Shoppers seeking the latest in cutting-edge fashion and design can pick up the pocket-size Auckland Fashion Guide from visitor information centers and then head for the High Street-Vulcan Lane-O'Connell Street areas (www.hotcity.co.nz). This is the place to go for leading New Zealand fashion houses, accessories, art, coffee, and interesting food. It's where you'll find international fashion hotshots Karen Walker, Zambesi, and World. Also here are excellent bookstores such as Unity (tel. 09/307-0731) and Touchwood (tel. 09/379-2733). The lovely and innovative Pauanesia, 35 High St. (tel. 09/366-7282), sells the very best in contemporary New Zealand and Pacific homeware. The Vault, 13 High St. (tel. 09/377-7665), is the perfect place for reasonably priced New Zealand and international design items -- everything from jewelry to stationery to small gifts. The new Chancery shopping area (tel. 09/368-1863) is also here. It's packed with international brand stores and exclusive fashion names. If you're a Lord of the Rings fan, check out the big range of movie collectibles and jewelry at DMC, 61 High St. (tel. 09/303-4757; www.lotrshop.co.nz).
All manner of stores line Queen Street from top to bottom, but don't overlook the little side streets running off it; here you'll often find excellent specialty shops, such as Compendium, 5 Lorne St. (tel. 09/300-3212), which has an impressive collection of quality New Zealand craft work. It schedules regular exhibitions of glass, jewelry, pottery, wood, sculpture, clothes, and furniture. Fingers, 2 Kitchener St. (tel. 09/373-3974), is Auckland's most established New Zealand jewelry collective. Kura Gallery, 188 Quay St. (tel. 09/302-1151; www.kuragallery.co.nz), has a great range of original New Zealand art and crafts.
For good clusters of specialty stores, also check out Queen's Arcade, Queen and Customs streets (tel. 09/358-1777), where you'll find two levels of excellent shops.
