Takapuna has quietly become one of Auckland's most exciting shopping destinations. Nestled on the North Shore with views across to Rangitoto, this beachside suburb offers a curated mix of fashion retailers that rivals anything you will find in the CBD or Ponsonby.
Whether you are after premium streetwear, sustainable fashion, or designer pieces from international labels, Takapuna's Hurstmere Road precinct and surrounding streets deliver a relaxed shopping experience without the crowds and parking hassles of the city.
Why Takapuna is Auckland's Best Kept Shopping Secret
While Ponsonby Road and Newmarket have traditionally dominated Auckland's fashion scene, Takapuna brings something different. The compact, walkable strip along Hurstmere Road makes it easy to browse multiple stores in one afternoon, with plenty of cafes and restaurants to break up the day. The beach is right there too, making it the ideal spot for a Saturday morning shop followed by lunch and a swim.
Wally: Womens and Mens Fashion on Hurstmere Road
Wally opened at 53 Hurstmere Road in October 2025. It's an independent store with womenswear and menswear on the same floor, plus sunglasses, jewellery, bags, skincare, fragrance and homewares, from more than 70 brands. Most of the womens labels come out of Australia, with a few from New Zealand and further afield.
Womenswear
Nude Lucy is the biggest womens range in store. The Sydney label has been making linen, cotton basics and easy separates since 2010. Summi Summi brings the prints. It began in Yamba as a kids' label until adults started asking for their own sizes, and it's now known for block colour and statement prints made in limited runs.
For going out, Lioness is best known for its dresses, from slinky minis to maxis, and Ownley makes party dresses and easy sets. Mossman has been designing in Melbourne since 2007 and brings sharper tailoring and statement dresses. Significant Other, from Adelaide, does occasion dressing with sculptural shapes and fluid drape.
Summer starts with Zulu & Zephyr, which began as a swimwear stall at the Bondi Markets in 2012 and now does resort wear too. Soleil Soleil makes printed linen sets and swim, and Luna Lane is two Sydney friends designing swim and resort pieces for every body type.
For the working week, New Zealand label Gracious designs polished tops, shirts and dresses in natural fabrics. The Upside crosses activewear with everyday clothes. And Kowtow has been making clothes from certified Fairtrade organic cotton in Wellington since 2006.
Denim
The jeans come from four labels. Rolla's, founded in Melbourne in 2012, is known for its signature fits and back-pocket stitching. Nobody Denim has been designing jeans in Melbourne since 1999 and runs its own cut-and-sew facility and wash house. Abrand covers relaxed baggy and barrel legs through to slim straight, and Neuw was started by friends from Melbourne and Stockholm. Our barrel jeans guide has more on that cut.
Jewellery and bags
Stolen Girlfriends Club started in 2005 with three Auckland friends printing tees, and now makes fine jewellery alongside the clothing. Mountain and Moon, from Perth, sets semi-precious stones in gold and silver plated pieces. Arms of Eve plates stainless steel in 14k gold, so it's waterproof and won't tarnish.
Bags are mostly Status Anxiety, full-grain leather bags, belts and wallets from a Sydney label that started in 2004, and Rains, the Danish brand behind the waterproof backpacks.
Sunglasses
Ray-Ban and Oakley joined the store in September 2026. They sit alongside Isle of Eden, an Auckland label making frames from plant-based Italian bio-acetate, plus Lu Goldie and Le Specs Luxe. Anything on the shelf can be tried on. Ray-Ban and Oakley frames marked Special Order are ordered in from the brand and usually take one to two weeks, occasionally three. You can see the full range under sunglasses.
Menswear
The mens side leans skate and streetwear. Butter Goods came out of Perth's skate scene in 2008, Pass~Port started in Sydney a year later, and Seoul's thisisneverthat brings Korean streetwear. Checks Downtown is an Auckland label, started by Jordan Gibson in 2017.
For pants, Gramicci still makes the climbing pant a Yosemite climber designed in 1982, gusset and webbing belt included. South London's Service Works turns chefs' workwear into everyday trousers and jackets. Deus Ex Machina, Former and Taion's lightweight down jackets fill out the rest.
Fragrance, skincare and home
Stora Skuggan is a niche perfume house handcrafted in Stockholm. The Virtue is a fragrance house from New Plymouth, and Ashley & Co, founded in Auckland in 2005, makes hand wash, body lotion, candles and diffusers.
Visiting Wally
Wally is at 53 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna. It's open 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday and on Sundays, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. Online, orders over $80 ship free within New Zealand, and anything ordered before 3pm on a business day goes out the same day. Click and collect is available too. Returns are 30 days for items in original condition with the tags on.
Other Takapuna Fashion Highlights
Beyond Wally, Takapuna offers a solid mix of mainstream and independent retailers. The area around Hurstmere Road has seen a wave of new openings in recent years, with everything from surf and skate shops to high end boutiques finding a home here.
For homewares and lifestyle, several stores along the strip carry ceramics, candles, and home fragrances that make great gifts. Takapuna's Saturday morning market at the Takapuna Beach Reserve is also worth a visit for locally made jewellery and accessories.
Getting to Takapuna
Takapuna is about 15 minutes from Auckland CBD via the Harbour Bridge, with plenty of parking available in the council car parks off Hurstmere Road. Bus routes from the city are frequent, and the area is well served by the Northern Busway.
Plan Your Visit
Most Takapuna stores are open seven days a week, with extended hours on Thursdays and Fridays. For the best experience, visit on a weekday morning when the stores are quieter and you can take your time browsing.
If you are heading to the North Shore specifically for fashion shopping, Takapuna is the place to start. The mix of local and international brands, combined with the beachside atmosphere, makes it one of Auckland's most enjoyable retail precincts.
Shop Wally: browse Men's, Women's and New In online, or visit us at 53 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna.
