YouLookFab Forum » Topic: New Zealand

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: New Zealand https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:28:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Carol on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2403767 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 04:05:28 +0000 Carol 2403767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Have not been there, but they have world-class wine. I was a huge wine fanatic for a long time--guess I still am. Although New Zealand is a more recent entry into winemaking, their sauvignon blanc is considered the "benchmark" sauv. blanc worldwide, by many experts. Zingy, grassy...and I bet there are a lot of restaurants and tasting rooms around.  Jenni NZ on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2403161 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 02:25:13 +0000 Jenni NZ 2403161@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So I have met JamC today! I will do a post on the main forum. Thanks for all the advice- she is actually going to a winery on Waiheke Island this afternoon and might already be there by now. Sal on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2403022 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:21:35 +0000 Sal 2403022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Those are some great foodie recommendations RB. I second C1 cafe which is super fun and also Little High. We stayed near there in 2024 and enjoyed both spots. New Regent St in Christchurch is also pretty. And yes to the wineries and spots in Central Otago! RB on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2403018 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:08:35 +0000 RB 2403018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In Christchurch for food and wine also check out The Cellar Door at the Arts Centre <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.cellardoor.nz/wine-tasting">https://www.cellardoor.nz/wine-tasting</a>. Not only is the Arts Centre a lovely place, it is over the road from the Boatanic Gardens and feedback from wine industry people is that their wine list is really good. The last few times we have been Riverside Market has been good during the day, but closes early in the evening (around 6pm). There is a great craft beer bar in there - The Canterbury Brewers Collective   <a rel="nofollow" href="https://canterburybrewerscollective.nz/">https://canterburybrewerscollective.nz/</a>. You can buy food from other vendors and eat it at the collective with your beer. Another option - open later in the evenings in Christchurch is Little High  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.littlehigh.co.nz/">https://www.littlehigh.co.nz/</a>. It is really popular and crowded, but we have never had an issue getting a table when we have arrived. In the same neighbourhood as Little High is C1 Espresso <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.c1espresso.co.nz/">https://www.c1espresso.co.nz/</a> Great food and coffee and the cafe set up is quirky and fun - some food items on the menu are delivered in cannisters via vacuum tubes that snake across the ceiling. The water fountains are old dentists water fountain and an old sewing machine and you go through a bookcase to get to the bathrooms. As far as cafes go - for sweet items Sweet Patisserie is outstanding - they are open later too so it works for dessert <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.sweetsoul.nz/">https://www.sweetsoul.nz/</a> Rollickin Gelato <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.rollickin.co.nz/">https://www.rollickin.co.nz/</a> serves great gelato with a kiwi twist - when you're in line read the descriptions on the paper on the doors and or walls that describe each flavour - e,g, <div><div>POPS LEMON PIE </div></div><div><div><a rel="nofollow"></a>Who’s Pop? Who knows! But he’s the type to slip you a fiver… then a whole pie.</div></div><div>Lick your way through creamy vanilla & lemon zesty gelato, layered with tangy lemon curd and buttery biscuit crust. Riverside, Sweet Patisserie and Rollickin Gelato are in Cashel Mall (an open air mall) that also has New Zealand designer brand shops Kate Sylvester, Alchemy Equipment, Moochi, Mons Royale all come to mind, and Christchurch's iconic department store Ballantynes. Near the botanic gardens Airstream Icecream serves great icecream <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/airstreamicecream/">https://www.facebook.com/airstreamicecream/</a> In Wellington Cuckoo Emporium  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/cuckooemporiumnz">https://www.facebook.com/cuckooemporiumnz</a> is a great retro wine bar with a good wine list.  The Library is good for cocktails <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.thelibrary.co.nz/">https://www.thelibrary.co.nz/</a>. Going earlier (before about 8pm) it is quieter and there is no queue to get in. Current favourite coffee shop is Sketchbook  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Sketchbook-Coffee-61575509345060/">https://www.facebook.com/p/Ske.....509345060/</a>. It is near Te Papa, the National Museum. For chain coffee and food, Mojo is pretty reliable. Smith the Grocer in the Old Bank Arcade (Lambton Quay, Featherstone Street, Willis Street corner, is pretty good for coffee and food too, with the advantage of it being a fashion centre. If you are there near the hour go upstairs (stairs are at the Starbucks end of the arcade) and when the clock chimes the clock opens with a display / diorama of old Wellington. Fashion in Wellington, Lambton Quay for high street labels, Old Bank Arcade, Featherston Street, Victoria Street and Ghuznee Street for designers. In Queenstown, Arrowtown, to be specific, The winery is worth a visit <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.thewinery.co.nz/">https://www.thewinery.co.nz/</a>.  There are lots of lovely wineries in Central Otago that are accessible from Queenstown. Christchurch they are about an hour north around Waipara, and Wellington they are several hours away in the Wairarapa or over Cook Strait in Marlborough. In Auckland, they are on Waiheke Island which would also be a whole day trip, which may not be worth it if you are also going to Central Otago.</div> Sal on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402968 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:47:53 +0000 Sal 2402968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Have a wonderful time! I hope you enjoy our gardens. There will be quite a range across the length of the country and hopefully you see some of the houses they belong to. I am in Hamilton and we have a very special Garden here with lots of themed gardens. I expect it will be on your tour. I especially like the Egyptian and the Indian gardens there but they are all wonderful. Our city is not really on the tourist road but the gardens are. Christchurch Botanic Gardens are lovely too and the gardens in houses are also stunning. If you go to New Plymouth their big park is also very special - Pukekura Park. JamC on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402951 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 15:24:36 +0000 JamC 2402951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you Chris987 for adding your list of special memories! Our itinerary is varied with an emphasis on gardens, food and wineries, and New Zealand culture. We are going to Milford sound and staying on the tiny cruise ship! When we land, I will look into the penguins; that is the kind of thing I would have booked if we had planned our own itinerary. I know that New Zealand is a special place and we are lucky to visit but all your ideas are making me even more excited!! We will be there in an hour or so! Chris987 on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402950 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 14:33:03 +0000 Chris987 2402950@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You will LOVE NZ whatever you do. I was there 25 years ago and my favorite things we did were probably not feasible for you since you already have a planned trip with an itinerary an a few unplanned days, but I'll list them anyway. They are both nature/animal related. 1) visit Milford Sound, one of the few fjords outside Norway. Unbelievable spectacular. It's a half-day bus ride in a remote area to get there, most people do overnight on a tiny "cruise ship", and then another half day to get back to a more populated area. We were supposed to take a tiny plane to cook glacier afterwards but it was too foggy for the tiny planes to fly (which we were told happens half the time) so we headed off to Christchurch I think.  2) the yellow-eye penguins in Dunedin. They are the zoologically oldest form of penguin on the planet, and only live in that one spot. Most people view them from a boat that goes by the beach for a short time, but DH had a work colleague from the local university who took us out onto he beach/dunes to sit in a bird blind for an hour or two. They nest at the top of a cliff, come down every day to swim in the ocean and eat fish, then wriggle up that steep cliff wall to their nests at night. We got to see the wriggling ... so cool!     Sal on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402947 Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:44:51 +0000 Sal 2402947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh how exciting! I will start with food -famous foods are the meat pie, pavlova, Hokey Pokey Icecream and we are increasingly well known for our good coffee. At the moment the stone fruit is great and so are tomatoes and peppers and salads. International guests love Whittaker’s chocolate which is a good thing to buy. Food is expensive but the USD will help. Our cafe scene is good - and there is all sorts of food available. Shopping - in Auckland I like Commercial Bay and Ponsonby. In Christchurch the Riverside Market is worth a visit. Great food options there. The Art Galleries in Auckland and Christchurch are both good too. Scenery, walking and beaches are the best thing about visiting here. Bring your swimsuit and sunscreen - out sun is fierce!! Jenni NZ on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402900 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 19:22:30 +0000 Jenni NZ 2402900@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi JamC that sounds a fun trip. Are you cruising or flying? I live in Auckland, on the North Shore of its harbour, so across the Auckland Harbour Bridge from its downtown area. I would be happy to meet up if that’s something you wanted. The best shopping in Auckland is probably in the downtown area (or CBD Central Business District) where there is a large rebuilt shopping mall. It has been there for decades when it used to just be called Downtown, so I wasn’t personally that excited about it having lived here most of my life and been familiar with it, but it is totally rebuilt and much bigger, now called Commercial Bay which is apparently an old name from the colonial days which has been revived. There are international luxury stores there or nearby like Louis Vuitton etc plus more fast fashion like H&M, but also specific NZ designers. There is another very large shopping area called Newmarket not too far away also. We have nice beaches and cafes if you prefer that as it is summer. If you send me a personal message through YLF I am happy to give you my email and mobile number and full name. I met BJ1111 in 2019 and we had a blast, sadly the heritage department store I took her to has closed I have also met Sal in her city which is a couple of hours drive away and we had a lovely walk in some gardens. I could give a little advice about Wellington and Queenstown too but little about Christchurch where I have only visited once in the last 15 years since their major earthquake and rebuilding in 2011. I think one of Sally’s sons lives there so she has probably visited more. JamC on "New Zealand" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-zealand#post-2402867 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 11:48:09 +0000 JamC 2402867@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jenny NZ, Sal and anyone else with knowledge of New Zealand!! I am traveling to New Zealand for the next 3 weeks! I am so excited!! I will be with a group tour organized by a local arboretum. We start in Aukland, travel to Queenstown, Christchurch, and Wellington! Any suggestions re: shopping, restaurants, or interesting sites for my “free days”? Thank you in advance for any help! JamC