[eric_amanda]

We are planning a trip down to Auckland at the begining of next month to do a bit of shopping and exploring. Since Eric wants to get some snowboarding in at the new snowplanet place at Silverdale we are looking for accommodation on the North Shore probably a small 1 bed motel room or similar. Can anybody recomend something in that Vacinity? Can be further towards the city if necessary.

Also, I have been trying to figure out where is good to do some shopping, clothes, shoes for us and children (would like to have the childrens feet measured, like they do in Clarkes as not available here in Whangarei), good toy stores (do they have anything like Early Learning Centre here?)

I have heard St Lukes mentioned in conversations and I think it is on the North Shore, can anyone tell me where, also how big is it, is it anything like meadowhall or is it better/worse, what shops does it have?

If we went into central Auckland, what streets should we aim for, for a good shopping experience?

Any other suggestions/help/advice/assistance would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Amanda

[KerryS]

Can't help with the motel as I live in the city, but I can with the shopping.

St Lukes Mall is in St Lukes, which is heading west out of the main city. If you are on the Shore I would go to Glenfield Mall to avoid the extra journey. That will have clothes shops, shoe shops etc all under one roof.

I've never actually been to Glenfield Mall as I frequent St Lukes for mass shopping trips, but believe it is pretty similar in size.
Both are way, way smaller than Meadowbank though!

[lindajax]

hi,
When we got here we stayed at a motel in Papatoetoe which is south Auckland - basic but owners were lovely. Grange lodge Motel- you can find it on the net. Its about 15mins to the city centre from there - if you need any more info PM me.
Linda x

[Singel]

Hello Amanda

If you are going to Central Auckland, do not miss this largest shopping town in NZ : http://www.xlr8online.co.nz/botany/
It has many trendy shops and cafe/bar or restuarants. :nice1

Have a good trip to Auckland :P

:cheers

[eric_amanda]

Thanks guys for your responses.

Linda - I think papatoetoe may be a little too far south for us, but I will bear it in mind!

For those expert shoppers out there - where is the best place to have your childrens feet measured and fitted with shoes like they do in Clarkes?

What shops are good for educational toys..like Early Learning Centre...Do they have Early Learning Centre toys here????

I think we will definately be checking out Glenfield and probably St Lukes too if we have time. Quite glad neither are as big as Meadowhall, it used to take me hours to go from shop to shop there and I still missed loads of places, my feet were always killing by the end of the day and I felt too tired to drive home!!!

Cheers

Amanda

[freeflyer]

where is the best place to have your childrens feet measured and fitted with shoes like they do in Clarkes?

:laugh good luck , I resorted to drawing outlines of my daughters feet , and sending them back to my Mum in UK, so she could send me out shoes from Clarkes.

However, there is a shop in Devonport that sells a small and pricy range of Clarkes kids shoes.

[Carol]

For those expert shoppers out there - where is the best place to have your childrens feet measured and fitted with shoes like they do in Clarkes?




Amanda

We gave up looking.

SHe now wears gum boots in winter and jandals in summer with the odd pair of sneakers thrown in from the Warehouse.

Her feet seem fine.
:nice1

[Gran]

Hi Amanda, I dont think you can beat Dress Smart in Onehunga, they sell only clothes, they have all the best brands, but at up to 70% discount. they are a discount mall.
As to fitting childrens shoes- forget it, just do your best!
Gran

http://www.dress-smart.co.nz/

[KerryS]

Dress-Mart is great for last seasons clothes, but only has a couple of shops for childrens wear and no toy shops or other stores like Early Learning.

Botany may be the biggest shopping centre, but it's miles from Silverdale and the SnowPlanet.

Glenfield and St Lukes are both Westfield malls - http://www.westfield.com/nzcentres/ourcentres/?country=nz&submitted=true

You can check what stores are at each location.

I don't know of anywhere that measures children's feet - but then I don't have any children.

[zsj]

Hannahs measure length of feet and will check fit. Had my kids done there. Plus are a couple in wellington that measure and sell Clarks...can't think offhand but I went on line and checked out 'clarks shoes in NZ' or something like that. Try that.

Sarah.

[zsj]

And I meant to add that you should find some stockists in Auckland...I know that you are not coming *this* far south!

Sarah.

[eric_amanda]

Ooo you guys are great, :clap thanks for all your advice.

Will defo check out the dresssmart place, hope we get time!

Was just looking on the westfield mall site for Glenfield. Is Principles the same as in the UK?

As regards childrens shoes, the reason I wanted them measured like they do at Clarkes in England is because my children are like me, they have wide feet and I was just a bit concerned with damaging their feet at such early ages :( I guess I will just have to do the best I can ;)

Any more suggestions on good places to stay? :P

Thanks

Amanda

[KerryS]

Amanda - Principles is nothing like the UK version. It is low-end cheap clothes aimed mainly at the teen market.
The sizes are incredibly small too - I am usually a 10, but had to buy a top in a 14 in there, which was very disheartening. But it was mega cheap for a one wear top, so I wasn't too bothered.

[zsj]

hey Amanda, did the same search I had done here for Clarks and came up with this - if you scroll to the bottom of the page it takes you to, there are 2 childrens shoe shops, one says it stocks clarks and does the whole measure thing. The other one may be worth a call....depends how much you want it!

http://www.kidsnewzealand.com/kidsnz/Content.asp?Page=localclothing&side=sidelocal

Sarah.

[upandrunning]

We live on Northshore,arrived last September. Albany has a couple of motels close to www.snowplanet.co.nz but you could try www.holidayhomes.co.nz for great locations close by to silverdale. Also Albany has major shopping in the area.

[Wannaway]

Hi Amanda,

We have always used Clarks and on occasion Startrite shoes. They are available here. The best place to go is FutureFeet. There is one in the shopping mall at Milford (quite small) on the North Shore and there is another on the corner of Ponsonby Road (slightly bigger) and Jervois Road.

Re ELC there is a shop called Zero to Hero which sells some ELC stuff. It is in Newmarket (can you give you better details if you need) but it is a LOT more expensive here as it comes to NZ from UK via Aus. I have one of their brohures somewhere so if you wanted to know if they stock a particular range and want an idea of price pm me and will have a look. Personally I have bought a few things there but when people have come over to NZ they have brought stuff with them for us.

Can't remember now what other questions you had but hope this is of some help. Does your yellow pages cover Auckland because I can always do a search for other Future Feet shops - they may have one in Glenfield but not sure. In UK my 5 year old's shoes were about GBP30 and here they have been about $80-$100.
Nicky

[Gran]

An easy to get to new outlet centre is the one called "Fox" it is similar to dressmart but smaller, has a Pumkin Patch store. If you are heading along the motorway towards Auckland, get off at the Northcote turnoff and turn right over the motorway bridge, it is about 200 mtrs along that road.