Queens Arcade

I often sigh at the thought that people come to Auckland on cruise ships, walk up and down Queen street, buy a souvenir and then go back to ship. If only they looked beyond the obvious and went down High Street or perhaps Queens Arcade. It’s a little like an arcade you might find in Melbourne though perhaps not as snazzy as the ones you find across the ditch. Having said that there are very good shops and there is a relaxed vibe, suited to browsing rather than hurried vibe of Queen Street or a mall. I like to buy chocies in ‘Devonport Chocolate’ as I don’t often make it over to the shop in Devonport. There is an interesting tea shop which is nice as I think there is Flat White overkill in Auckland at times. I always take a look in the record store too even though I have gotten out of the habit of buying music like many people these days.

I feel like Queens Arcade could be miuch cooler than it is. I mean, it is better than bad but it could be awesome. Situated right beside probably the busiest intersection on town, right at the bottom of Queen Street, it is prime position for some serious foot traffic and could provide some seriously cool hang out spots.
There are two entrances, one on Queen Street, one on Customs. Ieally like this because it keeps things moving through, and makes it less of a cavernous hovel, and more of a nice walkthrough and almost a break from the craziness of the central city.
It is a real mish mash of shops, with shoe shiners, lolly shops and my favourite — Marbecks. This would definitely be the reaso most people venture into Queens Arcade, and it;s understandable.
There are a number of nice cafes and the peacefulness you experience right in the middle of the city is a real novelty.

If you’ve ever been to Melbourne and enjoyed the arty, old fashioned atmosphere of the malls, you’d love this part of Auckland City. Just off Queens & Custom’s Streets, Queens Arcade is for those with slightly vintage, classy tastes, with plenty of shiny hallways filled with boutique shops. I suspect its logo with the Queen on it gives away its slightly superior air to the rest of Queen Street, but not in a pretentious way. More inviting for a good old window shop of some of the finest products you can find.
The tea rooms are a splitting image of some I saw in Melbourne, just calling out to be explored. There’s a chocolate shop, jewellery stores, fashion shops and the last of the few record/​DVD stores, Marbecks, to enjoy.

Queens Arcade has two entrances, which for the directionless among us (geographically I mean, not in life) can be a little confusing. One’s on Queen Street, and one’s on Customs Street East. So that’s sorted.
Now, the Arcade is a nice place to shop if you like somewhere cool and quiet. It reminds me of some of the excellent little alleyways in Melbourne, which are treasured over there in a way that they don’t seem to be here. That said, you won’t find the trendy boutiques in Queens Arcade, it’s more traditional shopping on offer. There’s a good range within the 42 shops though, with Marbecks and Delissimo make it a very worthwhile visit on their own.

Queens Arcade is a bit of a city icon. Filled with specialty retail stores, the arcade provides shoppers with a different type of shopping experience, a unique one. The Arcade features a mix of stores, from cashmere to bouquets. Stepping into the Arcade is a bit like stepping back in time. All the stores have a traditional look and feel to them and many of which have been in the Arcade for years. Even the newer stores have an old fashioned look to them. There is one store that specialises almost entirely on Babushka dolls and another in lollies from London. Chocolate lovers can get their fix from Davenport Chocolates and the tearoom has a beautiful range of teas and is a must for anyone who is serious about their tea.
A great place to go gift shopping or if you’re after that something more specific there is quite possibly a store for it here. The stores themselves are interesting to look through because they contain products not commonly seen in more mainstream stores and malls.