I had a squiz at this garden centre when I stopped to get a coffee at Cigana which is just 50…read moremetres away from it. I'm not much of a gardener but I do appreciate a good stroll around a good garden centre. There's always a bit of a serenity about it. And this is exactly what the Sunhill Garden Centre is like. As soon as I walked in the shop assistant asked me how I was going and if I needed anything. The other staff member was busy helping a man with the best plants for his garden. She obviously was so knowledgeable plants and had so much information for him. There were loads of different plants and a cute gift shop too. I really love my fresh herbs and I was delighted to see they sell three herb punnets for $10! That's so cheap and they smelt amazing. Basil pasta here I come!

For being located on such a busy road, Sunhill Garden Centre is surprisingly peaceful. Perhaps it…read moreis the tree-bound setting combined with the trickle of the water features that distracts you from the sound of traffic, I don't know. But what I do know is that Sunhill Garden Center has a really great wide range of plants, from perennials and succulents to dwarf shrubs and citrus, which are all clearly labelled and well organised in the garden out the back. You can also pick up Oakdale Organics vegetable and herb seedlings starting from 3.99 each or 3 for 10, which seems to be a good deal. Inside you will find all sorts of gardening supplies and also plenty of gifts, such as potted plants, ornaments and various gardening accessories. And if you have a little one with you, then Sunhill has arranged for that too, with a small playground at the back overlooking the Apirana Reserve.

Had a delicious lunch today of Eggs Benedict. First time at a cafe that it didn't taste of vinegar…read morein the poached eggs. Potato Rosti was crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked inside. Service was excellent, only reason it isn't a five star review is that the cabinet food was scarce at 1pm as it had all been eaten and the outdoor seating was very hot with no air movement.

Such a lovely garden centre this, I mean they do all look very similar but this one has a few…read morequirks that makes it special. Number one and the most significant in my opinion is their fake flowers section. It's a large area totally dedicated to artificial flowers and the presentation of them is just stunning. They are all colour coded and I had to literally feel all of them to make sure they weren't real because I just couldn't believe they were fake. Today they had a huge display of swan plants all on special for $3.99, no caterpillars or butterflies yet but I guess that's what happens when you take them home. Their staff are super helpful, some are so passionate about plants you just have to love them. Great onsite carpark too, the only thing that is difficult about this place is trying to get out again onto the main road!

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.

This place could be easily confused with a gang headquarters: surrounded by corrugated iron with…read morebarbed wire across the top, you have to ring a bell to get in, after which someone pulls across a small window in the door to check you out and make sure you are allowed to enter. Don't be put off though; I guess that this is all here just to dissuade people from stealing some of the very valuable plants they grow. This is really the only place to go if you're interested in cacti or their cousins succulents: these guys are the experts in growing and caring for them, and they have so many more varieties than you could ever find in your bog-standard Palmers or similar. I bought a succulent with white leaves here several years ago, and it every time I look at it, it seems to be more magnificent. Prices are cheaper here than the chain plant stores as well.

Do you love cacti and succulents? Are you tired of visiting all those plant stores when all you…read morereally want is a good cactus? Sick and tired of regular plant stores not having a decent cacti section? Well then you need to pay a visit to Coromandel Cacti and Succulents for you cactus fix. This big old shed of a building contains cacti as far as the eye can see. It's a bit weird though when you turn up and have to ring the buzzer in order to be let into the store. I'm not sure if they are guarding against a big cactus heist, but once you're in you're in cactus heaven my friend. The staff know what they're talking about, so ask them if you have any botanical related questions.

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.

It is a scam business. They only subcontract a truck and can provide nothing or something…read moreinvaluable, such as sand. The lady answering the service phone always pretends to be different persons in a big office. The domain holder is different from the company claimed on the website. And New Zealand has no regulation on investigation of the online content. The factors will make people paid to them hardly get the money back.

Ordered the pavers in Early November Promised delivery…read more and Still no Pavers Mid January Communications very poor and keep getting a different story each time

Stirling's Garden Center in Greenwoods corner sits beside a busy bus stop but only because of a…read morerecent accident did I finally manage to look inside the store. It isn't much to look at from the road: a dirty window showing a converted courtyard full of plants languishing in the shade of the house/ store. But due to a collapsed awning and fear that I would never get to look inside this little garden center, I decided to check it out. And the interior was unsurprisingly uninspiring. Stirling's seems like a confusion of business and personal life. It has a rather disjointed and awkward feel, with no friendly service to buffer this. Is this a garage or a store room or part of the shop? It's easy to see why most of the small, independent garden centers fell before the corporate big-wigs.

Le Monde is just the place to buy that unique, beautiful, stylish piece of home decor, for yourself…read moreor a loved one. Plus, if you have the money (lucky you!), then this store have the furniture to match. Gorgeous layout, right down to the handpainted door behind the checkout that is more of a feature wall than an actual door. Its all about aesthetics here. In a room towards the back Le Monde have sale pieces, such as the brass, antique-looking clock and compass that we bought for $10 instead of the original $90. All that was missing was the glass covering over the compass that sits at the base. We can live with that. This shop is located just behind the La Cigale markets, with parking onsite. Worth a visit if you like style;)