We asked a few op-shopping experts to name their favourite spots to find bargain homeware and furniture in the North Island
1. New Plymouth Westown Hospice Shop
This popular op-shop has a high turnover and puts out new stock every day, so go often and be thorough. They save some of the best bits for their annual auction, but you can still find mid-century treasures on the shop floor.
– Georgia Rose Munn, @georgiarosemunn
112 Tukapa Street, Westown, New Plymouth
2. New Lynn Salvation Army Family Store
This store has a great selection of plates, glassware, furniture, books and picnic gear as well as some more collectable pieces behind the counter. I’ve spent many hours lost in here, and discovered lots of great finds.
– Finder’s Fi, @fiona_ralph
Unit 8, 2 Margan Avenue, New Lynn, Auckland
3. St John Whitianga
These guys always seem to have interesting pieces and are really well priced. My best buys from here have been matching cane single headboards, a big wooden arched mirror and a set of retro floral mugs.
– Charlotte Burt, @thegoodswefound
29 Albert Street, Whitianga
4. Cranford Hospice Hastings
The Cranford Hospice op-shop is a treasure trove, and the ladies that run the store are marvellous at phoning me when vintage gems arrive in the store.
– Emma Hadden, @meadowoodhouse
306 Queen Street West, Hastings
5. St Vincent de Paul Aro Valley
Aro Valley’s arty and student-heavy demographic makes for some brilliant cast-offs. This shop is great for kitchenware, art and smaller furniture pieces.
– Georgia Rose Munn, @georgiarosemunn
109 Aro Street, Wellington
6. Thames Salvation Army Family Store
This shop is well stocked in the homeware department. I particularly noticed the retro lamps, cane/rattan pieces and vintage vases. They are reasonably priced and there are lots
of items in really good condition.
– Charlotte Burt, @thegoodswefound
711 Pollen Street, Thames
7. Hospice Waikato Lake Road Megastore
There are two parts to this store. Out the back they have bric-a-brac and you can fill a basket for around $10; they often get nice furniture in there, too. The front op-shop has a good mix of homeware, furniture and clothes – all really reasonably priced but in better condition than out the back. I like the store because it’s always full of goodies; you definitely have to trawl through but I usually leave with one or two treasures.
– Fiona Kerr, YH&G art director, @fionamkerr
72 Lake Road, Frankton, Hamilton
8. St Vincent de Paul Greerton
Greerton is amazing for op-shops – there are six within walking distance of each other. Vinnies is my fave as they have good stuff like clothing, books, household goods and antique things. Everything is so cheap and all good quality.
– Carlene Mabey, treasure hunter
134 Chadwick Road, Greerton, Tauranga
9. Hospice Whanganui Gonville
Every time I visit Whanganui I make sure to stop in at this large, well-priced op-shop. It has the best bric-a-brac selection, tons of vintage Crown Lynn plates and a good collection of retro furniture. The Whanganui East Hospice is worth checking out if you’re in the neighbourhood, too.
– Finder’s Fi, @fiona_ralph
73 Tawa Street, Gonville, Whanganui
10. Remains to be Scene Hamilton
Remains to be Scene offers a mix of furniture and homeware, all at very reasonable prices. The shop has a cool layout – there’s lots to discover further down the back, and they have a mezzanine with some really great finds!
– Fiona Kerr, YH&G art director, @fionamkerr
441 Anglesea Street, Hamilton
11. Taupō Salvation Army Family Store
A massive store with both a vintage homeware section, which is priced a little higher, and a general homeware section (which still has some vintage). There are always amazing couch sets. Worth checking out when driving through Taupō.
– Charlotte Burt, @thegoodswefound
77 Spa Road, Taupō
Words by: Fiona Ralph. Photography by: Florence Charvin, Helen Bankers, Daniel Allen, Harrison Burt, Guy Frederick, Angela Keoghan, Alice Veysey /bauersyndication.com.au.
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