Now this is a real mom n' pop business if ever I've seen one! It is a unique family owned and…read moreoperated business in Devonport, that has been bringing joy in the form of toys to the young and the young at heart for years. Nothing like crappy toys that you can buy from the Warehouse and the like that fall apart after a minutes worth of playing time, these are quality made, some even handmade. It's so cool to see actual proper wooden toys, I thought they had died out completely and been replaced by plastic carbon copies. From educational toys, to puzzles and dolls, to novelty items and plenty of silly stuff, this store has all you could need toy wise. I buy all my presents for my nieces and nephews here exclusively.

Oh my... The owner has appalling customer service skills. I went in today and was very…read moredisappointed. My one-year-old touched a book and he jumped straight at me: "Your baby touched this book. She cannot do that". Er... "Hello" or "please" would have been nice. I totally understand that he wants to keep the goods spotless (and they are), but I don't like being treated that way. Needless to say I won't be back.

Wow, if you are a Lego fan, you have to check out Toy Planet! They stock the biggest range of Lego…read moreI've seen in Auckland, and it's also the most interesting range. I don't know if they import it, or if they simply have access to all the ranges available to stock in NZ (I think the other big chains only choose particular lines to carry) - but they really do have it all! My tip is to only shop here when you do not have your children with you, otherwise you'll end up leaving with an overloaded credit card...!

This is one of my favourite stores to shop for the children I love. I know that they won't be…read moregetting a duplicate from someone else, and that what I buy them will spark their imaginations and be used in play for years. Not only are the toy and game selections both unique and well-made, but the staff are very knowledgeable about their offerings and make expert suggestions on what items are good for different age groups. They have also been polite and friendly on every visit. This store never fails to delver on every level.

If you are a rich (and potentially pretentious) Europhile with a cool child or baby then you should…read moreprobably hit up this weird and very awesome shop. I only went into this place because it's on my way home from work, but I certainly did not regret it. Anonymously nestled on the way out of Ponsonby, Be Ba Bo is a kind of boutique toy shop where you can pick up all sorts of charming Germanic, Scandanavian, French, and Spanish fare. You won't find Barbie or Ken in this place, instead you will be greeted by a large rendering of the Eiffel tower, constructed out of some sort of obscure, German, meccano stuff. The place is absolutely awash with whimsy, and is certainly a haven for those of us whose interest is peaked by calm, clean, design. I adored the armies of little wooden figurines clothed in vibrant felt and woolen hairpieces. If I ever have a baby, I'll be certain to make it save up its pocket money so as to splash out on a terrific little something from Be Ba Bo.

Amazing customer service, and an INCREDIBLE range of Lego and collectibles, they also have a fairly…read moreextensive online store. Def recommend over any other toy shop. Much better quality products than most. I was impressed with the amount of wooden toys they had too!

Right on Queen Street beautiful Christmas windows & The only ones we saw in Auckland. They were…read morebeautifully done, music played at the puppets moment. The store was closed. We went inside looking for luggage and passed beautiful clothing and housewares. Santa was keeping Children busy. Luggage was around $1,000 so we moved onward

This was a wonderful find! I was in desperate need of socks, ha ha! My brother was looking for a…read moresweater and they were very helpful in pointing out where they were. There were several reasonably priced ones. Everyone was so kind and helpful.

It seems Japanese shops such as this one are growing like mushrooms!…read moreI would rank this one as my second favourite, the kitchen section in particular has lots of pretty soup bowls and pans and steamers. As mentioned in my fellow Yelpers's reviews there are also the stationery and bathroom sections and lots of random cute thingies no one needs... But oh they' so cheap so why not?!

This place is pretty awesome, hidden in an obscure location, you almost miss it. Thankfully for the…read morevibrant orange and black sign to mark the narrow entrance you begin your decent into the lower depths of Queen Street to find yourself in a rather large store that I could not accurately categorise. This is because there is a lot of stuff here, stationary, the gift bags and paper section is great, Hello Kitty and Snoopy are well represented here. There are aisles of all kinds of things for your home, a massive chopstick section, Hello Kitty cling wrap, food bags and plasters. Interestingly a big range of nappies and other baby things. It is fun just to look around, there are some odd things here too, especially in the bathroom and cleaning sections. Good fun I say, you'll walk away with things you didn't need but make are entertaining none the less. (Hello Kitty keeps my food fresh now).

For 12 years I was happy to buy American food and things like toothpaste with peroxide and baking…read moresoda not otherwise available in NZ from Martha's. During those 12 years one of the owners frequently went to America to buy the stock. And for many years they got special orders for me. But ever since the pandemic they have lost the plot. They refused to accept special orders and their shelves rarely offer me what I want. I have repeatedly asked them to figure out a new method of getting their supplies which they refuse to do. How they stay in business is a mystery without desirable stuff to buy. They're old and no longer seem to give a damn. I find it remarkable that they stay in business. Not worth the trip.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say 'get ahold of yourself now?' But…read moreyou can't and your smile is ear to ear. Well that's what Martha's Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star! Since the owner was clearly using her consumer... ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up. Martha's Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha's Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry's Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap'N Crunch cereal for under $40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

The Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop is something of an institution in the precious little world…read moreof children's bookstores. I go in there on a fairly regular basis, as I teach at an intermediate school, and every single time I find myself swept up in these soft and powerful waves of nostalgia and quiet charm. I simply can't imagine a way in which this store could be improved. There is nothing tacky. No trying to cash in on the latest sweeping pre-teen literary phenomenon. The Dorothy Butler Children's Bookshop simply presents it's undying asset and doens't feel the need to dress it up or patronise their punters in any way. It's just books for kids and things like that. The shop is warm and inviting and they have a great selection, including a wide range of Aotearoa New Zealand Authors. The shelves are loaded with potential for learning and cerebral stimulation. It's one hell of a children's bookshop.

The word that would best describe this shop is quality. As soon as you walk in you can feel a good…read moreexperience waiting to happen. Right from the get go there is something to please everyone. There's an awesome train table set to keep the kids occupied and a little cornered off play area for those run-away toddlers. So easy as that... chuck them in there and you're left on your own to explore the store. There's so much going on here every inch and corner is packed with goodness. From educational books about dinosaurs and planes to the classics like Dr Seuss. There's also toy figurines and fairies which would be sure to put a smile on any child's face. The prices seem pretty reasonable for such quality goods. None of this two-dollar-shop crap here. Just gifts you would be proud to be giving away!