Shopping

Wellington’s compact downtown area is only 20 minutes from one end to the other, making it ideal territory for shop-hoppers. As one of New Zealand’s best dressed cities, fashion is at the core of the Wellington shopping experience. The Lambton Quarter is the main shopping strip, and here you’ll find international chain stores, brand names, and Wellington’s most prestigious department store — Kirkcaldie & Stains, which dates back to 1863. Pay a visit to The Old Bank Shopping Arcade to explore contemporary fashion and beauty stores in a historic setting. Wellington shows its creative side in Willis quarter, which is home to a variety of exclusive fashion design stores such as Starfish, Voon and House of Hank — the stylish menswear retail store of owner/designer Hank Cubitt — the poster boy of Wellington fashion. Contemporary art, funky fashion and eclectic stores make their home in The Cuba Quarter. Find yourself some kitsch gifts in Iko Iko, or colourful urban fashions in Frutti. Courtenay Quarter hosts some of Wellington’s most popular art stores, such as Kura Contemporary Ethnic Art Gallery, which sells New Zealand, Pacific and Maori art.