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.

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.

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.

We went here today in search of a desk, and sadly, didn't find one. Well, we did, but it kind of…read morehad a SOLD sticker hanging off it, and when we enquired as to whether it was actually sold (since the sticker looked old and was hanging on by a corner), no one seemed to know, or wanted to find out. We had a look around anyway, and this place is a hipster's paradise. Most of it is genuinely old, and slightly overpriced. I got two sewing patterns for $2 apiece (and they weren't even that great), and other op shops are selling them for around 50 cents each. We also grabbed a couple of spanners for $2 each, and I got some zips and piping for another $2. There is a large section of stuff that isn't secondhand and is brand new, and is extremely expensive. I saw a set of double bed sheets with foxes on them for $214. I know foxes are "in" right now, but seriously. Obviously very much taking advantage of the whole "vintage vibe" that people are loving right now, and good on them I guess, but I was looking for genuinely old, unfashionable secondhand stuff, and of that there just wasn't that much, sadly.

The coolest second hand and collectibles store in Auckland for sure. The mass size of this…read morewarehouse is amazing and full of everything from a Tonka truck for the kid to vintage surfboards that make the man cave look awesome. My first visit to J & D I spent over an hour and a half just wandering back and forth peering at peoples past belongings. I have purchased a beautiful vintage glass cake platter the kind that nana used to have, and a glass perfume spray bottle that opens up and allows you to fill it up with any scent you wish. Prices are not too pricey, so won't break the bank. If you love exploring antique stores give this a try you might find a painting that inspires you, or a vintage lounge suite to redecorate with? Staff are helpful however, usually only one person working the store. Be prepared for cool and cool is what you will get.

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 is a great place to have a rummage around in. It's big and filled with all sorts - from…read morecrockery to prints, jewellery, postcards, furniture, and vintage mangazines. It's a more approachable kind of antique shop, by which I mean, you can go in and actually find things you can afford, plus, it's not the kind of place that gives you that dreaded feeling in your gut that if you turn around too quickly, you're going to break something worth more than your earn in a year. Which is never that much fun, is it? I recommend coming here to sift through their excellent button collection, which they sell individually - so handy if you're into reworking vintage clothes or crafts of any kind. Also, they have a cute and extensive range of vintage postcard, which are great for making unique birthday cards from. The jewellery is also definitely worth a rummage.

The reviews from 2013 might have been accurate for the time…read more But coming to you from 2015, this place is rockin'! Not going to give it the full five stars because it's not the cheapest or nicest looking store around. I expect cheaper prices as the place gets drabby-errrr. But that is by no means a reason not to go, just initially misleading. The place is much more organized than what I read, even has a 16+ section which is nice. Also note, the men's section is microscopic, even considering the smaller sizes of men's sections at charity shops, it's almost overlooked. But for women, it's great. They have a sale rack out side, a $2 rack indoors, 50 cent table, boutique or price-ier items section, intimates and swim separated out and in baskets of different quality and prices: glorious. The selection is wide in style and in size. I found basics I was looking for, like black leggings, and ridiculous cocktail dresses that I would't find anywhere else. The ladies working there were extremely friendly and on top of making sure the people milling about the place got what they needed. They were really nice to one girl shopping there, helping her in the fitting room and encouraging her fashion sense, which, coming from snobby-mall culture, I appreciate. They were having a 30% off day when I went which made everything even more of a bargain than the tag prices. I spent $24 and got a cocktail dress, nice black stylized leggings, a velvet+sheer shirt, two bras and maroon tights. The girl who rung my up was sweet, funny, talked to me about clothes, gave me tips of other charity shops around and was just great. Maybe not 5 star status, but this place is awesome. Should totally be a must on your thrift-list through Auckland.

No doubt a good place to find some good second hand deals, but I personally found the layout of…read morethis store absolutely claustrophobic and dizzying. It was really hard to keep up with sizes and different items of clothing, as it was all very mixed up. They have some more expensive items out the back if you're seeking a discounted ball dress or two. Yet I could find nothing in my size, because I guess the store assistants would rather natter to each other than organize them into appropriate sizes, or colours, or something! It's a sanguine's room in there without the decency of a bed. If you just want a deal, and you don't mind spending countless time sifting through racks and racks of clothes, then great! If you'd like a more efficient experience, perhaps a Cotton On Outlet down the road will do?