Kingsland

Tucked alongside the mighty Eden Park stadium is the cool inner city suburb of Kingsland. Kingsland Village centres around the main street - New North Road - a busy urban thoroughfare which features funky street art, quirky shops and an excellent array of eating options for any time of day. If you’re here in the morning you’ll find a good choice of cafes, serving breakfast and brunch, where you can join the locals in sipping a quality brew while you watch the world go by.

Architecture buffs will note that the neighbourhood is dotted with a number of historic buildings - nudging up alongside classic Kiwi weatherboard bungalows. To learn more about the origins of these places, lookout for the plastic plaques attached to their walls - you can scan these with your smartphone to find out more about life in this neighbourhood in years gone by.

In keeping with the arty vibes, the street is scattered with a handful of shops selling unique gifts and goods made by New Zealand craftspeople. From jewellery to homewares to natural health and beauty products - it’s a good place to buy a little something that’s unique to these parts.

While the daytime atmosphere in Kingsland is fairly relaxed, it’s in the evenings that it’s at its buzziest. Being next to the country’s biggest stadium - and the home of New Zealand rugby - means there are plenty of pubs in this area. On the night of a big game or concert, you’ll find excited fans spilling out of bars before kick off or enjoying a post-match or post-gig drink later in the night.

But even without a major event in the mix, Kingsland is always a great area for dining out. Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Middle Eastern, burgers, pizzas and more - it’s all on offer here.