This place is a dreeeeam and I'm even hesitant to review it on here in case it becomes too 'known'…read more But I guess any publicity is good publicity for the business owners, right?! Think gorgeous French antiques, refurbished furniture and oodles of atmosphere. I would buy anything and everything, had I the money to do so. If you follow them on Facebook you can see what new items they have arriving in store. You can often find second-hand authentic Tolix chairs, industrial-style lights and shades and gorgeous, reasonably-priced vintage bottles. They hire out furniture too - perfect if you've got a function coming up or even just want extra seating at home over busy periods like Christmas.

This place defines 'local knowledge'. It's so hidden, I walked past it everyday for a year and…read moredidn't know it was there. When I eventually discovered it, I was so excited. Filled with French antique delights, its like a Parisian treasure trove. There are tables, chairs, huge lights, rustic medicine bottles, and cabinets packed with hundreds of gems. Loads of cafes like 'Foxtrot' have their antiques as their café furniture and if had my own house, I know where I'd be heading to fit it out. When I talked to the shop assistant he said that they also hire out the outdoor tables and chairs for functions. They would be perfect for weddings.

This is a hidden treasure trove just a kilometer out of Warkworth on the road to Matakana. It is…read morepart of the Matakana collectables trail, and owner Margie has had the business since 1976, so is clearly a place worth a visit. Filled with genuine vintage treasures that are all tastefully grouped and merchandised, you can find anything from gardening implements and kitchen utensils to clothes and wall hangings in here. A lot of the stock is actually supplied by locals, who bring in stuff to sell to Margie, and anything she thinks isn't suitable or doesn't sell during sale time she sends off to give to the local hospice. She also has a vibrant personality so is great to talk to whilst you peruse the vintage racks or browse through old postcards.

Heritage House Antiques Is a rare jewel in Auckland not only does it have the largest collection of…read morechina in Australasia but you are always guaranteed to get exemplary customer service. It also doesn't hurt that it's a family owned business which these days is like finding a needle in a haystack. They also buy and do evaluations at a reasonable price so if you have any china that you've been left by your grandparents or parents this is the place to go. It has been around for years and years and hopefully will be around for many more. If you head there make sure to ask for Deborah or Michelle during the week and on Saturday for Elaine who has also written a successful book on her passion, Satsuma China.

I was wondering the Cheltenham shops on Saturday arvo and this place was a pretty cool find…read more Cheltenham Curiosity Shop is a small local shop that sells a range of antiques from chandeliers, tables, couches, lamps to vinyl records, used postcards and other bits and bobs.

A cute little store with some interesting collectables​. If you like preserving a few memories from…read morepre-plastic​​ times, there are plenty on offer. We left with a few under our arms!

What a lovely, quaint shop filled with all kinds of treasures, new and old. During my visit, a…read moregorgeous little girl shows up, and the owner proudly introduces her as her granddaughter, Audrey - the shop is named after her. Such a cute thing! Whether you like an antique tea set, a porcelain ornament, some bunnykins memorabilia, a sweet scarf, a lovely piece of vintage furniture, or a nice chat with some friendly old ladies behind the counter, this is really the place to come. It has a lovely family vibe, rather than a posh, pretentious one often experienced in other antique places. It's a great place to explore next time you have a craving for something a little different.

Royal Oak Trading Co., or "that antique store by The Zookeeper", is a decent shop to get lost in…read morefor half an hour or so. Don't be put of by the rusting garden tools and junk in the entrance. Inside you will find just about everything excluding clothes and jewellery. It does ever so slightly feel like the dumping grounds for assets of an estate. Nothing is new in the store and you c an rummage through heaps of boxes and books and assorted paraphernalia. But you will find something that tickles for fancy at an affordable price, not necessarily cheap but better than most "Antique Stores". They also have an extensive library of old vinyls and books. Just try not to look shifty as the staff will follow you around the piles of furniture to keep an eye on you.

This antiques store has so much character. From the first moment you walk in, you get a whiff of…read moreancient and expensive things; much like the old smell you would get if you were to venture into your grandparents storage room. It is almost impossible to find what you are actually looking for in this store, it literally has so much stuff piled on top of so much stuff that I doubt even the owner would be able to locate a specific item. The dazzling glare of shiny trinkets and silverware is almost overwhelming (seriously so much silverware!). And just when you think you have reached the end of the shop, a small right turn comes out of nowhere and takes you into yet another room filled with antique goods. Everything here seemed to be so expensive in my opinion, but I know nothing about the price of old collectables. I just had a good time getting lost in this shiny wonderland.

Antiques of Epsom is a cluttered adventure store for people who like antiques. The have a mélange…read moreof exciting items to browse through including silverware, china, art bottles and cameras, instead of the usually sparse selection of bulky furniture. Most pieces have a descriptive tag attached or knowledgeable staff members nearby. I was disappointed by the way a staff member gouged at a fob watch with a butter knife when I visited recently but the shop is so much fun to browse I can't help but return, especially as I have my eye on a great pewter beer mug. Finding a deliciously old, dusty volume or conversational piece is easy in this comfortable antique store.

An interesting collection of antique odds and ends, including coins, jewellery, newspaper clippings…read more(there was one about the Titanic when it sunk - we are going back that far!), buttons, metal signs with the infamous Uncle Sam wanting to enlist you in the army, music sheets, ornaments and records. I felt like the things I found the most intriguing were at an affordable price range, which is so rare in antique stores! The shop owner seemed a bit preoccupied with his own thoughts, neither greeting nor asking if anyone wanted help. Perhaps it's boring on a Saturday morning, and he was away with the fairies? Anyway, it's sort of nice to be left to your own devices instead of having someone breathe down your neck in a store like this one. It's a place where dreams are inspired.