5 Things To Do in Queenstown

Queenstown is beautiful. I visited the city in the south island with my family last November--in between spring and summer 2013. The peaks of the Remarkables mountain range still had snow on them and they looked majestic, I wondered how much more in winter.

Queenstown Mall

Queenstown is a quaint city. Small and compact. But don't let its size fool you. There are tons of stuff to do. The city was practically built for tourists. On every corner there are tourist signs to do this or that kind of adventure activity: from white water rafting, mountain biking, tramping (hiking), bungy jumping, sky diving, paragliding, zip-lining, sightseeing, you name it! They say it's the outdoor adventure capital of the world. We stayed in Queenstown for almost a week and it wasn't enough time to do half of the things offered by this city.

Next to the William Gilbert Rees statue. He founded Queenstown.

Anyhoo, I was with family, right, so I couldn't do the stuff that I wanted to do. We had to make sure most of the activities were child-friendly. But that's okay. I still had fun.

1. Ride on the TSS Earnslaw
We rode the TSS Earnslaw Steamship and crossed Lake Wakatipu to enjoy the Queenstown scenery. The boat is 100 years old and but its still in good running condition. There's a bar inside where you can enjoy your favorite drinks. You can also see the steam engine. In the alternative, you can go outside and just enjoy the view. The ride was smooth and pleasant. The 90-minute cruise is NZ$55 per adult. Kids (below 18 years old) are FREE--one of the cool things with NZ!

Ria and Bea feed the little lambs, little lambs, little lambs...

2. Feed Sheep on the Walter Peak Farm Tour
Ria and I chose to take the TSS Earnslaw-Walter Peak Farm Tour bundle. You ride the steamship to cross Lake Wakatipu. Then you disembark at Walter Peak station and take the farm tour. It's a nice way to introduce your children to farm life in New Zealand. My daughter Bea fed some lambs with milk. She also got to feed Red Deer and Scottish Highland cattle.

Afterwards, they staged a dog show--well, sort off. They show us how dogs help the farmers by rounding up sheep to their pens. Ang galing ng mga aso. And then later the tour guide showed us how to shear sheep. It is a dreadful sight. The sheep was screaming and struggling--it was painful to watch. Bea got concerned and I had to explain to her that the sheep was doing okay. The TSS Earnslaw-Walter Peak Farm Tour bundle costs NZ$75 per person. Again, Kids go FREE!

3. Ride the Luge at Skyline Queenstown
My family and I went to Skyline Queenstown on top of Bob's Peak, 450 meters above Queenstown. To get there, you have to ride a gondola (cable car). Round trip ticket costs NZ$27. Kids (5 and below) are FREE!

On top, you can walk around the garden/park and enjoy a breathtaking view of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Skyline has a restaurant and a bar. They also have a Maori Haka show, but that's too touristy for us. The activity most people do over at Skyline is ride the luge. It's the same kind of go-carts they have over at Sentosa Singapore, but with a much better view. I almost fell because I took my eyes off the road. Ang ganda kasi ng view.

Are you ready, dear?

4. Paraglide from Coronet Peak
I said we mostly did child-friendly activities, right? Mostly. I mentioned Queenstown is reputably the outdoor adventure capital of the world also, right? So we can't visit it without doing something adventurous. My wife signed up to paraglide from Coronet Peak. We were picked up by the tour operator in the city and driven to Coronet Peak Ski Field. Then everything happened so fast. The paraglider guy set up the chute, attached it on himself and Ria, and then they ran off the cliff! As Ria screamed on her way down, Bea and I rode the van to the drop zone. Ria said she enjoyed it. The standard price for paragliding is NZ$189 with photo CD. I suggest to score for deals on discount websites like BookMe or GrabOne.The tour operator we got also offers hang gliding.

5. Ride a bike along Lake Wakatipu
Another adventure activity popular in Queenstown is mountainbiking. You can bring you own bike, but there are many bike shops in town that rent out all kinds of bikes. I rented a bike with a child seat so Bea could come along. We biked on the trail next to Lake Wakatipu and it was awesome. I got to talk to my daughter about nature, the mountains, the lake, her being a passenger and me being the driver--you know, 4 year old kind of conversation. Great bonding time with the kiddo. I don't exactly remember how much I rented the bike, I think $20 for 3 hours, I'm not sure. Basta, it was reasonable. If you're going to rent a bike on your trip to New Zealand, I suggest to do it in Queenstown. Fantastic views. You won't regret it.

Not on the list because it's not an activity, but still worth mentioning on this entry is taking a visit to Arrowtown. It's a small town, just outside Queenstown, which was the birthplace of the New Zealand gold rush of the 1800s. It's a historic place and authorities tried to preserve its gold rush charm. It actually looks like one of those towns you've seen in Old Western movies like Wyatt Earp. Not really a must-visit, but nice place to go to if you have time to spare.

There are several other things to do in Queenstown that we weren't able to do, which was a bummer. But I guess it just means, it's a reason to go back. 

Where to Eat in Auckland Part 2

A few months ago I wrote about international fast food chains present in Auckland. I was supposed to follow it up with another post on local fast food chains, but other things kept me pre-occupied. So here finally is my second list of where to eat in Auckland. In no particular order:

  a. Burger Fuel
  b. Burger Wisconsin
  c. Mexicali
  d. Sal's
  e. Fritz's Wieners
  f.  St. Pierre's Sushi
  g. Tank
  h. Others: Hansan, Elliot Stables, Tony's

New Zealand has its own share of home-grown fast food joints. I frequent these when I am bored eating at Mcdonalds or Pizza Hut.

Burger Fuel

First on the list is Burger Fuel. It is a local hamburger fast food chain. Think of it as Brothers Burger back home in Manila. They're supposed to be designer burgers and therefore a bit more expensive than Mcdonalds and Burger King.

Nothing really special. Parang Brother Burger lang.

It is what it is. It tastes like a Brothers Burger burger. One thing different is that Kiwis like to put guacamole (AKA avocado) in almost anything, including burgers. So, go to Burger Fuel if you want to taste avocado in your burger.

They have Burger Fuel all over Auckland. They have one in Metro center on Queen Street, and another one along Customs Street near Britomart. A standard burger combo would set you back about NZ$12.

Burger Wisconsin

Another local burger with avocado. Wala naman lasa.

Interestingly, the other local burger chain is named after an American State. Burger Wisconsin is another hamburger fast food restaurant. It too is like Brothers Burger, but slightly 'more designer'--if there is such a term, and ergo more expensive.

Burger Wisconsin outlets are fewer than Burger Fuel. In fact, there is no Burger Wisconsin in the CBD. I had to take the bus to Ponsonby to sample their burger. The other closest store would be at Onehunga. Although the burgers taste better than Burger Fuel, it is not worth the effort (and the bus fare) to go to a Burger Wisconsin branch. Eat here only if you are in the area.

A standard burger combo will set you back around NZ$16.

Mexicali

There used to be two Tex-Mex fast food joints in the city, but California Burrito closed shop late 2013, leaving Mexicali the last man standing. I love tacos and burritos, and Mexicali does not disappoint. Meals are a bit more expensive than Mcdonalds value meals, but I eat here when I'm bored with burgers. The tacos  and burritos taste fresh. It's like Chihuahua in Greenbelt 3. The mini burrito costs NZ$9.95 while a regular burrito is NZ$12.99. The mini one is enough for me. Plus they have a frequent customer card that actually comes in handy. You earn points every time you buy and after some time you get enough to pay for a taco. And they award you with a free burrito on your birth month. Sweet deal if you ask me.

There are two Mexicalis in the CBD. One is located at the Viaduct center near Quay Street. While the other one is along K Road. Both are about a 10 minute walk from City Campus, but the trip is worth it.

Sal's Pizza

My friend Grace and Sal's Pepperoni and Cheese half-and-half pizza.

Above tacos and burritos, I love pizza. And Sal's makes delicious pizza. It's like Sbarro but better--much, much better. At a time when Shakey's and Pizza Hut scrimp on tomato sauce, Sal's does the opposite--smothering the pizza with lots of juicy and tangy tomato sauce before laying the cheese. And while Sbarro tends to undercook its pizzas, Sal's makes sure their pizzas are just right and crispy. 

A slice of Sal's cheese pizza is NZ$4, while a pepperoni would set you back NZ$5. If you're eating as a group, better order a whole pizza since it will come out cheaper.

Sal's began to spread like mushrooms in 2013. There's a Sal's across the Civic Centre on Queen Street. There's another on Commerce Street. And the one I frequent is near Parnell, just a 5 minute walk from Unilodge or Carlaw Park.

Fritz's Wieners

If you like sausages, then this is where Fritz's Wieners comes in. They serve European sausages in kiosks scattered around the city (there's one along Elliot Street, near the reverse bungee jump; and another along the viaduct centre).

They keep it really simple. There's a mild sausage and there's a spicy sausage. And you can ask them to put fried onions and/or sauerkraut to your sandwich. They retail for NZ$7. I have one when I'm in a hurry.

St. Pierre's Sushi

For some reason, Kiwis love sushi. They have independent mom & pop sushi stores all over the city. But there is a chain named St. Pierre, and I go here if I want to eat sushi. 

I have to say, even if they're only kiosks, they make good sushi--way, way better than the ones sold by their counterparts in Manila like Teriyaki Boy and the like. St. Pierre makes the sushi right in front of you, and I think with the freshest ingredients because the product tastes fresh. The cheapest value pack (4 rolls) will cost you NZ$4.99. My personal favorite is salmon and avocado. Mmmmm, yummy. Just thinking about it makes me want to hop on a plane back to Auckland. For those who don't like their lunch in a seaweed roll, St. Pierre also sells Teriyaki Chicken on rice and Miso soup.

You won't have a problem looking for a St. Pierre shop around the city. Just look for the bright yellow sign.

Tank

Tank is not really fast food, but it is homegrown. It is the Kiwi's version of Jamba Juice or Big Chill. There's nothing else to say, really, except that the drinks are expensive. NZ$5 for a small cup?! Too expensive for juice. But if healthy is your thing, I'm just saying, they have Tank over here.

Other Local Restaurants

Hansan

Again, Hansan is not technically fast food, but I'll write about it since we are talking about where to eat in Auckland. It's like Pho Hoa or Pho 24. If you want to eat pho or vietnamese rice noodle soup, I recommend Hansan. They have big servings, which you can actually split in two if you want to. Tastes authentic, even though the operators are Korean and not Vietnamese. A bowl of piping hot raw beef pho will cost you NZ$12. There are other combinations. My favorite is the beef steak and pho combination because I only finish one steak and take home the other for dinner.

There is a Hansan branch on Kitchener Street just across Albert Park. It's very near City Campus.

Elliot Stables

Not fast food, but another alternative to eat in town is Elliot Stables. It's actually more of a food court than a restaurant. It's an upscale food court serving different types of food. They have artisanal pizza and european sausages to name a few. 

Tony's

New Zealand is famous for its meat. So you have a lot of steak houses around the city, but they are expensive. A standard steak meal will set you back around NZ$35. The cheapest set I found was a lunch special at Tony's Steak & Seafood on Wellesley Street. The special included rump steak, coleslaw and chips for NZ$16. Believe me this is the cheapest. Pretty good, but if I were you, you're better off cooking your own steak. You can buy two pieces of Angus rump steak for less than NZ$10 at Countdown, which could last you two dinners!

There are two Tony's Steak restaurants in the CBD. The lunch special I talked about is at the one located on Wellesley Street. The other Tony's is on Lorne Street.

So there's my list. If you cook at home, all the better. You will save a lot. But from time to time, do eat outside and sample what Auckland restaurants and fast food joints have to offer.

Happy Eating!

Where to Shop in Auckland - Men's Clothing

I'm stating the obvious when I write that New Zealand doesn't carry the local brands young Filipino men are fond of like Bench, Penshoppe, Memo and Onesimus, but they do have Kiwi counterparts. Here's my list:

Since both the Philippines and New Zealand both have them, first on this list is Cotton On. Auckland has many Cotton On stores scattered around the city. They have one on Queen street and in all major malls like Sylvia Park and St. Lukes. They contain pretty much the same so if you forgot to buy something at the local Cotton On in SM, don't worry 'coz they might have it in Auckland.

When I went to New Zealand for the first time I brought a suit. It took a lot of space in my bag and I ended up wearing it only once. So if you're not sure if you're going to need a suit for your studies, don't bring one. Instead, you can shop at Barkers. They make excellent ready-to-wear suits, shirts and jackets. For those staying near Auckland University, the nearest store would be on High Street, behind Queen Street.

Barkers is a bit expensive though. If you want something more affordable, then there's Hallenstein Brothers (or simply Hallensteins). They also sell suits, jackets and shirts, but not as well-made as Barkers. If you're not too concerned with how you look and just want something to wear to that cocktail party, then you can buy your evening clothes here. They have a store on Queen Street.

The last on this list of men's clothing in Auckland would be Bing, Harris & Co (pictured at the top of this post). It's a local brand and they sell jeans, chinos and tees and shirts. It's like Bench and Memo. The designs are up-to-date and the prices are easy on the pocket. I've actually bought a bunch of stuff here. Their nearest store to uni is on High Street.

I know, I know, men don't like shopping. But we can't wear the same thing everyday, right? So during your schooling, you will have to shop for clothes, just to put some variety in your wardrobe.

Happy shopping, guys!

5 Food Products Cheaper in New Zealand than in the Philippines

Yes, for the most part, it is expensive to eat in New Zealand. A typical Big Mac value meal at Mcdonald's will set you back around NZ$11 (or PhP 400). At the grocery and supermarket, fruits and vegetables are likewise expensive. So does that mean students receiving modest stipends will starve in New Zealand? Not necessarily. Because from my experience I know there are at least 5 food products cheaper in NZ than in the Philippines. In no particular order, they are:

Image from shop.countdown.co.nz

1. Steak

Given that there are more cows in NZ than there are people, one can expect for meat products to be cheaper than in the Philippines. I buy 2 pcs. of Countdown Angus beef sirloin steak for about NZ$10 (or only PhP 175 each). That's pretty cheap for Angus beef. So for my entire stay in Auckland I ended up eating steak at least once a week!

Image from chocablog.com

2. Chocolate

If steak is cheap, it follows that dairy products are cheap as well. This is true for chocolate. One big bar of Cadbury chocolate (220 g) can go as low as NZ$2 (or PhP 70). That's super cheap compared to how much they cost at Rustans or SM supermarket. Not only does New Zealand produce their own milk for the chocolate, they have a Cadbury manufacturing facility right in the South Island! 

Here's another thing about Cadbury. It's not even the high quality chocolate here. I feel they treat Cadbury like it was Goya. A better tasting chocolate brand is local favorite Whittaker's.

Image from mainland.com.au

3. Cheese

Let's go full circle with the cow thing. So I said that steak is cheap, and so is chocolate. Well whad'ya know, cheese is also cheap here in New Zealand. A block of Mainland brand Edam or Colby cheese (250 g), which could last you 2 weeks, is just NZ$4 (or PhP 140). That's cheap!

Image from thedailyspud.com

4. Wine

If you include cheese in your Kiwi diet, then you have to have wine. And luckily, wine is pretty cheap in New Zealand. I'm not a wine drinker, but if you're in New Zealand, you might as well start to be one. A bottle of Whale Point Sauvignon Blanc (750 g) is only NZ$7 (or PhP 245). And there's so much to choose from (unlike the very limited selection at our local supermarkets). In my time in NZ, I've tasted Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rose, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Moscato, Brut, and Chardonnay. Now I'm still no expert, but once you drink New Zealand or Australian wine, you'll never go back to Novelino.

PS: New Zealand is more famous for its white wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Riesling) than its red wines. 

Image from shopnewzealand.co.nz

5. Potato Chips

And finally, in what I believe should be in every person's diet, potato chips is cheap in New Zealand. It's cheap because they grow the potatoes and manufacture the chips right here. A bag of Lays potato chips (150 g) in Rustans can set you back around PhP 110. In Auckland, a bag of Bluebird potato chips (also 150 g) can go as low as NZ$1.5 (or PhP 50). 50 Pesos! Sobrang mura, which means I ate potato chips everyday here in New Zealand!

So there. If you like steak, chocolate, cheese, wine and potato chips, like me, then you will survive here in New Zealand on your stipend. You'll get fat, yes, but you won't break the bank.

Happy eating!

What to Do in Auckland - Videoke

Have you ever heard of the saying, "All study and no play makes Jack stressed?" Me neither. But it might as well be a saying for postgraduate studies. Anyway, one of the ways we de-stress here is to sing at a karaoke (or videoke) bar. They have a number of them here in the CBD. I frequent two. One is Rock Bar located somewhere near the bottom of Queen Street. And the other is Every Sing located along Commerce Street. Both are owned and operated by Koreans and so their major market is their own. But don't worry. They stock on a lot of Filipino songs.

I like Every Sing over Rock Bar because the former has a cheap weekend promo. Only NZ$30 for 3 hours for 4 people. I don't know of a similar promo at Rock Bar--their standard rate is around NZ$35 per 1 hour. Also, between the two, Every Sing has a wider selection of Filipino music.

The karaoke bars serve alcohol, but they are very expensive. The style is to drink at home. Then when you're tipsy, that's when you go to the karaoke bars. Don't forget to bring your passport or NZ 18+ card. You may be asked to present proof of age.

Happy Singing!

Where to Shop in Auckland - Discount Superstores

K-mart is in Westfield St. Lukes Mall.

New Zealand is an expensive place to live in. Rent is expensive. So is transportation and food. But, there are places of refuge. Auckland has a number of discount superstores you can go to to get cheap clothes and small appliances for your flat. First you have K-mart, yes, the US' former retail giant. They have one store here in Auckland at the Westfield St. Lukes mall. It's pretty much like a typical K-mart in the US. Lots of cheap stuff. If you don't care with brands and labels, this is a good place to go to.

The Warehouse at Downtown Shopping Centre.

Next there is New Zealand's answer to K-mart--The Warehouse. The stores I go to are located at Downtown Shopping Centre next to Britomart, and at Sylvia Park Mall. To paint you a picture of what you can get from The Warehouse, I got my pillows, duvet, trash bin, bookshelf and clothes dryer stand there.

Briscoes in Panmure.

Last on my short list is Briscoes. This place has no clothes. Just houseware and appliances. The store I frequent is located at Panmure. This is where you should go for small home appliances. Do NOT buy small appliances at The Warehouse because although they are cheaper, they are poorly made and may get busted early. For home appliances, you should definitely go to Briscoes. Mas mahal than The Warehouse, pero may mga sale at specials naman. I bought my electric blanket, clothes hangers, toaster and rice cooker here.

So if you find New Zealand expensive. Don't worry. Just visit K-mart, The Warehouse or Briscoes and your wallet won't feel the pinch that much.

Mobile Phone Companies in NZ

There are a number of mobile phone companies servicing New Zealand. Three come to mind. First you have Vodafone, which I think is the biggest, with a presence all over the world.

Then there is Telecom, which I think it is a local phone company.

And then there's 2 Degrees, another local phone company. This is my provider simply because I got a free pre-paid SIM card from the international office last February. Been using it ever since. I load NZ$20 (PhP700) every month. Then I subscribe to their unlitext combo. It's unlimited text, 50 minutes of calls, and 500MB of internet. Not bad. I think all three companies have similar promos. Personally, I didn't feel the need to transfer to Vodafone or Telecom the whole time I was here. 2 Degrees was fine. Pare-pareho lang sila.

Where to Shop in Auckland - Supermarkets

Countdown Supermarket on Quay Street.

Like any place, Auckland has different kinds of supermarkets to cater to different kinds of people. Here are the three main ones, plus two asian grocery stores.

Pak 'n Save in Sylvia Park Mall.

First on our list is Pak 'n Save. It is similar to warehouse supermarkets like Puregold and Shopwise back home. Items are cheap, but the selection is limited. Also, most of Pak 'n Save stores are located outside the CBD. The nearest from university would be the one in Sylvia Park. Roundtrip train ride would cost you about NZ$8. So only go there if you have a long grocery list.

Countdown on Victoria Street, CBD.

Next we have Countdown. Its equivalent in the Philippines would probably be SM Hypermart or Robinsons' Supermarket. They have a good variety of products, but not as cheap as Pak 'n Save. The good thing about Countdown though is that they have weekly specials. So what I do is wait for the items to go on sale, and that's when I buy. Also, I got their "suki" card called the One Card, and sometimes they have cheaper prices. The OneCard is free, so you might as well get one.

There are two Countdowns in the CBD. The one at the center is on Victoria Street, nearby the Auckland Sky Tower. But it's not as big as the other one on Quay Street. That branch is larger and open 24 hours.

New World in Wellington.

New World is the most expensive of the three. They say it's because it has the most variety, but if the items you wish to buy are in Pak 'n Save or Countdown, why even bother to pay a higher premium for the same things? New World is like Rustan's Fresh. Avoid at all cost. Only buy when there is no Pak 'n Save or Countdown in sight.

Tai Ping is on Beach Road.

The three main supermarkets don't carry everything Filipinos need (or want)--yes, not even New World. These western stores don't have Mang Tomas or Skyflakes or banana ketchup. For these items, I recommend you to go to the Asian grocery stores. On one end of the CBD, there is Tai Ping. This is located on Beach Road. They have some Filipino items here.

Lim Chour is located on K Road.

On the other end of the CBD, there is Lim Chour Supermarket. This place, in my opinion, has more variety of goods than Tai Ping. And it's cheaper too. They have a lot of Filipino products here. But I don't frequent this much since it's far from my flat. Lim Chour is located on Karanghape Road (K Road), at the end of Queen Street. If you stay in Grafton or Symonds, this is just walking distance.

So there. If you want the value for money, go to Pak 'n Save. For convenience, buy at Countdown. Avoid New World (although my friends tell me that on some days they do have specials). For Filipino or other Asian items not found in Pak 'n Save or Countdown, try Tai Ping or Lim Chour.

Happy shopping!

Must Have: the Water Bottle

Water is expensive here in New Zealand. A small bottle here can fetch as much as NZ$3.50 or PhP 120! Imagine you have to pay that amount every time you have a meal--your daily expenses will shoot up in no time.

So one of the first things you have to buy when you get here is a good water bottle. I got mine from Mountain Designs at Downtown Centre for about NZ$10 (PhP350), but you can really get them just about anywhere. 

You can fill it up from any drinking fountain or faucet in the city. My fraternity brod, who works for the water utility, swears on their water's cleanliness.

Where to Shop in Auckland - Daiso / Japanese Discount Stores

Just like in the Philippines they have Japanese Discount Stores here in Auckland. And they're very helpful when it comes to small household items like washing machine clothing bags, kitchen utensils, bathroom cleaners and even school supplies. Yun nga lang, hindi pa rin kasing mura tulad sa atin (PhP 88). They cost NZ$3.50 each, or about PhP 120. Still, mas mura pa rin compared sa regular shops dito.

So before you buy that item at the supermarket, pass by the Daiso shop first. Malay mo, mas mura.

Happy shopping!

Where to Shop in Auckland - Shopping Malls

Back in Manila, we have shopping malls on every corner--as in, literally next to each other! Think Greenbelt and Glorietta; Megamall, Podium and Shangrila; and, SM Northe EDSA and Trinoma. 

Here in New Zealand, however, because of the way, way smaller consumer population, that's not the case. Malls are few and far between. The biggest is the entire country is Sylvia Park Mall located in the Auckland suburb of Mount Wellington.

I'd say Sylvia Park resembles Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, with number of alfresco dining options.

The shopping mall itself is just 2 storeys, unlike Megamall's 6 level. So, way less number and variety of stores, but the essentials are there. They have movie theaters (Hoyts), electronic goods (Dick Smith), clothing stores (Cotton On, etc.), shoes (Hush Puppies, etc.), fashion accessories (Sunglass Hut, etc.), children's clothes (Baby Factory), fast food restaurants (Mcdonald's, Burger Fuel, etc.), cafes (Starbucks, Gloria Jeans), and supermarkets (Pak 'n Save and Countdown). Sylvia Park mall is 15 minutes away from the CBD by train. Board at Britomart station. One way fare is NZ$4.50.

Westfield Downtown Shopping Center

There is one mall in the CBD. It's Westfield Downtown Shopping Centre right across Britomart, and next to the Ferry Terminal. It's small. It's like the new Cash & Carry mall ,without the supermarket and the movie theaters. It just has a few shops, a food court, and one local superstore called The Warehouse (more on this in another post). The only reason I go to Westfield Downtown is to visit the Mountain Designs store.

Westfield is like their Ayala Malls here. It owns a number of malls around the country. It has a bunch of others in Auckland, but most of them are scattered around the suburbs. Westfield Newmarket is probably the nearest to the CBD, but if you ask me it's not worth going to since it's only slightly larger than Downtown. Bigger and better ang Westfield St. Lukes. Hindi nga lang walking distance from the CBD. You have to ride the bus to get there.

Then there's Dress Smart outlet shopping mall in Onehunga. It's only one storey, but has way more better selections and at outlet prices. The shops I go to here are Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Mountain Designs, Cotton On, and Bing & Harris. In fairness, you can get great deals here. Bought a Cotton On shirt for NZ$12.50 (PhP450.00) and Columbia hiking pants for NZ$40.00 (PhP1,400.00). Last season nga lang, but who cares?

There's a free shuttle to Dress Smart from the CBD every weekday. It picks up passengers at the bus stop in front of Langham Hotel on Symonds St. at 9:20, 10:50, 12:20 and 2:20. If you miss the shuttle or if it's full, then you can take the train from Britomart to Onehunga Station for NZ$4.50 one way.

They say shopping is expensive in New Zealand, and they're probably right for most shops here. But if you keep your eyes open for the sales, stay patient, and/or go to the outlet stores, shopping can be affordable and competitive.