Life Hacks! Here are my top tips and tricks for Auckland city, including parking, hair, beauty, movies, attractions, and things to do.
All offers correct at time of writing – January 2019 – and are my unpaid opinions.
Parking
Nothing effects Aucklanders more than parking; it’s like the weather to most people. If you can’t park, you are not happy. Auckland Council has three carparks that are cheap and good to use over Wilson carparks which are really expensive; the AT carparks are Civic Carpark, Downtown Carpark, and Victoria St West Carpark. Also, why not catch a bus or train where and when you can – and if you use a HOP card, you save even more.
Here are my top 4 parking tips…
The AT app released recently by Auckland Transport has saved me so much money, as you only pay to the minute that you need a street park, instead of guessing in advance and pushing too many coins into a meter. You download the app to a phone and punch in the 6 digit location number written on parking meters called the location ID and then slide the time to what you need. So good.
Wynyard Quarter at Silo Park has the open air Jellicoe Street carpark with one hour free parking and cheap parking after that (2 hours for $6). I use it for the Silo Park playground, and every year for Fashion Week down the round at Viaduct Events Centre.
Auckland Maritime Museum is not only a fascinating place to visit, you can purchase a coupon at their museum shop for $12 which will give you 5 hours of parking in Downtown Carpark with any museum admission. The voucher must be bought at time of entry to museum. All you need to do is park first, buy your voucher when you get to Voyager Maritime Museum and then use it when you exit the carpark. http://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/whats-on
Britomart carpark is $20 for 3 hours at the Gore Street valet drop-off. This is the best value and makes you feel so rock star too. (Note the Britomart carpark drive-in valet is $10 on top of their normal charges, so drop off at Gore Street next to Karen Walker.) AFTER HOURS
Monday to Friday 6pm to 7am, weekends and public holidays are $6 per half hour and $20 daily maximum (to 6am).
Here’s a map of the city zones. http://hotcity.co.nz/ The green and yellow zones are only $1 an hour on Saturdays – perfect for shopping and eating out.
Auckland Hair Life Hacks
Lots of the salons do a cheap day of the week, but if you are really tight, the hair academies do it really cheaply.
Servilles Academy Ph 308 0670 email academy@servilles.co.nz 8 Canada Street Auckland city.
Cut Above Academy has 3 locations, on campus at Building 180 Unitec Campus, phone 815 3503, and Level 2, 246 Queen Street phone 377 7746, and Southern Campus Salon at 5a Ryan Place Manukau City ph 309 0689.
Premier Hairdressing has 3 salons nationwide, in Auckland, Napier and Wellington. They offer hair clients free blowdries, free shampoo and sets, and free long hair ups. There is a small charge for chemicals used in colours. Level One, 1 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna. Phone 489 9035 http://premierhairdressing.ac.nz/
Salon Training – If you want to go to a top salon, it’s worth bearing in mind that many stylists will do free cuts for training purposes; call and put your name down as a hair training model.
Editor’s Tip: Speaking of hair – if you need to get your roots done and want to minimise the regrowth, don’t centre-part your hair. It draws attention to the regrowth on each side of the part making it look twice as wide. Either do a very wide side part, or pull it straight back and up into a bun or pony tail. Also – scarves worn as a headband.
Auckland Beauty Bargains
Forget that gift sets are just for giving. Go along to a major sale, such as Smith & Caughey’s twice-yearly sale, or Farmers beauty sales, and get the holiday gift sets on sale in January. Take off the holiday packaging and inside you have the brands’ most-loved products and best-sellers, priced very low, and they are perfect for travel or for trying out a new brand.
For small travel products, ask beauty counters for sampling. Kiehl’s is one of the many brands that love to give sample sizes out so you can try before you buy.
Bobbi Brown counters will do a free mini makeover at their Britomart store and at their department store counters – of course you can buy anything you love, but they don’t pressure you to buy.
MAC
If you’re going to buy some MAC cosmetics – and why wouldn’t you, it is amazing – do it on a date you have somewhere to go, and book a makeover which is redeemable on product. Not only do you get a pro makeup done and look incredible, you get that price you paid back to spend on cosmetics to keep. Win win.
Farmers Club Card
If you’re going to buy beauty and skincare products, get them at Farmers, as not only do they always have amazing sales, but they give you a $20 voucher for every $250 spend on beauty with their free loyalty beauty card scheme.
Auckland Movies Deals
Hoyts has a HOYTS Rewards scheme with $10 Movie of the Week for $10 for adult tickets. This week its Instant Family and Aquaman. www.hoyts.co.nz
Event Cinemas has a member’s club called CineBuzz, with discounted movies of the week, and tickets earn Cine Buzz Rewards points to redeem towards free movie tickets and receive invites to special movie screenings and events. www.eventcinemas.co.nz
Auckland Attractions
Above: visiting Above And Beyond flight exhibition at MOTAT, December 2018
You don’t have to be a tourist to visit Auckland’s attractions and it’s actually a fun thing to do in your home town. When did you last go to the museum, or Auckland Art Gallery? Did you know its architecture revamp won an international award?
Kelly Tarlton’s does discounts online (must be done before the day of your visit) at www.kellytarltons.co.nz so it’s $32 instead of $39 per adult. An annual adult pass is currently $60 (usually $80.) Also, it is free on your birthday, at any age! You must be accompanied by a paying person of equal or greater value. and bring photo iD or a birth certificate as proof. Direct bookings only, and not available in conjunction with any other discount.
Auckland Zoo is 20% cheaper if you book in advance online, normally $24 for adults. It has Open Late dates with cut-price twilight entry in summer 2019. Entry is $12 and under 4s are always free. www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
MOTAT has regular offers, such as Children’s Day when children under 17 have gold coin entry. Check out their website for offers, at www.motat.org.nz
Auckland Museum is free with a MyMuseum card you sign up for at the museum for free entry. Make sure you take Auckland residency proof, such as a council bill or power bill and photo ID. Students get free entry to exhibitions there too.
Outlet Shopping
Aside from the massive outlet mall Dressmart, there are dozens of outlet stores and factory outlets around. My faves are at 7 Triton Rd Albany for Citta design, Icebreaker, French Country, and more. Basically you drive around Bush Road Albany and fall over all the outlet stores. I also highly recommend the children’s NZ leather outlet Bobux shoes at 35 Allens Road East Tamaki, and all the Bendon lingerie outlets nationwide. I go to Silverdale Village Bendon outlet en route on trips up North and it’s fantastic.
Second-hand Shopping
Buying second-hand is such a great concept that I can’t recommend it highly enough; it helps the environment, it’s cheaper, and your money often goes to charity. My fave secondhand clothing stores include Savemart and various op shops including Hospice and Salvation Army. My fave secondhand store is Junk and Disorderly at 18 Kawana Street Northcote.
Auckland Council Baches and Holiday Parks
Not many people know that the Auckland Council owns baches and three holiday parks and camping grounds north of Auckland city – Whangateau, Martins Bay, and Orewa holiday parks – that the public can pay to stay in, giving everyone access to a beachfront holiday, glamping in a Yurt tent, or time in the rolling hillside. I’ve been going to them for years and love them.
Words and photos by Megan Robinson
20 January 2019
Not a sponsored post.
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