Carpark, Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt.
  • Tawa Lions Saturday Market
    Produce, arts and crafts. Open Saturdays 10.30am-2.30pm. 24 Main Road, Tawa.

Antiques
Many of the city’s historic buildings now host an interesting collection of cafés, galleries and antique shops. Relax over a coffee, then spend some time browsing for antiques and curios.

  • Cherry Orchard Antiques
    English and French country antiques. Furniture, collectibles and decorative pieces. Traditional, rustic, inspirational. 344 Tinakori Road. Phone 499 8533.
  • The Stansborough Fine Art Gallery
    An heirloom collection of colonial & historic oil & watercolour paintings. New Zealand and European treasures at affordable prices. 100 Hutt Park Road, Seaview, Wellington. Phone 04 566 5591.
  • Tinakori Antiques
    We buy and sell all kinds of antiques – jewellery, silver and gold, porcelain, glass, paintings, furniture and collectors items. 291a Tinakori Road. Phone 472 7043.

Shopping Facts

  • Shopping hours - Mon-Fri, 9am-5.30pm. Sat-9am-4pm. Sunday 10am-2pm.
  • Bank Hours - Most open Mon-Fri, 9am-4.30pm. Visitors wanting to exchange travellers' cheques can use banks or exchange agencies. American Express, on Lambton Quay, offers international pre-paid phone cards, drafts and telegraphic transfers.

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