Hideaway: Auckland
With the trans-Tasman travel bubble renewing antipodean connections, New Zealand will forever entice Australians in need of escape. Designer Maggie Hewitt of label Maggie Marilyn shares the best haunts in Auckland and its surrounds.
Designer Maggie Hewitt of label Maggie Marilyn shares the best haunts in Auckland.
Go-to coffee spot: “It depends where I head when walking my dog, Honey, – either Five Loaves in Herne Bay, or Daily Bread in Point Chevalier. Daily Bread is known for its breads and pastries but its coffee is also amazing, so I head there when I want a treat alongside my coffee.”
Best dinner: “Alma, which recently opened in Britomart, is a Spanish-inspired tapas restaurant with small plates perfect for sharing. I also love Pici on Karangahape Road, a cosy pasta and wine bar tucked away in St Kevins Arcade.”
Slice of nature: “Driving out to Muriwai Beach to see the gannet colony and watch the surfers. It takes about 45 minutes to get there but there’s something about the smell of the ocean that immediately shifts my perspective.”
Local grocer: “If I’m up north at my childhood home in Kerikeri, we’re lucky enough to be close to some of the freshest locally grown seasonal produce, cheese, preserves and free-range eggs, all of which you can find at the Kerikeri Farmers’ Market on Sundays.” Ideal Saturday morning:
“Mornings are my favourite time of day. I’ll usually walk my dog then grab a coffee, fresh sourdough, and maybe a sweet treat.” Best way to spend a laidback evening: “Curled up on the couch at home with girlfriends sharing wine and pizza from Umu in Kingsland. I love Umu’s focus on supporting local growers and artisans – the cheese is sourced locally and the veggies are picked from an organic farm close by.”
Retail therapy: “[My brand, Maggie Marilyn’s] first bricks-and-mortar store is designed to feel like a sanctuary in the city suburb of Britomart. It’s a place to slow down the shopping experience.”