Lovely health food store in a nice neighborhood of Auckland. I enjoyed chatting with the friendly,…read morehelpful staff. Thank you!

Break the piggy bank before you come here. They stock all things natural, organic and local with a…read morefew imported items. I came looking for a natural tooth paste. They had a small selection from $6.30 to $22.80. I may be all about organic and natural, but I'm no fool - you can keep that $22.80 all to ya self! The staff is well versed in the products they stock, which meant the cashier was helpful when I asked her to recommend a product. Turns out she was familiar with Toms of Main. I wanted something comparable, so she helped me make an informed decision. I was also pleased to see they carry Dr. Bronners soap. If you don't know about Dr. B's magic soap, get some and have your world rocked! Aside from toiletries, they also stock locally grown produce and dairy. Dry goods such as lentils, rice, pasta, teas and coffee are also readily available. Overall a friendly store. Most of the natural or local organic items you may be seeking can be found here.

This recently opened Lifesense shop is located in the heart of Three Lamps, Ponsonby…read more I was looking for some (natural and affordable) skincare products and was surprised to find Trilogy, Antipodes and Sukin products on their shelves. Hurrah! Also stock loads of supplements for everybody, whether it is glucosamine you want, or olive leaf to build immunity levels. Loving this new find! Yelp yelp.

When I walked into the Gluten Free Food and Allergy Show I was seriously stoked. Everywhere I…read morelooked was delicious food that I could actually eat. I walked in hungry and came out stuffed with free samples. My absolute favourite was the gluten free dumplings. Man, oh, man they were so good. There was also bread, pasta, pastries, celebrity chefs and gluten free lollies. And the best thing is that everything is really cheap and they do lots of deals where you can buy in bulk. This is really great considering how much gluten free products can cost. They also had seminars on allergies and it was so awesome to hear the latest research from the top specialists in the country. If you're gluten free or have any allergies at all I'd be there this year. It's so nice to have somewhere you can feel right at home.

You know what is the coolest about Huckleberries? Is the fact that they try to be ethical - this…read moremeans supporting many independent growers/companies without it just being about business. This then also extends on to the customers, they go out of their way to help people; AND to their competitors as well. Organic stores in Auckland have a rich interlinked history I recently discovered, including that this store is also owned by the guys in Grey Lynn, Harvest Whole foods. I admit that I am not around this area enough to call it my local, but I know several people that do. It has a great reputation and for good reason (even if not the 'cheapest' of organic stores). One of the particular draw cards about Huckleberries is that they sell meat, (as opposed to Harvest). This is great for those of us that are still carnivores but like to know about the sources of our animal consumption. And I can buy pork free snags here - yay! Recently I have been on the hunt for some ethical-eco black eyeliner, I noticed on their website that they stock some, which is great as I was almost ready to give up hope for anything local. The black pencil variety cost $31.00, and I will be making a trip there very soon for that indeed! These guys have a great website too and list the specials for those of you that may want to check it out before you go on in.

After having a craving for a smoothie (a good one at that ) a quick check on yelp pointed me in the…read moredirection of Huckleberry Farms on Campbell rd . What a smoothie it was ! All the ingredients that were on the blackboard were in it , as in I could taste the parsley , kale , banana and pear . They also have a good cabinet food display no scones or muffins here tho , just good eats !

Luscious is a gourmet health grocery store located just past the top of Parnell rise. A specialty…read morehealth food store which also stocks an extensive range of wines (they even have vegan wines) and an impressive array of hard to find health and specialty gourmet foods just to make your diet a little more interesting. You will find fresh vegetables, frozen yoghurts, specialty breads, pastas, grains, cereals amongst your more common ingredients (only organic) and some not so common like date paste and red quinoa. Down the back of the store is a fantastic selection of specialty juices, coconut waters and iced teas and much of the product here is sourced from New Zealand. This place is popular with those who work in the area who want a healthy lunch on the go with a decent amount of cabinet food to choose from and fresh juices and smoothies. The coffee is pretty amazing too, very strong. Chateau Kiwi use beans from Organica. Whether you have food allergies, a specialty diet or just like your food to be not so common then this is a place you should check out.

The chateau kiwi is very like 'The Barrow' in the central city. Aimed at providing a more gourmet…read moretake on regular grocery shopping, they both chase the same sort of niche. I like the Chateau kiwi as it stocks a really good range of organic and health foods. Nowhere else can I find my favourite range of little bird organics apart from their original shop in Kingsland . You haven't lived until you have tried the strawberry and White cacao macaroons. And then of course there's the frozen dumplings which I often buy from here and make my own dipping sauce and trick my friends into thinking I am a real life masterchef.

It's usually after a weekend of excess and debauchery that I stumble into The Devonport Health…read moreStore, in a misguided attempt to set myself back on the healthy path until the next weekend of course. I must be a sight for sore eyes for these poor employees on a Sunday, but like they say God loves a trier right! It stocks all the usual organic health food lines as well as sports supplements and vitamins. But what really sets it apart is the fact that it has medical herbalists on site to help you with all your aches and pains, and just general issues. It has over 100 liquid herbal tinctures and in consultation with one of the herbalists they can mix a special concoction together just for you. I went in with a sleeping complaint as I find it hard to get a decent sleep being a night shift worker now or (full time vampire) and finding the right combination was a really simple process, I was dubious but I have got to say it actually works! This ain't no voodoo hoodoo for sure!

Devonport Health Store hasn't been here for a long time, a couple of years maybe, but I think their…read moretiming is perfect as more people seem to be interested in natural and alternative medicines these days. It's a really nice atmosphere and everything they stock is organic. There's a few different women that work there - two of them are co-owners - and they're all really knowledgeable when it comes to natural therapies and homeopathic remedies. I've visited this store a lot in the last year to get homeopathic drops for my baby that I give her to aid in sleeping...and although I can't say it's always entirely done the trick they definitely helped! If you have something in particular you need help with they'll make you up a special recipe tailored to your needs specifically (in my case a wakeful baby - not so uncommon). They have massage therapists that treat onsite (there's a private room at the back of the store), you have to book for this of course. The store isn't always high on stock but they're really helpful in ordering things in for you.

Staff are always friendly here, if you can't find something then definitely ask. This is a small…read moreshop but jam packed full of dried goods, canned items, fresh nuts seeds, water and fresh produce. Near the gluten free baked goods section, there is a small section of ready to go slices and cake with a cafe. They stock some seedlings along with compost bins and gardening supplies. They have a decent range of teas and supplements. They frequently have discounts and sale items as well as samples available and a naturopath. Unfortunately they have recently stopped stocking watercress.

Huckleberry Farms is a fantastic organic shop down in Glen Innes, with locations also in Royal Oak…read moreand Grey Lynn. What I like about this place is that it caters for not just one but many niches - from gluten-free to vegetarian to organic meat-eaters, Huckleberry Farms has most of your shopping list sorted. Do keep in mind though that although they have a wide range of stock, as it is natural and/or organic and/or gluten-free, it is pretty pricey and a lot more than what you'd pay down the road at the local supermarket. But don't let that put you off too much - they have very competitive prices with Nosh located over the road, and the service is super friendly and a bit more personalised than what you'd receive at Nosh.

I have found my new happy place. Farro & Nosh - you won't be seeing me for a while now I have this…read morebad boy just down the road. The fruit & vege selection is understandably great, considering all the market gardens in the area. It's awesome to see signs letting you know this is NZ- and locally-grown, even the garlic! And the prices are dirt-cheap for all the seasonal produce. They even have a small range of seedlings, herbs & vegetable plants. My kitchen counter is proudly displaying a big bowl of micro-green radish sprouts & I feel healthier every time I look at them! But Boric also has: a fresh fish counter, butchery, deli, icecream by the scoop, coffee, homemade cakes, dinners & salads, a kids' playground AND a boutique selection of homewares & the finest artisan products. And friendly staff. And a great wine, beer & cider selection. And I've probably missed something out. This is the kind of place that you could easily wander around for ages, progressively filling up that trolley more & more. I can see that will quickly become my new hobby!

If I was ever in of need motivation to start that new healthy lifestyle, this would most definitely…read morebe my first port of call. Row upon row of fresh vege, plump apricots the size of cricket balls, purple carrots AND purple broccolini... they even have potted wheatgrass! As well as produce these guys boast an impressive range of artisan products. Everything from elderflower cordial to Moroccan-spiced couscous. Plus they have a small but well-crafted wine section. However perhaps, the best thing about this place, is that everything seems to cheaper than what you would pay at a Food Market like this in AK. Don't get me wrong, you could still spend plenty of $$ up in here but I bet if you did the same shop in AK it would be substantially more expensive.