From the pages of our Spring Issue straight to your screens, our curated edit of the very best pieces of design are now at your fingertips. Featuring showstopping occasional chairs, lounge-worthy sofas, sleek bathware, refined lighting, essential outdoor additions (which should be ordered now in the lead-up to summer) and other covetable furnishings, this shoppable edit allows you to explore all the hero design pieces from our recently unveiled Spring Issue.
If you’ve been flicking through the glossy Wellbeing pages of our newly-released Spring Issue, we have rounded up all the products that might have caught your eye and included them in our curated, shopping edit below. From life-changing face oils to haircare that will give you long, luscious locks, to a concise line-up of makeup for a glowing visage, these are the hero wellness products from our Spring Issue.
Yes, the weather might be grim out there, but there’s nothing like some beautiful new boots to put a bit of pep in your step. Designed to elevate any winter outfit, these chic and versatile styles will see you through the remainder of the season, promising to be as practical against wintry days as they are beautiful when layered with your favourite suit-pants, dresses, skirts and more. Without further ado, these are the boots to buy now.
While typically, flowers are favoured for special occasions, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and for cheering someone up who might be having a bad day, they are also just beautiful to have around the house — the best way to bring life to a space (particularly while the weather remains decidedly wintry). So, in the name of encouraging you to get out and pick up some fresh flowers for no other reason than to simply infuse your home with some fresh colour, we have rounded up the best florists in Auckland — you’re welcome.
Inspired by her passion for connecting with people and with nature, Hannah Low started Grace and Flora in 2017, and then, in 2021, moved her operation to the exquisite Faradays luxury department store. There, visitors will find Low’s exceptional arrangements at the entrance of the shop, filling the space with an air of colourful optimism. After all, Low’s bouquets are beloved for their big, bold presence and their sculptural shapes, and are perfectly suited to sit alongside the latest collections from the likes of Loewe, Celine and more.
Founded by Kelly Karam, who has been in the floristry business for over 20 years, Blush has become a household name for those in search of a luxurious bouquet or arrangement. The company imparts floral finesse to countless weddings and events, while also brightening up everyday occasions for customers from its retail store in Commercial Bay.
Inspired by the flower artisans of Paris’ Montmartre, Florist Millie Austin started La Femme Fleur nearly 10 years ago with a flower truck in Cox’s Bay. Now based in Remuera’s Bloodworth Park, Austin is continuing to build on her already-prolific reputation as a master of her art, creating eye-popping bouquets that play with exquisite colour combinations and high-quality blooms, always sourced fresh from growers and wrapped in La Femme Fleur’s decidedly chic (and unassuming) brown paper.
Helmed by Isabel Johnston and Lydia Reusser, Isadia is a floristry studio that creates arrangements that feel more akin to art than the typical bouquet. Known for their intuitive and naturalistic floral creations, this duo has built a name for the unique ways in which they fashion locally-sourced, seasonal flowers into unstructured but elegant ensembles. If you’re looking for something slightly out of the ordinary but utterly breathtaking, look no further.
Known for their unconventional approach, the team at The Botanist is well versed in creating floral arrangements that are perfectly balanced between wild and polished. From corporate to weddings and individual clients, there is no occasion that doesn’t benefit from The Botanist’s impressive and unique aesthetic.
Established in 1990, Flowers After Hours draws inspiration from the worlds of fashion and design to inform its stunning floral creations. From their colourful Parnell store, this team of talented florists lend their hands to an array of blooming beauties with the same degree of utmost passion every time.
As renowned for its striking wedding and event installations as it is for the more simple bouquets it creates out of its Ponsonby Central studio, Rose Tinted Flowers has long been a fixture on the Auckland florist scene. There, the team creates whimsical, sometimes surprising combinations that never fail to delight with their perfectly put-together palettes and eye-catching ensembles.
Kingsland-based Kensal Flower Studio was initially started out of the home of owner Liv Wakem, who, after demand quickly grew for her beautiful bouquets, opened her own studio space on the Kingsland high street (and has never looked back). There is a lovely femininity to Liv’s blooms and the careful way she assembles each bouquet, characterised by bright, uplifting colours and a kind of organised chaos that really draws the eye.
After setting up her own, dream operation in 2018, Georgie Malyon has made a name for herself as a florist with a particularly artistic and sculptural eye. Greenpoint’s bouquets stand out for their meticulous and moody arrangements, where bold colours and unique blooms are brought together in showstopping harmony.
Started by Brook Thompson, Brooklyn Flowers is one florist we know we can rely on if in need of a last-minute bouquet. Offering same-day and ‘urgent’ delivery options, this Ponsonby mainstay will endeavour to whip together a beautiful bouquet, even if you’ve left it to the very last minute (which, let’s be honest, happens a lot). Offering the kinds of flowers that really will brighten up someone’s day, Brooklyn has become a go-to of ours for a reason.
Specialising in flowers for corporate events and functions, although also known to deliver some seriously impressive bouquets too, when called on to do so, Flowers of Franklin is easily one of the best florists in Auckland and is highly sought-after for its creations that err on the side of subtle sophistication.
Creating whimsical and unique floral arrangements, Anna Dobson started Where Rosemary Grows after a life-long love for floristry. Now, she actually grows most of her own flowers in her small Auckland cutting garden and only sources when she has to from a select few local growers. Her beautiful blooms are grown without chemical sprays and only with natural fertilisers, and her aesthetic reflects the naturalism of her process — perfectly romantic for the day of love.
This florist has been a Parnell institution for well over 70 years. In fact, it is believed to be the oldest existing florist business in Auckland (and possibly, New Zealand). Having honed their craft over such a long and storied history, the tea, Cartier for Flowers certainly knows what they’re doing, whether it’s for a small, personal bouquet or a more significant event installation or wedding.
Offering a range of stunning, individually-created bouquets tailored to exactly what you might need, Vida Flores, helmed by Davina Prankerd, should be on everyone’s list of go-to florists. Its arrangements offer a slightly modern twist on traditional bouquets, with vibrant flowers that promise to brighten up anyone’s day.
Another name that specialises in wedding and event blooms (but shouldn’t be passed up for an individual bouquet, either) Floracentric is a contemporary floristry studio offering arrangements that are sleek and sophisticated while also feeling decidedly modern and grounded in the now, each artistically put together in what feels like a careful and purposeful way.
Known for her bouquets that are wild, and romantic and that truly showcase the beauty of each, individual flower, Nina Powierza has been working in this industry for over 30 years — and her expertise shows. Nina for Flowers is one of Auckland’s most beloved florists for its blooms that promise to turn heads and brighten any room.
Over the last year, there has been a raft of utterly indulgent (and highly popular) burger pop-ups that have taken Auckland’s dining scene by storm. Characterised by their nature of only being on for a good time, not a long one (and drawing frenzied crowds as a result) there’s a new burger offering in town that is taking a more permanent approach (thank goodness). Benny The Jet is the latest concept out of the kitchen of the ever-popular Williams Eatery, set to kick off tonight and run every Friday for the foreseeable future.
Benny The Jet was conceived as a no-fuss, burger pop-up, with Williams’ Founder Charles Williams telling me, the intention was simply to make really, really good burgers, “the best burger we possibly can,” he says. “With that in mind, only one burger [a cheeseburger] is on the menu.” Here, the burgers feature succulent, beef-brisket patties, layers of gooey, melty cheese and a few obligatory pickles. (Vegetarians needn’t worry, you will have the option of replacing the brisket patty with an Impossible one.)
The Cheeseburger
It’s not just a one-off, either. Williams explains that burger night will take place every Friday for the foreseeable future, accompanied by art exhibitions and live jazz — the latter inspired by the torch the owners still hold for places like Golden Dawn. Auckland jazz maestros Joe Kaptein and Finn Scholes will regularly appear, with plenty more to join as the days get longer and we roll into summer.
With Benny The Jet, they’ve also seized the opportunity to work with their longtime friend Petra Leary to produce an exhibition of her most recent coveted drone photography works around the store, all of which will be available for purchase and on display for the foreseeable future.
And if you’re not after a burger (you’re probably in the wrong place), Williams tells me that a couple of extra sides include ‘bougie’ chicken nuggets and plenty of desserts to go around too. His advice is to come hungry. Basically, it’s burgers, art and jazz from 4pm every Friday — sounds like knock-off plans are sorted.
There is no reason why men should spend less time on their grooming regimens than women do and there are a raft of products specifically targeted at men that prove it. From those designed to deliver a glowing visage, to must-haves for meticulous beard maintenance, these essential products should be on your bathroom shelf.
Skincare
Elevate your daily grooming game with a single powerhouse product that brightens, resurfaces, renews, tightens, evens out and protects your complexion. These clean and high-performance formulas are specifically crafted to optimise your bathroom routine while delivering outstanding results.
Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum from Spring Store
Tools
Not only does LED light therapy offer cosmetic benefits, but it has also been shown to positively impact your mood, stress levels and sleep quality. The red light promotes collagen production, the near-infrared light stimulates cellular healing, and the blue light destroys acne-causing bacteria, all essential for a better life. Whether you’re looking for something discreet to pop in your dopp, a full face mask that can untertake the ritual in just minutes, or an all-in-one tool that brings in massage therapy too, these are the go-to tools of the moment.
Regardless of your grooming style, these formulas will condition and moisturise your hairs while providing a subtle definition and a shiny finish, while this luxurious shaving set is an upgrade that every bathroom needs.
When the weekend rolls around, we are confronted once again with the question of how on Earth to keep our kids entertained — particularly over winter. So, in a bid to help you find the perfect activities to while away a weekend afternoon, with your children in tow, we have rounded up some of the best entertainment venues in Auckland; the ideal spots for little ones to exert some energy (and some you might actually enjoy, too).
This entertainment emporium is designed for hours of fun-filled activities with over 65 gaming machines, bumper cart lanes, a bowling alley and an American-style diner. While a bar opens in the evening for adults, during the day the bright, spinning lights of Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq is a child-friendly space for all to enjoy. Book in for the upcoming silly season, and you can soon unleash your inner child as your family gets to feel the excitement of going head-to-head in air hockey or hoops.
As a cultural leader in New Zealand, the Auckland Art Gallery is a catalyst for ideas. Its educational programmes for children of all ages ensure they can engage each stage of the next generation of bright minds. The Creative Learning Centre and the Gallery Games, in particular, help young ones relate to the art around them.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand’s first Museums, telling the story of us within its impressive neo-classical columns. Broaden young minds with its innovative educational experiences, including inclusive exhibitions and activity programmes. Situated in the Domain, there are also excellent hills to roll down during a lunch break.
A great place to take the kids any day, MOTAT offers something for everyone (and kids of all ages) thanks to its rotating programme of fun and educational activities and permanent exhibits. As perfect for kids who want to see huge planes, trains and cars up close as it is for more creatively-minded kids, who would rather spend their time doing things like MOTAT’s Squish! Bang! Splat! (happening on Sunday the 3rd of September and offering a range of fun activities including water balloon fights, bottle rocket launchers, the Slime Zone, playdough station, squish art and so much more), this destination promises a day that you and your children will love.
For adventurous, energetic kids, Jump is the ultimate destination. With activities that are (as the name suggests) based around each centre’s wall-to-wall trampolines, the Jump complexes offer dodgeball courts, foam pits, trapeze and monkey bars, a super tramp, a parkour area, trampoline basketball lanes, a ninja warrior course and more. Designed for hours of fun, Jump is somewhere your children will absolutely love.
At this world-class, multi-faceted children’s entertainment venue, children will be delighted by live theatre, film studios, extensive playgrounds, fun activities and more, while parents can find a moment of reprieve at The Grounds, a delicious eatery set within the Whoa! Studios compound. This is one for the whole family.
Left: Butterfly House at Butterfly Creek Right: Penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s
Get up close and personal with a range of beautiful animals at Butterfly Creek. Not only will you and your children get to encounter exquisite butterflies in the Tropical Butterfly House, but you will be able to also see cheeky monkeys, meerkats, and otters at the Buttermilk Farm. There, kids can also take a ride on the farm’s train while parents enjoy some refreshments in the on-site cafe.
This classic venue will likely already be on every parent’s list but just as a refresher, Kelly Tarlton’s offers just about the best opportunity in Auckland for kids to experience the wonders of the ocean, up close. From its iconic shark tunnel to its colony of sub-Arctic penguins (the only one in New Zealand), this is the perfect place to pass some time.
Navigate your way around a range of obstacles and zip lines suspended through tree-tops at Tree Adventures, Auckland’s home of high-flying adventures. With courses and adventures catering to kids from five and older, this heart-racing course is a great option for when you want to add something completely different to the weekend agenda (and is an experience your children won’t soon forget).
For a day of mini-golf with a twist, head to Holey Moley, a putt-putt course in Viaduct Harbour that has turned the time-honoured game into a multi-faceted, colourful labyrinth of unique holes. Promising to keep you and your playing companions on your toes, this course is the perfect excuse for some friendly competition. Plus, for parents, there is a full-service bar on site serving up delicious cocktails. Win-win, we say.
If you have kids with energy to burn, take them for a wall-scaling session at Clip ‘N Climb. This indoor complex offers a range of climbing walls (from beginner to pro) that will challenge and thrill them, and get them well-and-truly tired out. Also a great option for kids birthday parties.
Filled with over 8,000 square metres of real snow, Snowplanet is New Zealand’s only indoor snow park and will transport your children to another world. Offering plenty of space for skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and more, as well as a restaurant in which to recharge between runs, this incredible place should be added to the agenda immediately.
Another dedicated trampoline park, this one with over 1,000 square metres of purpose-built trampolines, Gravity will provide hours of fun and energy-burning activities. Running their standard jump sessions every hour, and with barista-made coffee on site for onlooking parents, this is another great option for a weekend activity.
For kids who love to throw themselves into physical activities, the circus classes at Flip ‘N Fly are a must-do. There, they will learn circus skills including trapeze, lyra, tumbling handstands, juggling, hula hoops, manipulation skills, trampoline and much, much more. Not only is this good for developing hand-eye coordination, but it also helps kids to build on their teamwork skills and meet new friends. Beginner classes start at five years old, while more advanced classes run for children ages eight and over.
At this indoor party and play centre you’ll find a range of delightfully-fun activities suitable for kids from babies to 11 years old. With slides, ball pits, tunnels, jungle gyms and more, My Wonderland has become a very popular place for birthday parties and will keep kids entertained for hours.
Another indoor play centre that has become a fast favourite, is Magic Loft, offering a wide variety of areas that include long slides, obstacle courses, ball pits, swings, see-saws, tunnels and much much more. This will keep your wee ones very thoroughly entertained (and leave them perfectly tuckered out).
As New Zealand’s largest Virtual Reality Entertainment Centre, VR Room allows visitors to explore fantastical worlds or embark on pulse-racing adventures via games that are geared for entertainment, adventure, learning or development. With activities designed for beginners and those with more experience in the VR world, this innovative hub provides equipment, games and content suitable for a range of levels: individual players, two-to-six multiplayer groups, and some just for kids. It also can be booked for birthday parties for anywhere between eight and 30 people.
Escape the city for a rural experience at the very charming Kiwi Valley Farm Park. There, you’ll discover a nursery shed filled with cute baby animals, a maze filled with hidden caves, horse and pony rides for kids, tractor rides right up to the farm’s top paddocks to see views of the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island and more animals, a farm walk on which you can feed ducks, goats, chickens, donkeys, sheep and alpacas, as well as a playground, sandpit and cafe.
Heat has been used as a healing tool for centuries, with the earliest concepts of saunas dating back to Northern European villages in 2000 BC. With mounting evidence indicating hot therapy can detox the body, assist in weight management and boost the metabolism, accelerate recovery and healing and increase blood flow,who are we to refute its prowess? (Especially in wintry temperatures like these.) It is a philosophy long-pioneered by one of Auckland’s most luxurious spas, East Day Spa, where a series of warming treatments are designed to give us that restorative boost we so crave at this time of year. Here are three of our favourites.
Infrared Sauna
One of the latest additions to East Day Spa’s stable is its new Clearlight Infrared Saunas, which allow you to either arrive for a solo session or add it to one of your other treatments to extend your wellbeing experience. These sublime spaces provide a personal sanctuary where clients can bask in warmth and comfort. The healing infrared light penetrates the body, removing toxins, relieving muscle pain, boosting metabolism, alleviating joint stiffness, improving skin health, and even diminishing the appearance of cellulite. Whether you enjoy this serene space alone or with a friend, the saunas promise a transformative, warming experience.
Hot Stone Massage
We’re very well acquainted with East Day Spa’s famous Hot Stone Massage — an utterly indulgent experience that promotes relaxation through added warmth. In this 75-minute treatment, heated volcanic stones are used to glide over the body for a warm and soothing massage combined with energy-balancing techniques that guide you into the most profound state of relaxation. You can quite literally feel the heat melting any tension away; it’s nothing short of bliss.
The Tepidarium
The Tepidarium is a purpose-built warm relaxation room that almost oozes bliss. Five Italian stone-heated loungers emit a radiant, gentle heat designed to gently melt away muscle tension and encourage the mind to unwind. It is the perfect space to surrender your body to complete relaxation, whether before or after a treatment or simply as a peaceful vacation from the outside world. Sessions in the East Tepidarium can be enjoyed for as little as 30 minutes, accommodating a maximum of five people per session for an intimate and exclusive experience.
It’s been a swift threemonths since Cassia re-opened, the team taking the challenges of their former, underground setting in their stride, and setting up a new iteration of Cassia within the SkyCity precinct. We’ve long been fans of Sid and Chand Sahrawat’s modern Indian offering, but at this new address, we’d argue that this is Cassia at its very best.
Of course, this is something the most loyal followers of the restaurant will know well — having likely already nabbed themselves a booking or two at the new destination. But for those yet to find an excuse to visit (or perhaps a coveted reservation), the new lunch menu offering is just the push you need.
Left: Tandoori Chicken Taco Right: Pani Puri
Available Friday through Sunday, Cassia’s incredible new three-course lunch menu highlights the restaurant’s famous culinary prowess. To begin, all diners can snack on two of Cassia’s most beloved starters; crispy pani puri, with its traditional accompaniments of potato, chickpea and mint, alongside the more modern tandoori chicken taco — a new fusion addition for the new address.
To follow, diners have the choice of four mains, each as delicious as the next. Here you’ll have to make the challenging and all-important decision between mushroom with green chilli and truffle, lamb seekh served with spinach and mushroom, market fish with kerala and curry leaf, or tandoori chicken with lababdar and radish. All are, of course, served with garlic naan and basmati rice. (Essential vehicles for enhancing all the flavour of the mains.) At a mere $58 per person, this menu is as perfect for a simple lunch catch-up as it is for a more planned affair with friends. And to finish? A serving of Cassia’s famed tropical sorbet with coconut and lychee. A menu we could hardly fault.
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