Is one of my favourite stores to shop for anything to do with the outdoor. I love that Kathmandu…read moreTakapuna has everything from clothing, to shoes, tents, and sleeping bags, baby carriers, baby clothes, and so many cool accessories and knick knacks for your outdoor adventures. A visit to Kathmandu for me cannot be complete without spending a good hour roaming the store, looking at the sales items, and fining out the latest gadgets for camping. The cheerful and helpful staff make your shopping experience a memorable one, even though the staff may not know completely everything about every single product in store, they make you feel like they do or want to learn more about it anyway. If you join up as a member for a small fee, you are kept in the loop of the latest sales, and also get sent a catalogue once every few months. I really think Kathmandu staff are a really active and positive bunch and always enjoy my time in store.

I would like to mention the great service which I recieved whilst shopping here. I was preparing…read morefor a backpacking holiday, the kind of thing which Kathmandu caters for beautifully. The lady who was working asked me a few questions about what I planning for, she then walked me around the store showing me what she thought might be helpful. I ended up buying quite a lot stuff, and she managed to negotiate a bit of a bargain. Somehow or another I got my compact windproof unbrella for free, and she signed me up for the Kathmandu club, which actually cost me money, but resulted in an overall saving.

This is by far my favorite outdoor gear shop in Auckland. It's independently owned and the people…read morewho work here really care about their business and know their stuff. I bought a tramping backpack here after much hemming and hawing and trying every pack at every shop in Auckland. What I loved about this place was how not pushy they were, how willing to suggest things in every price range (though honestly they don't stock merchandise they don't believe in), and when they could see I was undecided, they were happy to have me go away and come back when I was sure, AND they offered me a small discount, which was enough to woo me away from buying my bag overseas and having it shipped to me. They care about selling you good, sustainable options that will keep you in good gear for a long time. They'll order for you if they don't have something in stock that you want, and they rent gear if you're not quite ready to commit (or you're visiting). Bottom line - good quality stuff, amazing service, get in there and get outdoors!!

If there's one thing I love, it's polar fleece. I would be so happy to be rich enough to be able to…read morehave an entire wardrobe filled with stuff from places like Bivouac Outdoor. Just jackets and polar fleeces and trousers with zips and boots and everything. All in really nice primary colours. All waterproof. And I'd never get wet for the rest of my life. That's how friggen waterproof I'd be. Bivouac is a typical outdoors shop where you can spend hundreds of dollars on jackets and sleeping bags and tents etc. It's pretty great to browse around at all the stuff. The staff are extremely knowledgable and friendly which is useful when you're wading into the somewhat confusing and technologically swelling world of outdoor apparel. Really great shop.

I came to Auckland and immediately regretted leaving my Nalgene Bottle and beanie in the States,…read moreand saw this place as a keen shop to look around in a couple days later. I went in and a man was there basically waiting for my question, and he pointed me right to the Nalgene bottles, which are 3X more expensive here than in America. He knew other brands with the same type of plastic and kindly pointed me to different options. I still went with my trusty Nalgene. I then needed the beanie for my adventures, and somehow I found him again and he was able to help me compare them all and which one he preferred and why. I went with a cheaper Outdoor Research one however he pointed more towards a locally sourced wool one which if I wasn't traveling I would've purchased for looks. I then remembered I needed a travel lock, and thankfully they are placed all around the store just like the beanies. They have a good selection but are on the smaller side (if in San Francisco someone would easily cut the locks). I went with one that was a little larger. Overall good store and nice employees! Kinda reminds me of an REI from back in the states (a lot smaller though); quality products at mid-range prices.

I got great service from a young guy here last week who was very friendly, helpful and seemingly…read moreexperienced in hiking boots.and didn't try to put the most expensive ones on me. He even gave me a tip on looking at some review websites when I couldn't decide between 2 pairs. Partly because of that I will be back to buy the particular pair this store had over the others.

well I be honest. I have been to better north face store in my time. The sale was okay not the…read moregreat i've seen. If i was in New Zealand I would be going to Kathmandu not North face. Its the local brand and have a lot more selections.

Not the gangsta music producer, but a store that specializes in outdoorsy gear and footwear (mainly…read moremen's, but there is a smattering of women's and kids gear in store as well) Timberland is ideal for that rugged outdoorsman in your life. I wish I had one, the closest mine gets to the rugged outdoors is when he's playing Call of Duty on the Xbox, bless his heart. The brand is known for its durability, comfort and craftsmanship in its designs. It also places a high emphasis on its commitment to the environment. Many of the products like its Earthkeepers range use elements of 'environmentally friendly' items in the production of the range itself, which is pretty cool. So whether you're in need of some things for your next weekend tramping trip or just for the daily urban jungle you can find everything you will need here.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I had such a great time! This place is so much fun! Whether you're an…read moreAuckland native or a tourist. This place is a must! I can't believe I haven't done this earlier. Do I sound too enthusiastic? But seriously. Do it. Instructors here are AWESOME! Great demonstration, very interactive people. We took the 90min lesson so they were constantly around and giving us tips on how to become better paddle boarders. You get to paddle around Mission Bay, and I suppose if you aren't doing the lesson and have more time, you could paddle to St Heliers bay if confident: two beaches down and back. The equipment they use are a mixture: My life jacket looked pretty old, but the board I was on was quite new. Nonetheless, all good quality. I fell in the water 5 times, and was still afloat so I have nothing to complain about! I am definitely gonna hit this up again before summer ends! Things I would note: -Don't forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap! I ended up buying $10 sunnies from the convenience store because I didn't wanna get seawater on my Raybans! So that's an option. -Kids must be over 8. Under 16's must have adult supervision. -You can chuck your belongings in their trailer which is well-looked after while you are out on the water.

I really love do anything water sports related, and I was keen for my partner and I to get active…read moreso I booked us both in for an hour session of paddle boarding down at beautiful Mission Bay. Showed up on a weekend day about 1 pm, and met with the Water sports team Ollie and Charlie, on quite a windy day, they were not too sure if as beginner paddle boarders we would have a lot of fun, with a swell running and the water choppy. I was given the choice to either re book another day or take the risk and try it out; I decided to give it a go. The staffs were super supportive and welcomed the motion, and about 1/2 an hour later we were set up with life jackets, paddles and boards. With some precautions to take and some advice about how to paddle, we were sent on our way with a kind wave. Surely was a workout, and had heaps of fun paddling out, falling of a few times and gliding back in smoothly. Great views, awesome fun and a must try for all those water babies.