There are heaps of places to buy plants now, however if you are keen on gardening and getting…read moresomething special in the ground then you need to take a look at Kings. As the core business of the place is plants, and the staff are actually gardeners who are passionate about plants, you are going to find if you want something different and a choice of size and variety, then you need a specialty store like Kings. You can also get on the mailing list, and get a 'heads up' about what is coming up in the next week. This summer with all the hot weather my partner and I fell in love with hibiscus, and as we were told via the weekly email about the 50% hibiscus deal we managed to pick up 5 varieties of hibiscus! Kings staff will be able to advise you about plant problems you may have, and also sell all of the fertilizers and sprays that you may need, plus pots, soils, stones, bark, and tools. They can get very busy on the weekend, and if you have a tricky question it may be better to go in mid week when there will be full-time staff to answer your questions.

King Plant Barn renewed my love for garden centers. You see, these days I find Garden Centres to be…read morea bit lackluster, full of dizzy lizzies and petunias and whatnot. Sure, Kings had these too but they also had a number of other interesting options - succulents (not as good as coromandel cacti, mind you), ferns, mosses and bonsais as well as plenty of beautiful floral options. They even sell fake flowers and a great range gardening tools and accessories. We came here recently to get a couple of white flowered plants to liven up my Marketing booth. There were so many to choose from we spent a good hour making up our minds. In the end we got a couple of Kalanchoes and a Chrysanthemum and some white pots to match. The total spend was v.reasonable! I know it's heading into Winter but I have a feeling I am going find excuses to get here on the reg.

I got high tea during their Christmas season, so the menu had some holiday touches with the food…read more I'll give a review of each dish below for any foodies. Atmosphere and service was good, very attentive and a good view. I also received some Manuka honey as an additional gift. Food review French earl grey tea: Very fragrant, light, and smooth with such a nice aroma. I highly recommend. Cured kingfish in puri: It was alright, not a lot of flavor but I could taste the coconut. Puri was not crisp but slightly chewy and the kingfish had a mild flavor. Prawn toast: One of the best savoury dishes, both buttery and savoury with a delicious touch of sour with the lime pearls that wasn't too overwhelming. Parmesan shortbread: A little dry, the ricotta did not balance the dryness of the toast enough but the pickled onions cut through the grease well. Wagyu sausage roll: Not a hit, the roll was dry and oily. The black garlic purée was nice but I did not like the flavor of the roll as a whole, I tasted a sour undercurrent that was not a good fit. Hoisin smoked chicken sandwich: Nothing spectacular, I could not taste much hoisin flavor and there's was a little too much sesame that it got everywhere as you ate. Christmas ham brioche roll: I was not that wowed, the roll was mediocre and no flavors stood out. The bread reminded me of something I could get at any Asian bakery. Scone: The scone itself was good but the whipped honey butter was too heavy with the dense scone, would have preferred clotted cream or more whip so that it was lighter. Christmas tree: The wafer was too sweet and made the whole dessert overly sweet since the mousse itself was already on the sweet side. Orange almond cupcake: it was alright, not dry and a refreshing fruit flavor. Too much cream though the bee was cute. Mango mousse: Beautiful presentation, mousse was light and I liked the sesame wafer. Cheesecake: My favourite as I liked the shape and the jelly was an interesting addition. Ice cream bon bon: very fun with the smoke Champagne: they offer a non-alcoholic version, which I opted for. Very delicious and bubbly.

Super nautical theme (in a good way) overlooking the water from the Hilton. We had the fish…read moresliders with fries and they were excellent. The staff was also very friendly and accommodating.

I really, really want to like this place, after all this is my local and the food isn't shabby at…read moreall. However every single time I came here I was let down by their service, poor, super slow, non-existent service. I wish there is somewhere better in Blockhouse Bay, that way I don't have to come here and be disappointed every single time.

The Block is a great eatery in Blockhouse Bay - hence the name, bringing a casual atmosphere for…read morethat laid back meal. For this occasion we chose to come for brunch however I will be returning for lunch or dinner after seeing what other diners around us had ordered. TBH what we ate would be a really good hangover meal. The Block serves as a real man's meal giving you everything you want for breakfast. The bf said the baked beans were great as they had a more barbecued flavour and thought the stuffed mushroom was something different! I couldn't ask for more. Everything on the sunrise sandwich was cooked perfectly and satisfied exactly what I was craving. The only issue I have is the name of the meal haha - sunrise sandwich is just odd. The meals are served hot, and quickly and although they aren't amazing they are a great size and great value for money. You get what you expect whilst tasting goood. The Block isn't trying too hard to be anything its not. Also I give them a plus for table service. Rating Food: 7/10 Service: 8/10 Value for Money: Very Good 568 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay Opening Hours: Mon-Tues 7am-5pm Weds-Sat 7am-10pm Sun 7am-5pm

Delicious lunch! Perfect presentation! Brilliant location!…read more If you work in the Viaduct area, why would you go anywhere else for a fresh lunch? Jones has a perfect menu selection with everything from toast & preserves, soups & salads to savory pies all the way down to chocolate cake. If you can get past the lofty prices ($8.50 for toast & preserves), I promise you the meal will be worth it's weight in gold. I ordered the B.L.A.T, bacon. lettuce, avocado and tomato for those not in the know. Served on fresh Focaccia it was paired with small potato wedges, that had such a delightful crunch to them I wish I had an extra bowl on the side. A small ramekin of ketchup and house made aioli complimented the meal. Now if you are like me, your worst nightmare is ordering a BLT and there being only two pieces of bacon inside. Can I tell you how over the moon with joy I was that my B.L.A.T not only had ample amounts of juicy, crunchy bacon, it also had plump tomato's and crisp lettuce all set in a mouthwatering aioli. Delicious!! Located right on the Viaduct waterfront, every seat inside or out of this cafe is a winner.

It's a grocery store, convenience store size but has some decent pastries, tasty hot chocolate and…read moresome noodles with veggies and peanuts. Not something I would have expected at a convenience store, the options were impressive to say the least. The hot chocolate wasn't, pain au chocolate and the veggie with noodles wasn't too bad.

Westfield St Lukes is a cross between hell and that stair scene from the end of The Labyrinth…read more Actually, it's so bad that having a tights-wearing David Bowie chasing you around be something of a relief. It would at least add an element of intrigue to what is otherwise a long march along the bright fluorescent corridor to a brain aneurysm. Do not go here if you want to buy the following things: 1. Interesting things. 2. Good things. Also the parking is terrible.

No matter where you go in this world, there's one thing that doesn't change -The Mall. Money has…read morethe ability to make everyone the same, if you have it. The Starbucks here doesn't do the App rewards but there is free wi-fi, which is great if you're googling the Foreign exchange rate so you know what you're supposed to get at the banks or exchange stores. Compared to American Malls this place is pretty average.But I really love the fact that at the food courts here - you can leave your tray and rubbish on the tables and the attendant will take care of it for you. The Movie theatre here is a great place to waste time.

Very pleasant garden centre to browse, Simon super helpful, cafe a very welcome addition -…read morecertainly proves it's worth. Salmon sandwiches to die for! Awesome

As their slogan states, King's Plant Barn has 'everything you need' for your garden and outdoor…read morearea. Located on the corner of Asquith Ave in Mt Albert, King's Plant Barn is in a handy location and has lots of free on-site parking available. A full selection of plants and flowers can be found at King's. From vegetable seedlings through to fruit trees, natives and this seasons new roses - you can find it all at King's. Besides the onsite cafe, King's Plant barn also offer a wide range of gardening essentials, tools, gifts and other such paraphernalia. I recently bought a bamboo woven heart on a stand for my Aunt's birthday as a garden sculpture and the staff also gift wrapped it beautifully for me free of charge. A friend of mine also went to King's in search of some herbs to grow in her flat, and she actually left with an amazing wooden planter box already planted with an array of herbs and spices. It was brilliant, and would make a great gift. The staff are really knowledgeable and helpful, and with young strapping men on site specifically to help you carry heavy items (like compost and soil) to your car - King's Plant Barn provide an all-round service and it's pretty unbeatable.

Look at the pictures for this place. Look at the picture of their little outdoor sandwich board…read morething. Just enjoy that. Is that the best little sandwich board thing in Auckland? Is that the best little sandwich board thing in New Zealand? Is that the best little sandwich board thing in the world? Yes it definitely is. I reckon this fish and chip shop is pretty great. The prices are okay and the chips are too. The typography is absolutely resplendent. I haven't eaten the fish but I've heard first hand evidence that it's really really nice.

Yes, I love the quirky cows lining up at the entrance of The Design Store, they actually got me…read morethrough the door. This store has a cool as range of designer things for your home, office and garden. They have nice furniture and on this particular day there was an excellent sale price on a very nice 3 + 2 seater couch set. I loved all of the furniture, in fact I really could not take my eyes of every next thing I came to. Here is another example of what I fell in love with, ring holders, yes you bet! This designer range was stainless steel and included upturned umbrellas, animals, flowers, all fashioned to hold rings and jewellery and priced under $20, not bad. I think I will make a mental note to add The Design Store to my favourite shopping spots because the purchases I'll make here would be unique and would turn an eye. Check them out for yourself.

The design store has been around forever or for as long as I can remember anyway! This is my…read morefavourite location it's so fun to look around. It has a warehouse feel just packed with amazing furniture. If you are a busy person, this store has a lot of their products on trademe, their prices are really great and they don't charge ridiculous prices to post them. They have heaps of iconic inspired designs like those totally awesome chrome stools but they don't cost as much as the originals. They also stock the infamous tin cow statues which you either absolutely love or absolutely hate. I couldn't afford any of the big items like couches etc not to mention I have no need as I don't own a house but I did purchase this beautiful cushion that I absolutely love!